Steam generators delivered to TMI
06 October 2009
Areva has delivered two replacement steam generators for use in unit 1 of Exelon's Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear power plant in Philadelphia. It took eight weeks to transport the massive components from the manufacturing site in France to the US power plant.
(2).jpg "TMI steam generators (Areva)")
Almost there ... One of the steam generators
crosses the Susquehanna River to
Three Mile Island (Image: Areva)
The steam generators were manufactured at Areva's Chalon/Saint Marcel facility in eastern France. After being shipped to Port Deposit, Maryland, the components were transported 120 kilometres over land to the TMI plant. The journey over land required a crew of about 100 on a daily basis and at times the convoy stretched over 3 kilometres in length.
Each steam generator weighs more than 510 tonnes, measures over 22 meres and almost 4 metres in diameter. Total weight for each transport with steam generator was about 825 tonnes and measured 16 metres long, 5 metres and over 7 metres high.
George Beam, chief operating officer of Areva NP Inc, said, "This was the most challenging large component delivery in Areva's history. Delivering these generators required complex logistics involving government and regulatory agencies in two states and numerous local communities and authorities."
The replacement steam generators are part of a $300 million investment that Exelon is making at TMI 1 to extend the 852 MWe pressurized water reactor's operating life. The unit began commercial operations in September 1974 and its operating licence is currently set to expire in 2014. In January 2008, Exelon submitted an application with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a 20-year renewal.
The new steam generators will be installed later this year during a scheduled refuelling outage. In addition, new control rod drive mechanisms will be installed. The old steam generators will be stored in an on-site storage facility until TMI is decommissioned, when they will be segmented and disposed of.
"These steam generators are a symbol of a clean, safe and reliable electricity supply for decades to come for central Pennsylvania," said Joe Grimes, senior vice president of Mid-Atlantic Operations for Exelon Nuclear.