Feasibility of Safe Operation of WWER-440-Type Nuclear Power Plants for Up to 60–70 Years
Most WWER-440 reactors are operated over the planned operational lifetime of 30 years. Now, the owners/operators are preparing for the second phase of extending the operation. The paper presents an overview of the most important aspects of ageing of the main components of the WWER-440-type reactors...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/10/4170 |
| _version_ | 1797600242355404800 |
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| author | Tamás János Katona Ágnes Biro Sándor Rátkai |
| author_facet | Tamás János Katona Ágnes Biro Sándor Rátkai |
| author_sort | Tamás János Katona |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Most WWER-440 reactors are operated over the planned operational lifetime of 30 years. Now, the owners/operators are preparing for the second phase of extending the operation. The paper presents an overview of the most important aspects of ageing of the main components of the WWER-440-type reactors based on the operational and ageing management experiences and primary research efforts supporting the operation. The paper aims to demonstrate that the expectations for the operability of these reactors for up to 60–70 years are realistic. The scope of the review is limited to the ageing of the reactor pressure vessel, vessel internals, and steam generator, which are the lifetime-limiting components besides the containment structure. Some of the corrective actions, improvements of in-service inspections, maintenance, and ageing management are also considered in the paper. It is shown that the selection of materials and unavoidable material degradation processes do not limit the operation of the WWER-440 reactors for up to 60–70 years under the established operational environment and ageing management practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:45:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c542ca243324eeeac8e5639a68cd16e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:45:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c542ca243324eeeac8e5639a68cd16e2023-11-18T01:13:52ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-05-011610417010.3390/en16104170Feasibility of Safe Operation of WWER-440-Type Nuclear Power Plants for Up to 60–70 YearsTamás János Katona0Ágnes Biro1Sándor Rátkai2Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, HungaryVEIKI Energia+ Ltd., 2030 Érd, HungaryMVM Nuclear Power Plant Paks, 7031 Paks, HungaryMost WWER-440 reactors are operated over the planned operational lifetime of 30 years. Now, the owners/operators are preparing for the second phase of extending the operation. The paper presents an overview of the most important aspects of ageing of the main components of the WWER-440-type reactors based on the operational and ageing management experiences and primary research efforts supporting the operation. The paper aims to demonstrate that the expectations for the operability of these reactors for up to 60–70 years are realistic. The scope of the review is limited to the ageing of the reactor pressure vessel, vessel internals, and steam generator, which are the lifetime-limiting components besides the containment structure. Some of the corrective actions, improvements of in-service inspections, maintenance, and ageing management are also considered in the paper. It is shown that the selection of materials and unavoidable material degradation processes do not limit the operation of the WWER-440 reactors for up to 60–70 years under the established operational environment and ageing management practice.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/10/4170reactor pressure vesselreactor internalssteam generatorirradiation embrittlementlong-term operationstress corrosion cracking |
| spellingShingle | Tamás János Katona Ágnes Biro Sándor Rátkai Feasibility of Safe Operation of WWER-440-Type Nuclear Power Plants for Up to 60–70 Years Energies reactor pressure vessel reactor internals steam generator irradiation embrittlement long-term operation stress corrosion cracking |
| title | Feasibility of Safe Operation of WWER-440-Type Nuclear Power Plants for Up to 60–70 Years |
| title_full | Feasibility of Safe Operation of WWER-440-Type Nuclear Power Plants for Up to 60–70 Years |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility of Safe Operation of WWER-440-Type Nuclear Power Plants for Up to 60–70 Years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility of Safe Operation of WWER-440-Type Nuclear Power Plants for Up to 60–70 Years |
| title_short | Feasibility of Safe Operation of WWER-440-Type Nuclear Power Plants for Up to 60–70 Years |
| title_sort | feasibility of safe operation of wwer 440 type nuclear power plants for up to 60 70 years |
| topic | reactor pressure vessel reactor internals steam generator irradiation embrittlement long-term operation stress corrosion cracking |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/10/4170 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tamasjanoskatona feasibilityofsafeoperationofwwer440typenuclearpowerplantsforupto6070years AT agnesbiro feasibilityofsafeoperationofwwer440typenuclearpowerplantsforupto6070years AT sandorratkai feasibilityofsafeoperationofwwer440typenuclearpowerplantsforupto6070years |