Re: Design of Nuclear Power Plants

[baker@nucst11.neep.wisc.edu]

Although the positive void coefficient that Bob Flood and Professor Cohen
have described was and is a siginificant design difference between the 
"Chernobyl style" reactors and US LWRs, perhaps even more important in the
accident scenario that occured was the control rod design.  This caused 
the operator initiated scram of the reactor to initially insert positive 
reactivity.  Without this gross design flaw the accident would not have
been as severe. 

Michael Baker ... baker@nucst11.neep.wisc.edu