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Boiling-water reactor (BWR)

A nuclear reactor in which water is boiled using heat released from fission. The steam released by boiling then drives turbines and generators to produce electrical power. BWRs operate similarly to electrical plants using fossil fuel, except that the BWRs are heated by nuclear fission in the reactor core. For additional detail, see Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs).

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, August 27, 2026

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, August 27, 2026