Expecting More from the Nuclear Fleet

摘要

From welds to valves to concrete floors, nuclear power plants are beginning to show their age. High-profile projects performed during scheduled outages like turbine or steam generator replacements are marvels of engineering and scheduling prowess. But the less glamorous balance-of-plant systems also need constant attention. To extend the lives of aging reactors and boost efficiency, utilities are instituting innovative maintenance programs and repair procedures. As nuclear power plants in the US fleet reach the end of their licensed operating lives, operators have become masters of the upgrade and the uprate. Upgrades can be performed to support operating license extensions and improve reliability, while uprates also add megawatts to the plant's output. With half of the nation's reactors less than 24 years old, diligence on the part of plant operators and advancements in service and repair technology can help ensure that their owners get more power out of them for years to come.