March 26, 1996
Ms. Shirley Jackson, Chairman
Dear Ms. Jackson:
On visiting the USNRC Homepage, http://www.nrc.gov, I find a topic titled "How Nuclear Reactors Work". The explanation thereunder has absolutely nothing to do with how nuclear reactors work. At best, it is a superficial, and flawed, description of how nuclear power plants work. I do not find this surprising, because it is consistent with the misinformation supplied by the NRC to prospective Reactor Operators during their license training. In dealing with the NRC, including the License Office and especially the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safety, I have yet to find anyone who understands reactor behavior, or who knows how a reactor really works. In order to avoid future embarrassment, perhaps it would be in the NRC's best interest to delete this topic from your Homepage.
Sincerely yours,
Robert G. Stater
In a typical commercial pressurized light-water reactor (1) the reactor core creates heat, (2) pressurized-water in the primary coolant loop carries the heat to the steam generator, and (3) the steam generator vaporizes the water in a secondary loop to drive the turbine which produces electricity. Boiling-water reactors are similar to pressurized-water reactors but use the same loop to cool the reactor and to deliver steam to the turbine. The reactor's core is cooled by water which is force-circulated by electrically powered pumps. Emergency cooling water is supplied by other pumps which can be powered by on-site diesel generators. Other safety systems, such as the containment building air coolers, also need electric power.
USNRC
Washington, DC 20555
The NRC posting referred to follows:
from the NRC homepage ... http://www.nrc.gov
A written response was not received from the NRC. However, a few weeks after mailing this letter, the NRC called. The name of the caller was not logged, but he indicated that the Web Site was his responsibility. He stated that he agreed that the explanation was deficient and that the item would be removed from the site. I have visited the NRC Web Site once or twice since then and do believe the item is no longer present. See Nukefact #22 for a correct explanation of How A Nuclear Reactor Works.
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