Water is used mostly for cooling. It’s pumped in and then pumped back out as is, only a few degrees warmer.
Because of environmental regulations reactors are forbidden from rejecting hot water during heatwaves, when the extra heat would get water above a temperature threshold that’s dangerous for wildlife (ie fishes). But it’s typically not a lack of water.
Newer reactors are designed to be cooled by other methods such as, IIRC, liquid metal. Water-cooled reactors were, again IIRC, originally designed for nuclear submarines. Watch the documentary if you have an hour to kill, it’s really interesting!
Water is used mostly for cooling. It’s pumped in and then pumped back out as is, only a few degrees warmer.
Because of environmental regulations reactors are forbidden from rejecting hot water during heatwaves, when the extra heat would get water above a temperature threshold that’s dangerous for wildlife (ie fishes). But it’s typically not a lack of water.
Yes, that’s what I meant to say.
Newer reactors are designed to be cooled by other methods such as, IIRC, liquid metal. Water-cooled reactors were, again IIRC, originally designed for nuclear submarines. Watch the documentary if you have an hour to kill, it’s really interesting!