3 ms·
Not really. BWRs need larger pressure vessels, PWRs need thicker ones. I believe that JSW is the only place (also I think there's one in Germany, too) where yo
by neutronicus 16y ago
Not really. BWRs need larger pressure vessels, PWRs need thicker ones.
I believe that JSW is the only place (also I think there's one in Germany, too) where you can forge a reactor pressure vessel in one piece, but that if you're willing to bolt two pieces together there are a few more options. It may be that this is more feasible for a BWR than a PWR, but I actually think that BWR pressure vessels are usually more expensive.
Where BWRs really save all the money is that you don't need to buy, maintain and replace pressurizers, steam generators, and a ton of piping and pumps that need to be rated for 2500 PSI, as well as a whole bunch of instrumentation for measuring and controlling boron dilution levels. You'll be paying more for engineering services, since all the calculations will take longer, but I can only imagine it's worth it, since, high-margin as engineering services are, they're chump change compared to how much the reactor costs.