New features for French PWR plants

Nearly half of France's electricity is generated in nuclear power stations and, under the present expansion programme, this will rise to three quarters by 1990. There is a high degree of standardisation and advantage is taken of any lessons, technical, economic, economic or connected with safety that experience may teach. This experience is being used in the design of a new series of reactors known as N4 which will start commercial operation in 1991. Characteristics of the existing 1300MW and the new 1400MW N4 series (nuclear steam supply, turbo alternator set and steam generator) are tabulated. Equipment design improvements, CRT display systems and radiation protection for the new series are discussed. (U.K.)