UK ABWR Reactor Pressure Vessel
The Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) is the heart of a nuclear power station. This is where the fuel is located and the nuclear fission reaction takes place, creating heat to generate steam. The picture below replicates the inside of an RPV and shows some of the key components.
- Head vent & spray nozzle
- Main steam outlet nozzle (with flow limiter)
- Low pressure flooder nozzle
- Low pressure flooder sparger
4. Low pressure flooder sparger
- High-pressure core flooder nozzle
- High-pressure core flooder sparger
6. High-pressure core flooder sparger
- Top guide
7. Top guide
- Fuel assembly
8. Fuel assembly
- Internal pump
9. Internal pump
• For more information go to the Reactor Internal Pump page.
- Control rod drive mechanism housing
10. Control rod drive mechanism housing
- Flanges
- Steam dryer
- Steam separator
13. Steam separator
- Feed water inlet nozzle
- Feed water sparger
- Core shroud
16. Core shroud
- Control rods
17. Control rods
- Core plate
18. Core plate
- Reactor pressure vessel support skirt
- In-core monitor housing