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Conference Article: Operating experience with the Latina Magnox reactor

Volterra, E. (Ente Nazionale per l'Energia Elettrica, Latina (Italy))

Abstract

The paper describes the plant and gives the relevant data concerning its operational life. Construction of the Station started in 1958, first criticality occurred in Dec 1962, first connection to the grid in May 1963, and commercial operation started from Jan 1964. Periodic inspections of components in the primary circuit were thus scheduled to check for the integrity and present damages. Repairs were carried out to assure safe operation. In Nov 1986 the Station was shut-down for planned overhaul and after the national referendum (Nov 87) called in by the post-Chernobyl mass criticism towards nuclear generation, the Italian Government decreed its final shutdown (Dec 1987) and the owner was ordered to start actions to bring the plant in a passive protective condition (equivalent to IAEA Phase 2 of decommissioning). The governmental decision is political and not based on safety grounds. The operating licence, renewed in 1985 by the Italian Ministry of Industry, was due to expire in 1992, with provisions of possible extension. Renewal in 1985 was obtained after a full safety review made with the same ground-rules of CEGB Magnox Stations. It was, in its completeness, an anticipation of CEGB's Long Term Safety Review for 20 years operation. Only very limited backfitting was considered necessary. In particular a new emergency feed water system was built and modifications or safety circuits were under completion. Also a first-level Probabilistic Safety Assessment was carried out, and areas where simple plant modifications could give significant improvement in overall safety were found. The cumulative electrical output has been 26 TWh, scoring an average availability factor of 73%. A description of the inspections to the primary circuit internals and repairs is detailed. Other unusual operating events and radiation protection data are also outlined. Conclusive experience of the 25 years of life shows that the operation of the Latina Magnox has been regular and in accordance with high safety standards. The reactor is presently undergoing the Phase 1 decommissioning (de-fuelling) which is to be completed in 3 years.

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key words: Gas Cooled Reactor, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Technical committee meeting on design requirements, operation and maintenance of gas-cooled reactors. San Diego, CA (USA). 21-23 Sep 1988
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria). International Working Group on Gas-Cooled Reactors
IWGGCR--19, pp:120-132