Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant
Start of annual revision
Bern (ots)
A planned shutdown of Mühleberg nuclear power plant (KKM) operated by BKW FMB Energy Ltd (BKW) was carried out on 15 August 2010 in order to perform the annual revision and change the fuel elements. The revision is scheduled to last around four weeks. In the interests of the plant's long-term operation, BKW will be carrying out some important renovations and maintenance work.
For 8,163 hours during the past operating period, which lasted from the beginning of September 2009 until mid-August 2010, the KKM fed 3,136 million kWh gross (2008/09: 3,119 million kWh) of CO2-free electricity into the BKW grid, recording the best operating cycle since the plant went into operation. This good result is due in particular to preventive maintenance and ongoing modernisation, as well as optimised deployment of fuel. Once again, the KKM made an important contribution to ensuring security of supply in north-western Switzerland.
The 2010 annual revision mainly involves extensive repeat tests as well as work on and in the reactor pressure tank, and the use of specialised ultrasound systems to check various nozzles and pipelines. The drive systems for the reactor recirculation pump will be renewed, making the facility state of the art in this area. Work on one of the two main cooling water line outlets is part of the multi-year maintenance and testing cycle to ensure the plant's long-term operation, and annual control and maintenance work will be performed on a large number of plant components. The additional building which was moved into in July 2010 has provided BKW staff as well as employees of third-party companies with around 1,100 new cloakroom spaces.
As in every year, 36 of the 240 fuel elements were replaced. The usual preventive and recurring revisions and tests will be performed on safety systems, turbine and generator groups and the electrical protection and regulating system, as well as on the transformers. During the revision the 330 KKM staff will be assisted by more than 700 external experts from the region, elsewhere in Switzerland and abroad.
Contact:
Antonio Sommavilla
antonio.sommavilla@bkw-fmb.ch
031 330 51 07