Reactors are complicated, very potentially dangerous machinations. However, we want to express that nuclear power is actually one of the safest and cleanest ways to generate power when it is properly implemented, maintained and operated. There are some famous examples of reactors going horribly wrong, but these are examples of poor oversight, decisions to cut corners, or natural disasters.
Frankly, there’s not a lot you can do about natural disasters, and any complicated implementation of engineering is going to go terribly wrong when nature’s wrath strikes it. However, a lot of times, if there’s a natural disaster, the reactor going potentially critical is probably the least of your worries, because a well-constructed reactor would require quite the disaster for anything to go wrong in the first place. Such a disaster is something you don’t want to be anywhere near anyhow, right?
However, we want to emphasize how important it is to choose the proper reactor manufacturer and definitely to choose the right head manufacturer. A reactor head is extremely important as it helps to contain the immense pressures, heat and, yes, radiation involved in reactor operation.
Why is a reactor head so important?
The reactor head is basically a cap, something which can be removed to change out fuel, due maintenance, etc. It’s basically a lid, containing the tremendous heat, pressure and in some cases, radiation involved in a nuclear reactor.
It’s a lid, and it’s a lid as listed tremendous heat, pressure and so forth. Thus, if something goes wrong with this lid, decompression can happen violently and rapidly, essentially being a non-incendiary explosion.
Thus, you need to choose a head manufacturer they can produce the proper head for your reactor, one that has a perfect seal on it, and won’t wear down and leak or compromise integrity of the reactor. It also needs to be non-corrosive, so it can always be removed when necessary, as corrosion can cause it to fuse to the reactor body, and you certainly don’t want that to happen.
How do I know I have a good reactor manufacturer?
In the United States, you are a manufacturer that proudly declares that everything they construct complies with the ASME code, a consensus of specifications set forth by leading engineers in various capacities throughout various industries. Even in other countries, these codes hold up well, although various numeric specifications will have to be converted from the silly customary measurements used in the America to the more logical metric system.
It’s a good idea for anyone who wants to have a reactor built, to take some time to study the ASME code documents. They’re actually very easy to understand, they’re not actually that long of a document, they read easily, and they will give you a good sense of what goes into constructing a solid, dependable and safe reactor.
Remember, if a reactor is a constructed properly, at best, you’ll be spending a fortune in constantly replacing parts, and having to take your reactor off-line will you do so. At worst, it could cost lives, and that absolutely cannot be expressed in financial terms. You can’t place a price on lives.
