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Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Arizona |
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Update: August 18, 2008
Next Update: August 2009 Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Net Generation and Capacity, 2007
Description: Palo Verde is one of the few power plants in the Nation that contain three reactors (no U.S. power plants have more than three, although some foreign plants have more than four). According to preliminary data, unit two was up rated in capacity and is now the Nation's largest. Palo Verde is located in Maricopa County, on a 4,050-acre site near Wintersburg, Arizona. On November 18, 2005, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced approval of uprates at two of Palo Verde's reactors. According to the NRC press release, "The power uprates at each unit, located near Phoenix, Arizona, increases the net generating capacity of the reactors from 1270 to 1313 and 1317 megawatts electric, respectively, for Units 1 and 3. The licensee intends to implement the uprate by the end of December for Unit 1, and by the end of 2007 for Unit 3." Palo Verde, Unit 1
Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = Combustion Engineering (CE80, CE Standard Design) Plant Operator and Ownership,* 2004
Palo Verde, Unit 2 Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = Combustion Engineering (CE80, CE Standard Design) Palo Verde, Unit 3 Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = Combustion Engineering (CE80, CE Standard Design) 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, all three reactors are 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