Gundremmingen (KRB) nuclear power plant

The 1974 operating year was characterized by even almost trouble-free operation at full load, which was interrupted only by a 6-week period for refuelling and overhaul in May-June. The availability time of the power station exceeded 88% in 1974 and 1920 GWh of electric power were produced. The deposits observed in the core area in the previous year did not occur again. The short-term load reductions distributed over the year, served for variation of the control rod withdrawal sequence and for carrying out routine tests on the turbine control system and other important units. The three unscheduled outages mentioned lasted a total of only 48 hours. During the scheduled outage time from 4 May to 15 June 1974, the following important operations among others, were carried out: - Refuelling: as a result of the leak detection tests carried out on all fuel elements. 24 elements were suspected of cladding defects. Of these, 12 elements had reached their target burn up. A total of 72 new elements were loaded, together with 24 repaired elements, which were partially burnt up. 16 of the 72 new elements were plutonium elements. - By means of pressure tests in the secondary system, 18 leaking pipes were discovered in the no.1 and no.2 secondary steam generators; they were sealed by means of explosive plugging. - The entire core was unloaded and pressure tests was carried out simultaneously with a sound emission test. The results of the analysis performed during the period of high presure without loss of time confirmed, on the one hand, the integrity of the primary system and, on the other, the suitability of the sound emission process for detecting and locating defects in such complex systems. In 1974, in addition to 118 members of Gundremmingen Power station staff, 316 outside staff members were employed and monitored. The radiation burden of the Gundremmingen staff amounted to 342 rem, that of the outside staff to 322 rem