In a Pressurized Water Reactor, what happens to the heated water after leaving the core?

• A. It flows through a steam generator where steam is produced to drive turbines
• B. It boils in the core and is exhausted as steam
• C. It is vented to the containment
• D. It remains in the core and is simply circulated

Answer: (A)

In a PWR, the hot water leaving the core is sent to a steam generator where its heat is transferred to the secondary loop. The primary coolant is kept under high pressure so it stays liquid and circulates back to the core after giving up heat. In the steam generator, the heat transfer causes the secondary-side water to boil and form steam, which then drives the turbines. The important point is that the core’s water does not boil inside the reactor; the heat is moved across a heat exchanger to produce steam on the secondary side.