Nuclear Power Technology Development Section

Light Water Reactors

Light Water Reactors
In operation 359
Under construction 27
Number of countries with LWRs 27
Generating capacity, GW(e) 328.4

In the Republic of Korea, the benefits of standardization and construction in series are being realized with the 1000 MWe Optimized Power Reactor (OPR) units. In addition, the development of the Korean Next Generation Reactor, now named the Advanced Power Reactor 1400 (APR-1400), was started in 1992, building on this experience. Recent development of the APR-1400 focused on improving availability and reducing costs. A power level of 1400 MWe has been selected to capture economies-of-scale. In November 2007, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) started the construction of Shin-kori 3,4 with APR-1400 design.

Benefits of standardization and construction in series are also being realized in Japan with the ABWR units. Future ABWRs are expected to achieve a significant reduction in generation costs relative to the first ABWRs. The means for achieving this cost reduction include standardization, design changes and improvement of project management, with all areas building on the experience of the ABWRs currently in operation. In addition, a development programme was started in 1991 for ABWR-II, aiming to further improve and evolve the ABWR, with the goal of significant reduction in power generation cost relative to a standardized ABWR. The power level of ABWR-II has been increased to 1700 MWe, and benefits of economies-of-scale are expected. Commissioning of the first ABWR-II is foreseen in the late 2010s. Also in Japan, the largest design of a 1700 MWe advanced PWR (US-APWR) has been completed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and submitted for Design Certification (DC) application to U.S.NRC in January 2008.

In France and Germany, Areva has designed a 1600 MW(e) European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR), which meets European utility requirements. The EPR's higher power level relative to the latest series of PWRs operating in France (the N4 series) and Germany (the Konvoi series) has been selected to capture economies-of-scale. Construction is underway for the first EPR, the Olkiluoto-3 unit in Finland. Commercial operation is planned for end of 2010. In December 2007, Electricite de France has started the construction of an EPR at Flamanville (unit 3), with completion anticipated by mid of 2012. Unistar submitted combined license (COL) application for Calvert Cliffs site in July 2007 and DC application in December 2007 with US-EPR to U.S.NRC.

In the Russian Federation, Atomenergoproject / Gidropress is designing the evolutionary AES-2000 plant building on experience from the currently operating WWER-1000 plants. Two evolutionary WWER-1000 (V-392) units were connected to the grid at Tianwan, China in May 2006 and in September 2007, and other WWER-1000 units are under construction in India and the Islamic Republic of Iran. A mid-size WWER-640 with passive systems has also been developed, and development of a large WWER-1500 is underway.

In the USA, designs for a large sized advanced PWR (Westinghouse System 80+) and a large sized BWR (General Electric’s ABWR) were certified in May 1997 by the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission. COL application with ABWR was submitted to U.S.NRC for South Texas Project site by NRG in September 2007. Westinghouse’s mid-size AP-600 design with passive safety systems was certified in December 1999. The Westinghouse 1090 MW(e) plant called the “AP-1000”, which applies the passive safety technology developed for the AP-600 with the goal to reduce the capital costs through economies-of-scale received Design Certification from the U.S. NRC in 2006.In July 2007, Westinghouse signed contract with SNPTC of China to provide four AP-1000 units at Sanmen and Haiyang sites. Construction is expected to begin in 2009, with the first plant becoming operational in late 2013. COL applications were submitted to U.S.NRC for Bellefonte site by Tennessee Valley Authority in October 2007, for South Carolina site by Duke Energy in December 2007, and for Harris site by Progress Energy in February 2008. Westinghouse is also designing a 335 MWe integral PWR called IRIS. Presently, the design is in the Pre-Application Review stage with the U.S.NRC. Westinghouse plans to submit an application for design certification to the NRC.

General Electric is designing a 1550 MW(e) ESBWR applying economies-of-scale together with modular passive safety systems. The design draws on technology features from General Electric’s ABWR and from their earlier 670 MW(e) simplified BWR with passive systems. The ESBWR is being reviewed by the U.S NRC for design certification. COL application with ESBWR was submitted to U.S.NRC for North Anna site by Dominion in November 2007.

In China, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is developing the CNP-1000 plant, which incorporates feedback of experiences of design, construction and operation of Qinshan and the Daya Bay NPPs.

Several countries are developing innovative LWR designs, which represent a greater departure from current systems, and may require a prototype or demonstration plant as part of the development programme. Innovative LWR designs include integral designs in which the reactor core and steam generator are housed in the same pressure vessel, and designs operating thermodynamically in the super-critical regime (above 22 MPa and 374 C). Thermodynamically supercritical water-cooled systems have been selected for development by the Generation IV International Forum.