A Study on the Effect of Core Safety due to Power Uprate

In general, nuclear power generation is regarded as economical. However, its huge initial investment and social costs involved in site selection make it not-anideal solution to meet rising power demand with construction of a new plant. Under the circumstances, other ways to enhance economicality of nuclear power generation such as low low leakage loading pattern, long term fuel cycle and continuous operation are being explored, instead of building additional units that have limited return of investment or developing new system equipment. Power uprate is also another solution that was created in order to increase power output at lower cost. Unit 3 and 4 of Kori Nuclear Power Plant acquired permit for operational change of power uprate and is currently in operation with heat output of 2900MWt whereas in Yonggwang site unit 1 and 2 of the same furnace time, power uprate has not been applied. This study evaluates power uprate of Unit 3 and 4 of Kori NPP to analyze core safety in case of power uprate of Unit 1 and 2 of Yonggwang NPP and examines different ways to maximize economic gains of power uprate