Mochovce NPP Units 3&4 - construction completion
16th Symposium of AER on VVER Reactor Physics and Reactor Safety (2006, Bratislava, Slovakia)
Welcome address
Abstract
Mochovce NPP unit 3 and 4 is one of representants of delayed project in the world within nuclear energy area.
Mochovce NPP was originally planned for operation with four VVER-213 440 MW reactor blocks. Mochovce units 1 and 2 were commissioned in 1998 and 2000, respectively. Construction of Mochovce units 3 and 4 was suspended in 1992 due to a lack of financial resources. At present, construction of units 3 and 4 is approximately on 30% completed in terms of technology and approximately on 70% completed.
In September 1999, the Government of the Slovak Republic adopted Resolution No.801/99 to shut down the two reactor units of V-1 NPP at Jaslovske Bohunice in the years 2006 and 2008 pursuant to Slovakia’s accession negotiations with the European Union. As a result, 880 MW (out of 2,640MW) of nuclear capacity will be removed from SE’s assets basis. In addition, the expected closure of part of the production capacity from Novaky and Vojany thermal power plants (2006) and, later (around 2025), the scheduled closure of the two reactor units of V-2 at Jaslovske Bohunice NPP will lead to a large fall in SE’s (and Slovakia’s) installed (base load) capacity.
This has led SE to review the opportunity for completing the construction of reactor units 3 and 4 at Mochovce NPP. Under the proposed model of completion of Mochovce units 3 and 4, several fundamental changes in construction and technology from the operating Mochovce units 1 and 2 are planned. These include increasing the gross (net) installed capacity of Mochovce units 3 and 4 and extending the operating life of Mochovce units 3 and 4.
The Mochovce units 1 and 2 were selected as a reference plant with the following main areas for innovations and strategy of technical innovations of the original design solution of Mochovce units 3 and 4 were specified:
• nuclear safety corresponding to the safety level of the reference plant Mochovce units 1 and 2 and in conformance with current international requirements on nuclear and operational safety as a minimum, including handling of catastrophic accident issues,
• totally new instrumentation and control system for Mochovce units 3 and 4,
• brand new electric equipment according to STN IEC (Slovak technical norm The International Electrotechnical Commission) under preparation,
• possibilities for increasing production of electric energy,
• extension of lifetime up to 40 years of operation as a minimum,
• other possibilities for making future operation more effective.
This presentation deals with main safety, technical and economical issues shall be fulfilled to meet recent safety national and international requirements, as follows:
• Basic safety requirements on Mochovce units 3&4 design revision,
• Basic technical requirements on Mochovce units 3&4 design revision,
• Main phases of MO34 safety issues solution,
• Proposal for design changes – proposal for safety concept of Mochovce Units 3&4 construction completion,
• Safety measures within design basis accidents,
• Safety measures within beyond design basis accidents,
• Components and systems innovation,
• Increasing of technical and economical parameters of MO34.