8. Pressurizer

The pressurizer (figures 17 a and 17 b ) is the expansion tank for the primary circuit. It is made from forged low-alloy carbon steel shells (see RCC-M). Its function is to maintain constant primary fluid pressure. The pressurizer is connected by expansion piping to one of the hot branches of the primary circuit (figure 14 ).

Electric heating rods passing through the bottom bring the water to saturation temperature, creating a mattress of steam above it. When the pressure becomes too high, a spraying...