25 Sep (NucNet): The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a power uprate for unit 2 at the St. Lucie nuclear station that will increase power output of the unit by 17 percent.
The power output of the pressurised water reactor (PWR) unit will increase from approximately 853 to 1,002 megawatts (MW), the NRC said in a statement.
The uprate will increase the unit’s thermal power level from 2,700 to 3,020 MW. The uprate will translate to a 17 percent increase in the unit’s electricity generation capacity, the NRC said.
According to the NRC, the uprate was requested by Florida Power & Light (FP&L) on 25 February 2011.
The NRC said it had reviewed the company’s analysis showing the reactor design can accommodate the increased power level.
The NRC’s evaluation concluded that FP&L could safely increase the reactor’s power output primarily by carrying out significant upgrades to several unit’s systems and components, including the steam and power conversion system, and the condensate and feedwater system.
The safety evaluation for the uprate focused on several areas, including the reactor’s steam generators, the pressure vessel material surveillance programme pressurised thermal shock, and reactor internal and core support materials.
The NRC said FP&L intends to implement the uprate in the next few months.
The St. Lucie nuclear station, which has two PWR units, is 16 kilometres southeast of Fort Pierce, Florida.
The NRC approved a similar uprate for St. Lucie unit 1 on 9 July 2012.
