Reactor safety in low-power nuclear stations

Nuclear fuel can meet the comparatively small demands for electricity and heat by means of low-power nuclear stations (not more than 200-300 MW). As a rule, such stations will be built and operated in harsh areas as parts of small local power centers not linked to large power systems and very remote from industrial areas. The reliability and safety in the reactors can be improved by traditional methods (backup, monitoring, automatic operation, etc.) and by physical measures. Detailed examples used to consider this approach for these reactors are : Channel water-graphite reactors containing tubular fuel rods and with natural coolant circulation, pressurized-water self-regulating reactors of integral design with natural first-circuit circulation and swimming-pool type water resources without excess pressure in the first circuit.