Development of the AP600 plant design to meet growing power needs

Government and industry projections indicate that U.S. energy demand in the 1990s will grow steadily, creating the need for approximately 115,000 megawatts (MW) of additional capacity by the year 2000. In a joint effort to keep nuclear power as an energy option, the Department of Energy and the Electric Power Research Institute initiated a program to develop the conceptual design of a new reactor that is more economical to build, simpler to operate and maintain, and with an enhanced safety margin. As part of this program, Westinghouse designed the Advanced Passive 600 MWe nuclear power plant. Drawing from three decades of nuclear power plant experience, Westinghouse engineers designed a plant with passive safety systems, a simplified nuclear steam supply system, an advanced instrumentation and control system and modular construction. The design uses natural forces gravity, evaporation, condensation, natural circulation and convection - to attain the standards of simplicity and safety. Analyses and test results show that this design has an enhanced safety factor, can be constructed in 36 months, and significantly reduces capital costs. This paper describes how this new generation of nuclear power plant design, which is based on proven technology, can meet near-term energy demands safely, reliably, and at a reasonable cost