ML20042E031
| ML20042E031 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/06/1990 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| TASK-PII, TASK-SE SECY-90-133, NUDOCS 9004190022 | |
| Download: ML20042E031 (2) | |
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POLICY ISSUE The Commissioner (Information)
For:
From:
James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations
Subject:
PROTOTYPEREdUIREMENTFORCANDU3 DESIGN
Purpose:
To present staff views on whether a prototype will be required for the CANDU 3 reactor design in response to a staff requirements memorandum dated January 31, 1990.
Background:
In a January 31, 1990, staff requirenents memorandum, the Commission asked the staff to evaluate whether a prototype will be required for the CANDU 3 design.
In SECY-89-350 dated November 21, 1989, the staff provided background information, a discussion of technical issues, and a proposed plan for processing an application for a CANDU 3 reactor.
In that paper the staff concluded that a prototype for the CANDU 3 design will not be required because the CANDU 3 design is based on proven heavy water technology in Canada and because plans exist to construct a commercial CANDU 3 reactor at Point Lepreau.
Discussion:
TheCANDU3 design (450MWe)differssignificantlyfromlight-water reactor designs currently licensed and operating in the United States and from evolutionary light-water reactor designs.
The CANDU 3 design, however,ful in other CANDU operating plants is based on heavy-water technology that has been proven success in Canada. The design is an evolution of the CANDU 6 design (approximately 665 MWe), which has been approved for use in Canada by the Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB), the Canadian nuclear regulatory body.
Four CANDU 6 units are currently in operation. A total of 24 CANDU units are in operation worldwide, representing approximately 176 reactor years of experience.
The earliest CANDU reactors went into operation at the Pickering site, in 1971. The CANDU 3 contains many features and components.
i already in use in other CANDU designs.
For example, key components, CONTACT:
NOTE:
TO BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE l
D. Persinko, PMAS/NRR IN 10 WORKING DAYS FROM THE-l 49-21278 DATE OF THIS PAPER i
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such as steam generators, coolant pumps, and pressure tubes are similar to those currently in use in other types of operating CANDU plants. The basic core design of the CANDU 3, although smaller than earlier CANDU reactor cores, features the same fuel and lattice design as earlier CANDUs.
Early CANDU designs used computerized control of process systems.
Later. the computer system at the Darlington nuclear plant in Canada was'used to i
actuate shutdown systems.
The CANDU 3 computer system is an
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extension of the system used in the Darlington plant and is used i
both to control process systems and to actuate safety systems, i
which include the shutdown systems.
Most control functions in j
the CANDU 3 are implemented by a distributed control system
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instead of by trunk cabling and central computers. This system is also an extension of the distributed control system used to i
a limited extent in.the Darlington plant.
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1 The staff has discussed the CANDU 3 reactor design with the J
Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) of Canada. The AECB has considerable knowledge of CANDU reactors gained over years of experience licensing these reactors. The staff would work with the AECB to utilize the Canadian: experience with CANDU reactors l
if the staff were to review a CANDU 3 design.
1 Although the CANDU 3 represents an evolutionary heavy-water design, for the purposes of licensing in the United States, the 4
CANDU 3 should be considered an advanced reactor as defined in 10 CFR Part 52. However, because the CANDU 3 is based on proven l
heavy-water technology, the staff does not anticipate that a t
prototype will be required.
However, if the staff review of the CANDU 3 reveals major differences from previous CANDU designs t
beyond those currently anticipated, the staff will reconsider l
requiring a prototype. The issue of prototype may be a moot l
point, however, because the New Brunswick Electric Power i
j Comission is planning to construct a CANDU 3 at its Point-Lepreau generating station in eastern Canada.
-1 The staff is currently unaware of any interest in the CANDU 3 design by potential domestic customers.
The staff will advise the Commission of any expression of interest on the part of e
potential domestic customers should the staff become aware of i
such interest.
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