Decommissioning and dismantlement of the Stade nuclear power ...

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Reactor types
In PWR nuclear power stations, the reactor heats
water in a fully self-contained circuit known as
the primary cooling loop. A heat exchanger transfers
the heat energy in the primary cooling loop
to a secondary cooling loop, causing the water in
the secondary loop to evaporate. The steam thus
generated is then ducted to the turbines. In this
way, the turbines are kept separate from the primary
loop, which makes them significantly easier
and safer to handle.
In fact, the structural design of the entire
facility was based on the principle of isolating all
sections which could potentially get exposed to
radioactivity. Only the reactor building and the
reactor auxiliary building are located in what is
known as the radiation control area; the turbine
room, comprising the turbines and the generator,
are located outside of this area.
Radiation control areas
PWR plant
BWR plant
Radiation control area
The diagram below further illustrates the key
differ-ences between pressurized water reactors
(such as Stade) and boiling water reactors (such
as Würgassen). In BWR plants, the radiation control
area encompasses the entire block, including the
turbine room. In PWR plants like Stade, on the other
hand, the reactor building is clearly separated from
the turbine room.
1
1 2
2
1 Turbine room
2 Reactor building