Mitsubishi APWR
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- This article is about the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry's design, for the Westinghouse AP series, see AP1000
The Mitsubishi APWR is an Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor generation III reactor developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries based on Pressurized Water Reactor technology. It features several design enhancements including a neutron reflector, improved efficiency and improved safety systems. It has safety features advanced over the last generation, including a combination of passive and active systems.
The standard APWR is going through the licensing process in Japan and will be constructed at the Tsuruga plant, which will be of 1538 MWe. The next APWR+ will be of a 1700 MWe power and have full MOX core abilities.
The US-APWR was developed by MHI to modify their APWR design to comply with US regulations. TXU has selected the US-APWR for use at multiple sites, including the Comanche Peak Nuclear Generating Station.[1]
The reactors are intended for use in nuclear power plants to produce nuclear power from nuclear fuel.
Contents |
[edit] Plant Parameters
| Electric Power | 1,700 MWe |
| Core Thermal Power | 4,451 MWt |
| Reactor Fuel Assemblies | 257 |
| Reactor Fuel | Advanced 17x17, 14 ft. |
| Active Core Length | 4.2 meters |
| Coolant System Loops | 4 |
| Coolant Flow | 2.75x104 m3/h/loop |
| Coolant Pressure | 15.5 MPa |
| Steam Generator Type | 90TT-1 |
| Number of Steam Generators | 4 |
| Reactor Coolant Pump Type | 100A |
| Number of Reactor Coolant Pumps | 4 |
| Reactor Coolant Pump Motor Output | 6,000 kW |
The US-APWR has several design features to improve plant economics. The core is surrounded by a steel neutron reflector which increases reactivity and saves ~0.1wt% U-235 enrichment. In addition, the US-APWR uses more advanced steam generators (compared to the APWR) which creates dryer steam allowing for the use of higher efficiency (and more delicate) turbines. This leads to a ~10% efficiency increase compared to the APWR.
Several safety improvements are also notable. The safety systems have enhanced redundancy, utilizing 4 trains each capable of supplying 50% of the needed makeup water instead of 2 trains capable of 100%. Also, more reliance is placed on the accumulators which have been redesigned and increased in size. The improvements in this passive system have led to the elimination of the Safety Injection system, an active system.
