TheMitsubishi advanced pressurized water reactor (APWR) is ageneration III nuclear reactor design developed byMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) based onpressurized water reactor technology. It features several design enhancements including aneutron reflector, improved efficiency and improved safety systems. It has safety features advanced over the last generation, including a combination of passive and active systems. None are currently under construction.
The standard APWR is going through the licensing process in Japan and two (of 1538 MWe) are being constructed at theTsuruga plant. The next APWR+ will be of a 1700 MWe power and have fullMOX core abilities.
The US-APWR was developed by MHI to modify their APWR design to comply with US regulations.TXU selected the US-APWR for use at multiple sites, including theComanche Peak Nuclear Generating Station.[1]However, in 2013, Mitsubishi slowed U.S. certification work, and the application to build two units at Comanche was suspended.[2]
The reactors are intended for use innuclear power plants to producenuclear power fromnuclear fuel.
| Electric Power | 1,700 MWe[3] |
| Core Thermal Power | 4,451 MWt |
| Reactor Fuel Assemblies | 257 |
| Reactor Fuel | Advanced 17x17, 14 ft. |
| Active Core Length | 4.2 meters |
| Coolant System Loops | 4 |
| Coolant Flow | 7.64 m3/s/loop |
| Coolant Pressure | 15.5 MPa |
| Steam Generator Type | 90TT-1 |
| Number of Steam Generators | 4 |
| Reactor Coolant Pump Type | 100A |
| Number of Reactor Coolant Pumps | 4 |
| Reactor Coolant Pump Motor Output | 6 MWe |
The US-APWR has several design features to improve plant economics. The core is surrounded by a steel neutron reflector which increases reactivity and saves ~0.1wt% U-235 enrichment. In addition, the US-APWR uses more advanced steam generators (compared to the APWR) which creates drier steam allowing for the use of higher efficiency (and more delicate) turbines. This leads to a ~10% efficiency increase compared to the APWR.
Several safety improvements are also notable. The safety systems have enhanced redundancy, utilizing 4 trains each capable of supplying 50% of the needed high pressure makeup water instead of 2 trains capable of 100%. Also, more reliance is placed on the accumulators which have been redesigned and increased in size. The improvements in this passive system have led to the elimination of the Low Pressure Safety Injection system, an active system.
In 2013, plans to build units in the U.S. were suspended:[2]
On 10 May 2011, Japanese Prime MinisterNaoto Kan announced that Japan was cancelling plans for new nuclear construction, including the two proposed new APWR reactors atTsuruga Nuclear Power Plant.[4] As of 2014, under a new government, plans for Tsuruga were uncertain.[5] In March 2015 theNuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) accepted an expert report that concluded Tsuruga is on an activegeological fault.[6]
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