In a BWR, where are moisture separators and steam dryers typically located?

• A. At the top of the reactor.
• B. At the bottom of the reactor vessel.
• C. In the containment building away from the core.
• D. Inside the turbine hall.

Answer: (A)

In a BWR, moisture separators and steam dryers are placed at the top of the reactor vessel where the steam first forms and rises from the core. This location lets the system remove most of the entrained water from the wet steam right after generation, and then the dryers take out the remaining moisture before the steam reaches the turbine. Placing them here uses gravity and proximity to the core to achieve high dryness, which protects turbine blades from erosion and reduces moisture-related issues downstream. If they were at the bottom of the vessel or far away in the containment, moisture would remain in the steam, and routing through the turbine hall after the fact would not achieve the same protection.