chemistry aspects of the hinkley point c nuclear new build ... · chemistry aspects of the hinkley...

CHEMISTRY ASPECTS OF THE HINKLEY POINT C NUCLEAR NEW BUILD POINT C NUCLEAR NEW BUILD PROJECTA. Rudge and M. Harrington EDF Energy Nuclear New Build Barnett Way Barnwood EDF Energy Nuclear New Build, Barnett Way, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3RS


PresentationPresentation

• Introduction

• EPR™ Key Facts

• Current Status of the HPC Project

• Key Chemistry Aspects of the UK EPR Design

• Next Steps


IntroductionIntroduction• UK Government wants nuclear new build to contribute to the UK’s

future energy mix, as it seeks to find the optimum balance between future energy mix, as it seeks to find the optimum balance between the needs for energy security, sustainability and cost competitiveness.

• Nuclear power currently provides around 19% of the electricity generated in the UK, but this figure has declined from a peak of over 25% in the last 15 yearsover 25% in the last 15 years.

• EDF Energy proposes to build four new EPR™ units in the UK. The EPR™ is a pressurised light-water reactor (PWR); two units first at EPR is a pressurised light water reactor (PWR); two units first at Hinkley Point in north Somerset and then two at Sizewell in Suffolk.

• NNB GenCo (Nuclear New Build Generation Company; Part of EDF NNB GenCo (Nuclear New Build Generation Company; Part of EDF Energy) is a subsidiary of EDF Energy and is the nuclear site licensee for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) project.

4 Chemistry Aspects of the Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build Project. © 1 January 2015 EDF Energy plc. All rights Reserved

EDF Energy’s Focus for Nuclear New BuildNNB want to build two EPR™ units at Hinkley Point in S d Si ll

EDF Energy s Focus for Nuclear New Build

Somerset and two at Sizewell in Suffolk

Sizewell C (SZC)

Hinkley Point C (HPC)


Visualisation of Hinkley Point C

Chemistry Aspects of the New UK EPR Nuclear Power Plant, 11th November 2014. © 1 January 2014 EDF Energy plc. All rights Reserved


EPR™ Key FactsEPR Key Facts• The EPR™ is designed for at least 60 Years of operation• Single turbine with an output of 1650 MWe, running at 1500 rpmg p , g p• A 4-loop design developed from the French N4 and German

KONVOI reactorsA f l ffi i d i h ill 17% l i MWh • A fuel efficient design that will use 17% less uranium per MWh produced


EPR™ Key FactsEPR Key Facts• Designed for shorter refuelling and maintenance outages, with an

availability factor of up to 92%• Improved radiation shielding for operators• EPRs are also being constructed in Flamanville (France), Olkiluoto

(Finland) and Taishan (China)(Finland) and Taishan (China),


Flammanville 3 EPR™ Construction


Current Status of the HPC ProjectCurrent Status of the HPC Project

• 2007-2012 – Generic Design Assessment of the EPRTM d• Dec 2012 – ONR & EA approve generic EPRTM design

• Nov 2012 – Nuclear Site Licence granted by the ONR• Nov 2012 – Permission for preliminary site ground work and excavationsp y g• Mar 2013 – Three Environmental Permits granted• Mar 2013 – Planning permission DCO (Design Consent Order) granted• Oct 2014 Approval from the EU’s State Aid Review on the Contract for • Oct 2014 – Approval from the EU s State Aid Review on the Contract for

Difference for HPC and the UK Guarantee Scheme• Apr 2014 (ongoing) – Start of the Detailed Design Phase• Sep 2014 (ongoing) – Production phase of the next iteration of the HPC

Pre-Construction Safety Report• Next Step – Final Investment Decision


Chemistry Aspects of the Nuclear Safety & Environmental Protection CasesNuclear Safety

• Selection of design options which take into account optimal primary circuit chemistry and material choices, as well as the reduction of ex-core radiation, ydose to workers and environmental protection.

• Resolution of regulatory issues and findings as part of the Nuclear Safety Resolution of regulatory issues and findings as part of the Nuclear Safety and Environmental GDA reports for the UK EPR, in conjunction with EDF and AREVA.

• Development of the detailed chemical and radiochemical aspects of the site-specific safety case, in line with the design process.


Chemistry Aspects of the Nuclear Safety & Environmental Protection CasesEnvironmental Protection

• Compliance with Environmental Permits and Consents, including hazardous (UK COMAH regulations) and radioactive substances:g

• Radioactive substances Regulations• Water Discharge Activity Regulations• Combustion Activity Regulations• Combustion Activity Regulations

• Application of Best Available Technique (BAT) and demonstration h h h d hthrough the Permits and the Environment Protection case.

• Optimisation and minimisation of chemical and radiochemical effluents pat the source.

• Co-development specification and implementation of monitoring and

12

• Co development, specification and implementation of monitoring and sampling systems.


Chemistry Aspects of the Nuclear Safety & Environmental Protection CasesUK EPR Chemistry Manual

• To support the Nuclear Safety and Environmental cases, containing specifications for all chemical and radiochemical parameters, their p p ,measurement frequencies and their target values/ranges.

• The description of chemical conditioning for the primary circuit • The description of chemical conditioning for the primary circuit, secondary circuit and auxiliary systems, according to ALARP principles, international standards and best practice.


Key Chemistry Aspects of the UK EPR DesignKey Chemistry Aspects of the UK EPR Design

• The use of Enriched Boric Acid (EBA); 19.9%at 10B 37%at 10B

• Boron Recycling

• Zinc Injection

• Stellite™ reduction programme

• FAC Mitigation

• Ethanolamine/Ammonia/Hydrazine• Ethanolamine/Ammonia/Hydrazinesecondary water conditioning



The use of Enriched Boric Acid (EBA); 19.9%at 10B 37%at 10B

50

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Natural Boric Acid Concentration

35

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45 Lithium (7) Hydroxide Concentration

LITHIUM HYDROXIDE LIMIT

20

25

30

5

10

15

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MonthsChemistry Aspects of the Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build Project. © 1 January 2015 EDF Energy plc. All rights Reserved


The use of Enriched Boric Acid (EBA); 19.9%at 10B 37%at 10B

50

55

Enriched Boric Acid Concentration

35

40

45 Lithium (7) Hydroxide Concentration

LITHIUM HYDROXIDE LIMIT

20

25

30

5

10

15

0

5

0 3 6 9 12 15 18

16

MonthsChemistry Aspects of the Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build Project. © 1 January 2015 EDF Energy plc. All rights Reserved


FAC Mitigation


More Chemistry Aspects of the UK EPR DesignMore Chemistry Aspects of the UK EPR Design

• Hydrogen management

• Chemistry control during Hot Functional Testing (Passivation)

• Development of Laboratory strategy and Information Management systems

• Establishment of a baseline Chemistry staffing organisation

• Development of a Materials Compatibility Process

• Development of chemical use and storage arrangements that ensure the site avoids becoming a COMAH top tier site


Next StepsNext Steps

• Detailed Design Phase- Development of the design to be “construction ready”- Inclusion of:

UK specific requirements - UK specific requirements - Fukushima requirements- Resolution of regulatory GDA Assessment Findingsg y g

• The Final Investment Decision (FID) for the HPC Project

• Construction ActivitiesEarthworks- Earthworks

- First Safety-related concrete- First Nuclear Island concrete


chemistry aspects of the hinkley point c nuclear new build ... · chemistry aspects of the hinkley...

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