European Pressurized Reactor

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Computer generated view of an EPR power plant
Pressure vessel of the EPR

The EPR (or US-EPR for the United States specific design) is a third generation pressurized water reactor (PWR) design. It has been designed and developed mainly by Framatome (now Areva NP) and Electricité de France (EDF) in France, and Siemens AG in Germany. This reactor design was called in Europe European Pressurized Reactor, and the internationalized name of this reactor is Evolutionary Power Reactor, but is now simply named EPR by Areva.

As of 2007, two EPR units were under construction, one each in Finland and France. Two additional units were planned as part of China's tenth economic plan, to start construction in 2009. In July 2008 the French President announced a second EPR would be built in France due to high oil and gas prices.[1] A site for this is to be chosen in 2009 and construction should start in 2011.

Contents

[edit] Design

The main design objectives of the generation 3+ 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 1.6 GWe. The reactor can use 5% enriched uranium oxide fuel, optionally with up to 50% mixed uranium plutonium oxide fuel.[2] The EPR is the evolutionary descendant of the Framatome N4 and Siemens Power Generation Division KONVOI reactors.[3]

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 (ie. 300% redundancy).
  • Leaktight containment 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 and internal overpressure.

The EPR has a design maximum core damage frequency of 6.1 × 10–7 per plant per year.[4]

The Union of Concerned Scientists has referred to the EPR as the only new reactor design under consideration in the United States that "...appears to have the potential to be significantly safer and more secure against attack than today's reactors." [5]

[edit] Pilot power plant

The Olkiluoto 3[6] power plant in Finland, initially scheduled to go online in 2009,[7] is expected to be the first EPR reactor built and the first Generation 3+ reactor to be built in the world. The construction is a joint effort of French Areva and German Siemens AG through their common subsidiary Areva NP, for Finnish operator TVO. Initial cost estimates were about about € 3.7 billion.[8] The project has suffered many delays, and is now expected online in the same year, 2012, as the second plant.

[edit] Progress

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 subcontractors inexperienced in nuclear construction.[9][10] The delays led to disappointing financial results for the Areva NP. It blamed delays on the Finnish approach to approving technical documentation and designs.[11][12]

In December 2006 TVO announced construction was about 18 months behind schedule so completion was now expected 2010–11, and there were reports that Areva was preparing to take a € 500 million charge on its accounts for the delay.[13][14]

At the end of June 2007 it was reported that Säteilyturvakeskus, the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, had found a number of safety-related design and manufacturing 'deficiencies'.[15] In August 2007 a further construction delay of up to a year was reported associated with construction problems in reinforcing the reactor building to withstand an airplane crash, and the timely supply of adequate documentation to the Finnish authorities.[16][17][18]

In September 2007 TVO reported the construction delay as "at least two years" and costs more than 25% over budget.[19] Cost estimates by analysts for the over-run range up to € 1.5 billion.[20]

A further delay was announced in October 2008, making the total delay three years, giving an expected online date of 2012.[21] The various parties are in dispute over responsiblity for the delays and final cost overruns.[22]

[edit] Flamanville 3 (second unit)

See also: Nuclear power in France

First concrete was poured for the demonstration EPR reactor at the Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant on December 6, 2007.[23] This will be the third unit on the site and the second EPR ever constructed. Electrical output will be 1.6 GWe and the project involves around 3.3 billion Euros of capital expenditure from EdF.[24] The following is a condensed timeline for the unit:

  • From October 19, 2005 to February 18, 2006 the project was submitted to a national public debate.
  • On May 4, 2006 the decision was made by EDF’s Board of Directors to continue with the construction.
  • Between June 15 and July 31, 2006 the unit underwent a public enquiry, which rendered a "favorable opinion" on the project.[25]
  • In Summer 2006 site preparation works began.
  • In December 2007 construction of the unit itself began. This is expected to last 54 months.
  • Final commissioning of the plant is planned for 2012.[24]

[edit] Protests

[edit] Progress

In April 2008 the French nuclear safety agency (Autorité de sûreté nucléaire, ASN) reported that a quarter of the welds inspected in the secondary containment steel liner are not in accordance with norms, and that cracks have been found in the concrete base. EDF stated that progress is being made on these issues raised very early in construction,[30] however on 21 May ASN ordered a suspension of concrete pouring on the site.[31] A month later concreting work resumed after ASN accepted EDF's corrective action plan which included external oversight checks.[32]

[edit] Future power plants

[edit] Abu Dhabi

See also: Nuclear power in the United Arab Emirates

In January 2008, French president Nicolas Sarkozy signed a deal that will allow two EPR units to be constructed in Abu Dhabi by Total, Suez and Areva. This will be the first entry of Total in the field of nuclear energy.[33]

[edit] China

See also: Nuclear power in China

In 2006, there was a bidding in process to build four new EPR reactors in China,[34] and an intent to market EPRs in the United States with Constellation Energy.[35] In April 2006, Areva SA lost this bid in favor Westinghouse Electric Company to build four AP1000 reactors, because of its refusal to transfer the expertise and knowledge to China. Nevertheless in February 2007 Areva won another deal, worth about € 5 billion, for two other nuclear reactors located in Guangdong, in southern China in spite of sticking to its previous conditions.[36] The local partner for this project is China Guangdong Nuclear Power Co.

