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Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant, Alabama |
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Update: August 19, 2008
Next Update: August 2009 Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant Net Generation and Capacity, 2007
Description: Browns Ferry is a 3-unit plant on 850 acres of Alabama soil. In 1975, a fire caused major damage to unit 1. It was repaired and operated from 1976 through 1985, then was shut down for two decades. In June 2007, a rebuilt Browns Ferry 1 reactor returned to service. Browns Ferry, Unit 1 Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric Browns Ferry, Unit 2 Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric Browns Ferry, Unit 3 Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) In a typical commercial boiling water reactor (1) the reactor core creates heat, (2) a steam-water mixture is produced when very pure water (reactor coolant) moves upward through the core absorbing heat, (3) the steam-water mixture leaves the top of the core and enters the two stages of moisture separation where water droplets are removed before the steam is allowed to enter the steam line, (4) the steam line directs the steam to the main turbine causing it to turn the turbine generator, which produces electricity. The unused steam is exhausted to the condenser where it is condensed into water. The resulting water is pumped out of the condenser with a series of pumps, reheated, and pumped back to the reactor vessel. The reactor's core contains fuel assemblies which are cooled by water, which is force-circulated by electrically powered pumps. Emergency cooling water is supplied by other pumps which can be powered by onsite diesel generators. Other safety systems, such as the containment cooling system, also need electric power.
Containment: According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), all three reactors are BWR Mark 1 models. _________________________________________
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see also:
annual
nuclear statistics back to 1953
projected electricity capacity to 2030
international
electricity statistics