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Davis-Besse Nuclear Generating Station, Ohio |
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Update: October 3, 2008
Next Update: October 2009 Davis-Besse Nuclear Generating Station Net Generation and Capacity, 2007
Description: The Davis-Besse power plant is located in Oak Harbor, Ohio, on a site covering 954 acres. The plant, however, uses only a fraction of the site with 733 acres devoted to a National Wildlife Refuge. If there is one statement about Davis-Besse that both pro- and anti- nuclear factions can agree on, perhaps it is this: the Davis-Besse plant is a survivor. This Ohio power plant has weathered the storm, both figuratively and literally. Davis-Besse suffered a direct hit by a tornado. More serious damage was accomplished without nature’s intervention. The plant was shut down for a full year following the discovery of deterioration of the reactor head (the upper part of the reactor). The discovery led to enhanced NRC oversight of maintenance at the plant, substantial costs and fines. It also resulted shutdowns at other plants to inspect for this type of damage. Davis-Besse has corrected the problems and, as the table indicates, is currently performing near capacity. Davis Besse, Unit 1
Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS vendor) = Babcock & Wilcox Pressurized-Water Reactor (PWR) In a typical commercial pressurized light-water reactor (1) the reactor core generates heat, (2) pressurized-water in the primary coolant loop carries the heat to the steam generator, (3) inside the steam generator heat from the primary coolant loop vaporizes the water in a secondary loop producing steam, (4) the steam line directs the steam to the main turbine causing it to turn the turbine generator, which produces electricity. The unused steam is exhausted to the condenser where it is condensed into water. The resulting water is pumped out of the condenser with a series of pumps, reheated, and pumped back to the steam generator. The reactors core contains fuel assemblies which are cooled by water, which is force-circulated by electrically powered pumps. Emergency cooling water is supplied by other pumps, which can be powered by onsite diesel generators. Other safety systems, such as the containment cooling system, also need power.
Containment: According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the containment is dry, ambient pressure.1 _________________________________________ 1Dry, Ambient Pressure: a reactor containment design whose safety has been evaluated on the basis of having a dry air atmosphere at ambient pressure (0 psig) prior to the onset of a loss of coolant accident or steam pipe break. The containment design (concrete and steel tendons) must be able to take the full thermal and pressure stresses associated with the rapid energy release (steam) from a major pipe break. |
see also:
annual
nuclear statistics back to 1953
projected electricity capacity to 2030
international
electricity statistics