A review of the emergency electric power supply systems at PWR nuclear power plants

The Emergency Electric Power Supply Systems at Pressurized Water Reactor Nuclear Power Plants are reviewed, problem areas are identified, and recommendations are made for existing and future Nuclear Power Plants. A simplified introduction to a typical Pressurized Water Nuclear Reactor is given and the problems associated with the commercial use of nuclear power are discussed. An overview of the Nuclear industry's solutions is presented and covers the Reliability of equipment and the American Regulatory requirements. The alternating and direct current power supply systems are examined in terms of plant operational state and equipment type (Diesel generators, Grid network, Lead-acid batteries, Battery chargers, Inverters, and Power Distribution networks). The trends in the design of Emergency Electric Power supply systems at Nuclear Power Plants are presented. The loss of all alternating current power, known as Station Blackout, is discussed and the American and European response to this. problem is presented. Problems experienced in the direct current systems are discussed and solutions are presented. The experience at Koeberg Nuclear Power station with Lead-acid batteries is included in the discussion. The thesis concludes with recommendations for designers and operators of the Electric Power Supply Systems at Nuclear Power Stations.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Electrical Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

1989

Author dc:creator

• Smyth, Thomas Paton

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dingley, Charles

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22430

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/22430