Design features in Korean next generation reactor focused on performance and economic viability

As of the end of Dec. 1999, Korea's total nuclear power capacity reached 13,716 MWe with 16 units in operation and 4 units under construction. In addition, as part of the national long-term R and D programme launched in 1992, the Korean Next Generation Reactor (KNGR) is being developed to meet the electricity demands in the years to come and is expected to be safer and more economically competitive than any other conventional electric power sources in Korea. The KNGR project has successfully completed its second phase and is now on the third phase. In Phase III of the KNGR design development project, KNGR aims at reinforcing the economic competitiveness while maintaining safety goals. To achieve these objectives, the design options studied and the design requirements set up in the first phase are pursued while the second phase are being reviewed. This paper summarizes such efforts for design improvement in terms of performance and economic viability along with the status of nuclear power generation in Korea, focusing on KNGR currently. (author)