Increasing thermal output in Nuclear Power Plants. Method for analysing impact on the original design of a PWR-TYPE Power Plant

Increasing the thermal output of a nuclear power plant implies revising the original design of its systems. This revision must be carried out in a coordinated and sequential way. The following steps have been suggested in order to carry this out: Definition in agreement with the supplier to the NSSS on 2 levels of thermal power (eg, 110% and 115%) without modifying the reactor Study, in collaboration with each supplier, of the GVs, RC Pumps, Pressurizer, Turbines, Condensers, Alternator, MSRs, Heaters and CD, FW and HD Pumps. From this study, it is possible to determine operating characteristics at the new thermal power levels and whether it is necessary to modify something in these equipment items Study of the secondary side using a heat balance program (HBAL) to obtain the new P, T and Q of the FW,Cd, HD, MS and EX systems Study of the safety systems: ESW, SW, CC, AF Study of the mass and energy releases in Containment in Local and SLB in order to maintain their validity by increasing, if necessary, the SP capacity Study of design transients of primary and secondary sides Study of electrical systems Study of auxiliary systems. (Author)