26 Aug (NucNet): The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a request by Exelon Generation Company to increase the generating capacity of units 2 and 3 at the Peach Bottom nuclear power station in Pennsylvania by 12.4 percent each, a statement said.
The NRC determined Exelon could safely increase the reactors’ output primarily by upgrading certain plant systems and components. NRC staff also reviewed Exelon’s evaluations showing the plant’s design can handle the increased power level.
Both units are 1,065-megawatt boiling water reactors. Unit 2 entered commercial operation in July 1974 and Unit 3 in December 1974. Unit 1 at the site was a 40-megawatt experimental high temperature gas reactor (HTGR) that was permanently shut down in November 1974.
The NRC’s safety evaluation of the plant’s proposed power uprate focused on several areas, such as the nuclear steam supply systems, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, accident evaluations, radiological consequences, operations and training, testing, and technical specification changes.
The NRC said that “for added confidence in the analysis”, NRC staff also conducted “independent confirmatory calculations and audits of selected areas”.
The power uprate authorises Peach Bottom to increase each reactor’s generating capacity by approximately 140 MW electric. Exelon plans to implement Unit 2’s uprate during the autumn 2014 refuelling outage and Unit 3’s uprate during the autumn 2015 refuelling outage.
