Dominion Power has chosen Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' US-APWR reactor design for its potential third North Anna reactor in the US state of Virginia. The Mitsubishi US-APWR technology would be introduced for construction of Unit 3 if the company decides to go forward with the project.
MHI has also received an order from French utility EDF for replacement steam generators (RSG) for reactors in France.
Dominion’s prospective selection of MHI’s reactor technology was the result of a competitive process conducted by the utility that involved bids from global reactor vendors. In 2007, Texas-based Luminant selected the US-APWR design for its Comanche Peak Units 3 and 4 south of Fort Worth, Tex.
MHI developed the US-APWR based on technologies for a 1,538 MW APWR intended for use at the Tsuruga Power Station (Units 3 and 4) of the Japan Atomic Power Company. A variety of modifications were added to meet the demands of U.S. utility customers for enhanced performance, a high level of thermal efficiency, a 20% reduction in plant building volume, a 24-month fuel cycle, and greater economy through increased power generation capacity.
MHI first entered the U.S. nuclear market in 2002 through an order from Dominion for a replacement reactor vessel closure head and control rod drive mechanism at its Surry and North Anna nuclear plants, respectively. Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems Inc. (MNES), MHI’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Arlington, Va., proposed the design on behalf of MHI.
Dominion must obtain a combined construction and operating license from the NRC as well as an agreement from Virginia State Corporation Commission, to construct a new nuclear unit at North Anna.
MHI won the steam generator order jointly with France's Comex Nucléaire (CxN), a company with which MHI has been collaborating in NPP marketing in France since 2002. CxN, headquartered in Marseille, provides highly specialized services and maintenance for NPP facilities. They will be delivered from 2016.
The RSGs on order, which measure 21m in height and weigh roughly 300 tons, will be manufactured at MHI's Kobe Shipyard & Machinery Works. Their pressure-resistant container, made of low-alloy steel of manganese, molybdenum and nickel steel, houses more than 4,000 heat transfer tubes made of a thermally treated nickel-chromium-iron alloy (TT690), an advanced material.
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