How do EPR reactors work?
In a Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) like the EPR™ reactor, ordinary (light) water is utilized to remove the heat produced inside the reactor core by nuclear fission. This water also slows down (or moderates) neutrons (constituents of atom nuclei that are released in the nuclear fission process).
How many EPR reactors are there?
There are three additional EPR reactors under construction worldwide, including Flamanville 3 in France, Olkiluoto 3 in Finland and Hinkley Point C in the UK.
What is EPR power plant?
The EPR is a third generation pressurised water reactor design. It has been designed and developed mainly by Framatome (part of Areva between 2001 and 2017) and Électricité de France (EDF) in France, and Siemens in Germany.
What does EPR stand for reactor?
European Pressurised Water Reactors
EPRs – originally known as European Pressurised Water Reactors – are a type of Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR). The design of the UK EPRs that will be built at Hinkley Point C represents a major development on previous PWRs, making them amongst the safest and most efficient civil nuclear power generators ever designed.
What type of reactor is HPC?
PWR Reactor
Hinkley Point C nuclear power station
| Hinkley Point C nuclear power station (HPC) | |
|---|---|
| Reactor type | PWR |
| Reactor supplier | Framatome |
| Cooling source | Sea water from Severn Estuary |
| Thermal capacity | 2 × 4,524 MWth (planned) |
Why is the Generation II reactor called the light water reactor?
The light-water reactor uses ordinary water, also called light water, as its neutron moderator. The light water absorbs too many neutrons to be used with unenriched natural uranium, and therefore uranium enrichment or nuclear reprocessing becomes necessary to operate such reactors, increasing overall costs.
Why is Flamanville delayed?
It added the main reason for the delay was faulty welds, which will be fixed by the end of August rather than by the end of April, as previously expected.
What is EPR technology?
According to EDF, the EPR technology is setting the standard for future nuclear generation around the world to meet the increasing demand for energy in the context of limited reserves of oil, gas and coal and the need to combat climate change.
Why is the Generation II reactor called the light-water reactor?
How much electricity will HPC produce?
The reactor at Hinkley Point C Hinkley Point C will be the first in a new generation of nuclear power stations in the UK. The planned twin unit UK EPR is capable of generating 3,260MW of secure, low carbon electricity for 60 years.