GE's modern reactor designs and a lesson in cooling

I found an informative video on GE's site regarding their modern nuclear reactors and their "passive safety systems" which require no power for up to 3 days while maintaining a cool core.

also gives a nice visual demo on what challenges engineers and technicians in japan may be facing....such as not having these safety systems

The ESBWR, a GEH-designed Gen III+ reactor, is currently in the U.S. Design Certification process. The Design Control Document was docketed by the NRC in 2005, and the Referred Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) application was submitted in 2007.

Passive cooling video

ABWR is a direct cycle BWR that reflects 50 years of continued evolution from GEH's initial BWR concept. It combines the best features of GEH's worldwide BWR fleet with advanced technology enhancements, such as digital controls, that improve performance and longevity. The ABWR design is already licensed in three countries: the United States, Japan and Taiwan.

The Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) already has an impressive track record. In Japan, four ABWR units are in operation

A look at GE's Modern ABWR components

Plant Layout eerily looks like fukushima building

this layout looks alot like how fukushima is planned. note location of spent fuel pool also note that if roof is removed and water drained from the spent fuel pool it would be open to the world!



Thanks for reading!

reply to post by Majestyka


Thanks for interesting post, Thanks for video link, Its the first time ive had the reactors design and its shutdown features explained to me in such a simple and understandable.

Just watching that vid proves beyond any doubt that the rods are exposed to the atmosphere, and that radio active particles have been leaking ever since that first explosion.
And its only going to get worse from here.

Poor Japan and poor world.

What will tommorrow bring for us all

reply to post by meathed


you would think that with such small spaces inside the reactors themselves that evaporating seawater would eventually deposit enough minerals and salt to seriously reduce heat transfer and the H2O's ability to cool

reply to post by Majestyka


The failings of the Fukushima nuclear reactor were so substantial that three General Electric scientists who helped design the now imperilled reactors resigned from the company. 35 YEARS AGO!!!!!!!!

newsfeed.time.com...

Nuclear power is so much of a liability to any land-based installation that the US Army abandoned it after 20 some years of study:

US Army Engineer Reactor Group

Army and Department of State among others decided that any terrestrial reactor is a an EPIC FAIL waiting to happen.