TECHNOLOGY

Generation III

AP 1000 reactor

Reactor AP1000 is a Westinghouse's flagship construction directly derived from smaller AP600 design. During studies on AP600, engineers come to assumption that double loop reactor can produced energy to gain power capacity of 1000 MWe with minimal changes in the design. Main goal during making improvements, was to save designing basis of licencing AP600. The reactor was certificated by US NRC in 2005, as the first of generation III+. Today it is under construction in China (4 reactors) and is offered at markets in the US and the EU. Duration of construction, according to Westinghouse information is about 36 month. Reactors being built in China are on a 51 months schedule.[19] [36]

The major objective during constructing AP1000 was simplification in all possible systems, with improving safety standards and reducing overall capital cost. Use of full passive security systems was priority and allowed for eliminate active devices. Problems with a many space needed, electricity power supply for security load and large pipeline system were solved. Passive system contains:

  • passive reactor coolant injection system
  • passive after-heat collection system
  • passive reactor containment cooling system

    • The last one ensures reactor cooling, even for long break in electricity power supply - up to 3 days.

    Reducing active security system with all its consequences (elimination of pumps, pipelines, Diesel emergency generators, compressed gas systems, fuel tanks, combustion gases disposal systems etc), brings significant reactor dimension reducing. In comparison with standard design reactor AP1000 has fewer pump by 35%, less safety-related piping by 80%, fewer safety-related valves by 50%, less control cables by 85% and less seismic building volume by 45%. Compact and modular construction causes decreasing capital cost and shortens construction time.

    Reactor power capacity is 1200 MWe and 3400 MWt. Reactor lifetime 60 years. Westinghouse claims they achieved core damage frequency level at 5*10^-7.

    Future plans for AP1000 is to develop design up to 1400 MWe as CAP1400 and up to 2100 MWe as triple loop CAP2100, but only if passive security systems would be able to scale up. Westinghouse makes researches on CAP1400 and CAP2100 with SNPTC and SNERDI in China. [36],[37],[38],[40],[41],[42]

  • Copyrights 2011 © Michal Wierzbowski