In November 2007, French president Nicolas Sarkozy signed a $12 billion deal that will allow the third and fourth EPR units to be constructed in China.[37]

[edit] United Kingdom

See also: Nuclear power in the United Kingdom

EDF said it will propose, in partnership with Areva, its EPR model of nuclear reactors to the UK government.[38]

[edit] United States

See also: Nuclear power in the United States

The US-EPR is one of the major competitors for the next generation of nuclear plants in the United States, along with the AP1000 and the ESBWR. It is currently in the Design Certification Application Review process at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), with expectation to submit an application for final design approval and standard design certification on December 14, 2007.[39] UniStar, Amarillo Power, PPL Corp and AmerenUE have announced plans to file a Combined Construction and Operating License application in 2008 for the US-EPR. Unistar filed a partial application in July 2007 for a proposed third unit at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Maryland. Both UniStar and Amarillo Power have expressed interest in building two reactors while AmerenUE announced plans for just one.[40]

In October 2008, Areva announced that it will partner with US defense firm Northrop Grumman to establish a US$380 million facility to construct modules and assemblies for the EPR and US-EPR reactors at Northrop Grumman's Newport News Shipyard in Virginia. The facilty will become operational by 2012.

[edit] See also

Energy portal

[edit] External links

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] References

  1. ^ Second new reactor for France, World Nuclear News, 3 July 2008, http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_Second_new_reactor_for_France_0307082.html, retrieved on 3 July 2008 
  2. ^ UK EPR Safety, Security and Environmental Report - submission to UK Health and Safety Executive, Areva NP and EDF, 2007, http://www.epr-reactor.co.uk/scripts/ssmod/publigen/content/templates/show.asp?P=139&L=EN, retrieved on 16 April 2008 
  3. ^ (PDF)EPR - Areva brochure, Areva NP, May 2005, http://www.areva-np.com/common/liblocal/docs/Brochure/EPR_US_%20May%202005.pdf, retrieved on 2 January 2008 
  4. ^ EPR Level 1 Probabilistic Safety Assessment. Author: UK EPR.
  5. ^ "Nuclear Power in a Warming World" (PDF). Union of Concerned Scientists. Retrieved on October 1, 2008.
  6. ^ OLKILUOTO 3 PROJECT by AREVA
  7. ^ CHRONOLOGY OF OLKILUOTO 3 PROJECT by AREVA
  8. ^ EPR IN FINLAND: FOUNDATION STONE-LAYING DAY AT OLKILUOTO 3 by AREVA
  9. ^ Regulator reports as OL3 delays reach one year, 19 July 2006, by Nuclear Engineering International.
  10. ^ Concrete composition delays Finland's Olkiluoto 3, Nuclear Engineering International, 9 May 2006.
  11. ^ Areva’s first half results hit by Olkiluoto 3 delays, 2 October 2006, by Nuclear Engineering International.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Finland nuclear reactor delayed again, Associated Press, 4 December 2006.
  14. ^ Areva to take 500 mln eur charge for Finnish reactor delay, Forbes, 5 December 2006.
  15. ^ Nuclear industry revival hits roadblocks, New Scientist, published 2007-06-29, accessed 2007-07-05.
  16. ^ Dates revised again for Olkiluoto 3, World Nuclear News, 10 August 2007.
  17. ^ Nuclear industry's flagship plant delayed again, Huliq, 2007-08-11.
  18. ^ Areva delay threatens China contract, MSNBC, 10 August 2007.
  19. ^ Alan Katz (2007-09-05). "Nuclear Bid to Rival Coal Chilled by Flaws, Delay in Finland", Bloomberg. Retrieved on 17 June 2008. 
  20. ^ Areva-Siemens sees Olkiluoto 3 reactor operational in summer 2011, CNN, 31 December 2007.
  21. ^ "3-year delay expected at Finnish nuclear plant", AP, International Herald Tribune (October 17, 2008). Retrieved on 17 October 2008. 
  22. ^ Peggy Hollinger (October 16, 2008). "Areva in talks with TVO over EPR delays", Financial Times. Retrieved on 17 October 2008. 
  23. ^ Nuclear Engineering International. Flamanville 3 concrete poured.
  24. ^ a b EDF Official Site - Flamanville 3 [1]
  25. ^ "Public inquiry commission favors plan to build Flamanville-3 EPR" (link to article). Nucleonics Week (05-OCT-06). Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  26. ^ "French protests over EPR", Nuclear Engineering International (2007-04-03). Retrieved on 10 April 2007. 
  27. ^ "France hit by anti-nuclear protests", Evening Echo (2007-04-03). Retrieved on 10 April 2007. 
  28. ^ "Anti-nuclear rallies fill French cities", AP News (2007-03-17). Retrieved on 10 April 2007. 
  29. ^ "Greenpeace assault on EPR", Nuclear Engineering International (2007-05-01). Retrieved on 16 May 2007. 
  30. ^ Geoffrey Lean and Jonathan Owen (2008-04-13). "Defects found in nuclear reactor the French want to build in Britain", The Independent. Retrieved on 19 April 2004. 
  31. ^ "French nuke body partly halts work on new reactor", Reuters (2008-05-27). Retrieved on 27 May 2008. 
  32. ^ "EdF allowed to continue concreting", World Nuclear News (2008-06-20). Retrieved on 21 June 2008. 
  33. ^ Sarkozy confirms plans for UAE nuclear deal-paper - Lin Noueihed - The Guardian January 13 2008.
  34. ^ Foreign energy giants bid for China's nuclear contracts, September 12, 2004, People's Daily Online
  35. ^ Unistar Nuclear, September 15, 2005
  36. ^ "Signing of Areva EPR order in China delayed - French source", Forbes (2007-07-30). Retrieved on 1 August 2007. 
  37. ^ Nuclear Engineering International. Record-breaking deal for Areva/China Guangdong.
  38. ^ "RPT EDF says will propose EPR nuclear reactors to UK in partnership with Areva", Forbes.com (2007-05-23). Retrieved on 23 May 2007. 
  39. ^ Design Certification Application Review – U.S. EPR, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-licensing/design-cert/epr.html, retrieved on 3 July 2008 
  40. ^ Uranium Information Centre. Nuclear power in the USA.
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