Spanish Nuclear Adventure. From the past into the Future

摘要

The paper describes the conditions under which nuclear power has been developed in Spain and the characteristics of such development. Electric utilities have been free to follow the laws of the market with the only restrictions imposed by safety regulations and national interest. The resulting programme is characterized by an early start, a stepwise introduction of plants, a diversity of types and suppliers, an important domestic contribution, an early consideration to fuel cycle and to administrative procedures. The paper analyzes the operating experience. For the three plants belonging to the first generation (1968-72) the load factor varies between 64% for the BWR and 74% for the GCR. Likewise the availability factor goes from 70% to 89% for the same units. In the LWR's important backfitting actions have been performed covering waste treatment, emergency core cooling and electric power supplies, among others. An important fraction of the recirculation system for the BWR has been replaced due to stress corrosion cracking. The operating experience for the second generation of nuclear power plants (1981-85) is also included, even though it is not considered representative. Load factors go from 49% for Almaraz one to 71% for Almaraz two. Availability factors range from 61% for Asco one to 80% for Almaraz two. The commissioning of these stations shows a rather large number of unscheduled shutdowns. The PWR's have experienced important modifications in their W D-3 steam generators. The 1983 National Energy Plan, reevaluated in 1985, has limited the installed nuclear power to 7,7 GWe by 1992 on the basis of an assumed excess capacity. This has forced the postponement of five units, four of them in an advanced stage of construction. Nevertheless nuclear power is still considered a solution for the intermediate and long terms. 5 tables. (ERA citation 12:028518)