European Pressurized Reactor

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Computer generated view of a European Pressurized Reactor power plant
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Computer generated view of a European Pressurized Reactor power plant
The same plant seen in another view
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The same plant seen in another view

The European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) is a third generation nuclear fission pressurized water reactor (PWR) design. It has been designed and developed mainly by Framatome (Areva NP) and Electricité de France (EDF) in France, and Siemens AG in Germany.

The main design objectives of the EPR design are increased safety while providing enhanced economic competitiveness through evolutionary improvements to previous PWR designs scaled up to an electrical power output of 1600 MWe. The reactor can use 5% enriched uranium oxide or mixed uranium plutonium oxide fuel.

The EPR design has several active and passive protection measures against accidents:

  • Four independent emergency cooling systems, each capable of cooling down the reactor after shutdown.
  • Leaktight container around the reactor.
  • An extra container and cooling area if a molten core manages to escape the reactor (see containment building).
  • Two-layer concrete wall with total thickness 2.6 meters, designed to withstand impact by airplanes.

It should be noted that the EPR is a significantly different design from the RBMK type at Chernobyl, which had a graphite core and a very complex construction that allowed online refuelling at the expense of a strong containment building.

[edit] Pilot power plant

The Olkiluoto 3 [1] power plant in Finland, initially scheduled to go on line in 2009 [2], will be the first EPR reactor built. The construction will be a joint effort of French Areva and German Siemens AG through their common subsidiary Areva NP. The power plant will cost about €3.7 billion. [3]

In May 2006 construction delays of about one year were announced, following quality control problems across the construction. In part the delays were due to the lack of oversight of Finnish subcontractors inexperienced in nuclear construction. [4] [5]

The delays led to disappointing financial results for the Areva NP. It blamed delays on the Finnish approach to approving technical documentation and designs. [6] [7] In December 2006 TVO announced construction was about 18 months behind schedule so completion was now expected 2010-2011, and there were reports that Areva was preparing to take a € 500 million charge on its accounts for the delay.[8] [9]

[edit] Future power plants

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Subject to the result of Public Enquiry in 2006 and issue of a construction permit in 2007, a demonstration EPR reactor will be built in France in Flamanville in the Manche département, to be operational in 2012.[10] [11].

There is a bidding in process to build four new EPR reactors to China [12], and an intent to market EPRs in the U.S. with Constellation Energy [13].

Ecologist organisations from the Sortir du nucléaire network sued EDF to invalidate the construction permit in Flamanville in the Manche département (France). [14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ OLKILUOTO 3 PROJECT by AREVA
  2. ^ CHRONOLOGY OF OLKILUOTO 3 PROJECT by AREVA
  3. ^ EPR IN FINLAND: FOUNDATION STONE-LAYING DAY AT OLKILUOTO 3 by AREVA
  4. ^ Regulator reports as OL3 delays reach one year, 19 July 2006, by Nuclear Engineering International
  5. ^ Concrete composition delays Finland's Olkiluoto 3, Nuclear Engineering International, 9 May 2006
  6. ^ Areva’s first half results hit by Olkiluoto 3 delays, 2 October 2006, by Nuclear Engineering International
  7. ^ European Pressurised Reactor at Olkiluoto 3, Finland - Brief & Interim Review of the Porosity and Durability Properties of the In Situ Cast Concrete at the Olkiluoto EPR Construction Site, June 2006, Large & Associates
  8. ^ Finland nuclear reactor delayed again, Business Week, 4 December 2006
  9. ^ Areva to take 500 mln eur charge for Finnish reactor delay, Forbes, 5 December 2006
  10. ^ NUCLEAR NOTES FROM FRANCE Fall 2004, Embassy of France in the US
  11. ^ Large John H, Exploratory Review of the EdF Presentation in Support of the Proposal to Construct, Commission and Operate a 3rd Nuclear Power Plant at Flamanville, France, States of Jersey, August 2006
  12. ^ Foreign energy giants bid for China's nuclear contracts, September 12, 2004, People's Daily Online
  13. ^ Unistar Nuclear, September 15, 2005
  14. ^ Le Réseau "Sortir du nucléaire" et le Crilan attaquent en justice le permis de construire de l'EPR, 21/08/2006

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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