1350–1520 MWe
Net power generation range
5
Countries licensed for operation
40
Reactors currently operating
BWR vs PWR
How are BWRs and PWRs different?
Like most other types of power plants, both Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) and Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) heat water to produce steam that drives turbines to produce electricity. Both reactor types use regular (light) water (H2O) as the steam source, coolant, and neutron moderator. The main difference between the two lies in the steam generation process.
The steam generation process
In a BWR, steam created in the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) goes directly to the steam turbine generator (STG). In a PWR, the hot water from the RPV produces steam in a steam generator (S/G), before it goes to the STG. The diagrams illustrate the two systems.
GEH’s BWR portfolio
Built on a legacy of safer and efficient operation
GE’s history of boiling water reactor (BWR) technology dates to the 1950’s. In 1957, the company’s Vallecitos boiling water reactor was the first privately owned and operated nuclear power plant to deliver significant quantities of electricity to a public utility grid. Over the next several decades, more than 60 GE BWRs went into operation with the first Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) entering operation in 1996. GEH’s Generation III+ reactor, the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) was certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2014.
GEH’s portfolio of modular reactors offer the safest and most efficient nuclear energy generation capability available. Plus, we offer a full range of new and existing nuclear plant services to help you achieve greater project development, execution, and maintenance.
Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR)
The ABWR is the foundation of GEH’s nuclear reactor portfolio. The first Generation III nuclear plant operating, it offers the benefits of a combined 20+ reactor-years of safe, successful operation
Features and benefits
Technology, schedule, and cost confidence
High certainty of delivery cost and schedule based on experience gleaned from delivering past units. This greatly lowers investment risks to new owners.
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Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR)
Built upon the ABWR’s proven technology, the ESBWR achieves even greater simplicity in design. Using natural circulation, the ESBWR has 25% fewer pumps and mechanical drives than existing active safety plants.
Features and benefits
Created to be even simpler and safer
High degree of delivery cost and schedule based on experience gleaned from delivering past units. This greatly lowers investment risks to new owners.
Further reading
Additional BWR Information
Videos
Featured ESBWR videos
ESBWR: Safer. Simpler. Smarter.
Discover how the world’s safest reactor, the ESBWR, provides improved safety, faster construction and lowers operating costs.
ESBWR: Culmination of 60 Years of Experience
See how the safest nuclear reactor design in the world is projected to have the lowest operating, maintenance, and staffing costs per MW hour of any reactor technology available today.
NRC Grants License to DTE Energy
DTE Energy receives the first-ever ESBWR-based combined construction and operating license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
GEH nuclear services
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