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New TVA Watts Bar nuclear reactor passes hot functional tests
The Tennessee Valley Authority has successfully completed its testing of key operating equipment for its Watts Bar Unit 2 nuclear reactor, clearing the way for additional tests of safety and containment systems before fuel is scheduled to be loaded in the new reactor this fall.
TVA said today that the latest round of tests, called hot functional testing, demonstrated equipment performed as designed and marks the first time nearly 60 important systems operated together. Over a period of eight weeks, operators used the heat generated by plant equipment to increase the temperature and pressure of systems to normal operating levels. The unit's main turbine was also rolled up to normal operating speed using the plant's steam.
...snip...
Hot functional testing is a critical pre-operational requirement leading up to TVA requesting an operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That license is required before fuel can be loaded into the reactor.
NRC commissioners have voted to grant TVA an operating license for Watts Bar Unit 2, provided that staff certifies that the plant and its staff are ready. TVA expects to begin generating power from the new reactor by the end of 2015.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/aug/11/new-tva-watts-bar-nuclear-reactor-passes-hot-functional-tests/319311/
TVA said today that the latest round of tests, called hot functional testing, demonstrated equipment performed as designed and marks the first time nearly 60 important systems operated together. Over a period of eight weeks, operators used the heat generated by plant equipment to increase the temperature and pressure of systems to normal operating levels. The unit's main turbine was also rolled up to normal operating speed using the plant's steam.
...snip...
Hot functional testing is a critical pre-operational requirement leading up to TVA requesting an operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That license is required before fuel can be loaded into the reactor.
NRC commissioners have voted to grant TVA an operating license for Watts Bar Unit 2, provided that staff certifies that the plant and its staff are ready. TVA expects to begin generating power from the new reactor by the end of 2015.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/aug/11/new-tva-watts-bar-nuclear-reactor-passes-hot-functional-tests/319311/