Refurbishment of CANDU Reactors: A Canadian Perspective & Overview of Ontario s Current Program

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Peregrine Walker
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1 Refurbishment of CANDU Reactors: A Canadian Perspective & Overview of Ontario s Current Program

2 Agenda What is a CANDU Reactor? Why is a mid-life refurbishment necessary? What steps are involved in CANDU refurbishment? Ontario s electricity landscape Ontario s plans for refurbishment Questions and answers [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group and its member companies. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. 2

3 What is a CANDU Reactor? CANDU: CANada Deuterium Uranium Natural Uranium Oxide fuel (UO 2 ) Heavy Water coolant (pressurized) and moderator Mid-sized reactor (less than 1000MWe) Horizontal fuel channels Online refueling Flexible front-end fuel cycle [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group and its member companies. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. 3

3 4 1 5 2 6 7 1 Calandria 2 Calandria End Shield 3 Shut-off and Control Rods 4 Poison Injection 5 Fuel Channel Assemblies 6 Feeder

4 Calandria 2 Calandria End Shield 3 Shut-off and Control Rods 4 Poison Injection 5 Fuel Channel Assemblies 6 Feeder Pipes 7 Vault [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group and its member companies. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. 4

5 Why is a mid-life refurbishment necessary? Horizontal fuel channels + neutrons + time = creep Results in sagging of fuel channels. Leads to: Higher risk of center-line dry-out in fuel bundles Contact between reactor components and mechanisms To maintain safety margins, fuel channels must be replaced around 30 years after initial start-up Heat transport feeders also experience material degradation over time and must be replaced as well Refurbishment allows for another 30 years of safe operations [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group and its member companies. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. 5

7 What steps are involved in CANDU refurbishment? Front-end planning and design (definition phase) Specialized tooling design and manufacturing Removal of reactor fuel bundles Removal of heavy water moderator and coolant Removal and safe storage of reactor pipes and tubes Inspection of calandria vessel Installation of new tubes and pipes OPTIONAL: New boilers, turbine generators, etc. Insert new fuel in the reactor Return heavy water moderator and coolant to reactor [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group and its member companies. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. 7

8 Ontario s Electricity Landscape Energy Output by Source Type Gas/Oil 9% Wind 6% Biofuel <1% Solar/Other <1% Nuclear 91.7 TWh or 61% Hydro 35.7 TWh or 24% Gas/Oil 12.7 TWh or 9% Wind 9.3 TWh or 6% Biofuel 0.49 TWh or <1% Solar/Other 0.46 TWh or <1% Hydro 24% Nuclear 61% [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group and its member companies. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. 8

Ontario s Nuclear Landscape 1 Bruce Power 2 Pickering 3 Darlington [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group

Ontario s Electricity Landscape Pickering Nuclear Generating Station [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group

Ontario s Electricity Landscape Darlington Nuclear Generating Station [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group

Ontario s Electricity Landscape Bruce Power Nuclear Site [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group and its

13 Ontario s Plan for Refurbishment The latest Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP) for the province of Ontario was released by the Ministry of Energy in 2013 A major part of the LTEP was focused on climate change Ontario has phased out coal; represents the single largest climate change initiative in North America Nuclear energy will continue to be the backbone of the electricity supply Ontario s Electricity mix and the refurbishment plans are aligned with the federal government s commitment to reduce carbon emissions Ontario recently implemented a cap and trade program, with its first auction in March of this year, aimed at lowering carbon emissions Refurbishment of the Darlington and Bruce Generating Stations are instrumental to the long term supply of clean, affordable and reliable electricity Represents an investment of approximately $25B between OPG and Bruce Power [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group and its member companies. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. 13

14 Ontario s Plan for Refurbishment Bruce Power Refurbishment Schedule Bruce Power Unit 6 Bruce Power Unit 3 Bruce Power Unit 4 Bruce Power Unit 5 OPG Refurbishment Schedule OPG Unit 2 OPG Unit 3 OPG Unit 1 OPG Unit 4 [2017] SNC-Lavalin Group and its member companies. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. 14

15 Thank you! Questions?

Powering Ontario for the next half-century: Refurbishing Darlington

Powering Ontario for the next half-century: Refurbishing Darlington By Colin Hunt, Publisher and Editor, Nuclear Canada Yearbook Introduction and Overview In 2016, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) will commence