Expecting More from the Nuclear Fleet

摘要

From welds to valves to concrete floors, nuclear power plants are beginning to show their age. At the same time, plant owners are hoping to extend their plants' operating lives. 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 (BOP) systems also need constant attention.rnIn April, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a 20-year operating license extension for Oyster Creek Generating Station, the oldest nuclear power plant in the U.S. In late August, plant operators removed a 25-foot section of underground pipe that was leaking inside the turbine building, close to where two smaller leaks had been discovered months before.Station operators continue to inspect pipes in the affected area as part of the site's aging management program.