The Flamanville EPR is lastly related to the electrical energy community | EUROtoday

Enfinally! Twelve lengthy years late, the Flamanville EPR was coupled to the nationwide electrical energy community this Saturday morning, the primary stage of a collection of checks which ought to finish in the summertime of 2025 and lead, if all goes nicely, to for business commissioning on the finish of 2026. This is a key second for this new technology nuclear reactor, which is formally delivering its first kWh to France, even whether it is nonetheless within the check section.

The first new technology reactor inbuilt France, the Flamanville EPR would be the strongest with its 1,650 MW (in comparison with 900 to 1,450 MW for an outdated technology reactor) and will in the end energy 2 million properties. It should pave the best way for six EPR2s ordered by Emmanuel Macron, plus eight as an choice, as a part of the nuclear restoration plan. In September 2024, the commissioning of this “Flamanville 3” reactor was once more delayed by an automated shutdown, a totally regular disappointment when commissioning a reactor, notably when it introduces new applied sciences on this extremely delicate sector.

62,000 indicators to observe

The coupling, carried out at roughly 20% of the nominal energy, marks the beginning of a collection of checks to beat completely different energy ranges till the summer time of 2025. When crossing the 25% energy threshold, the The Nuclear Safety Authority should validate the continuation of the start-up, and can do the identical at 80%. Between these two phases, EDF plans an intermediate check shutdown at 60%.

ALSO READ Flamanville EPR: quantity 57^e French reactor wakes up 12 years late “It’s like for an airplane, when you explore its flight envelope before putting it into commercial service,” explains Régis Clément, deputy director of EDF’s nuclear manufacturing division. The engineer specifies that “in the coming months, we will repeat reactor shutdowns and reconnections” by monitoring “62,000 technical and safety criteria”.

Changing the defective cowl

“Real life is that teams can encounter damage and malfunctions,” he warns. In the occasion of suspension of the checks, the schedule will likely be pushed again, as a result of EDF needs to succeed in eighteen months of check operation earlier than finishing up the primary full go to (VC1), a scheduled shutdown which will likely be a chance to reload the gas and exchange the quilt of the reactor vessel. The latter made headlines in 2014, when a producing anomaly was detected.

ALSO READ Nuclear: Macron confirms the acquisition of Arabelle generators from General Electric by EDFEDF will first must strip the present cowl and take away the management clusters and different measurement methods. “It is extremely precise and meticulous, because on the EPR, everything goes through the top, whereas on the old reactors certain elements passed through the bottom of the reactor,” remembers Régis Clément. Next, you have to to re-equip the brand new cowl and set up it on the tank. The entire factor ought to take a minimum of a month.

Towards the EPR2

According to EDF, the start-up and the check section with the faulty cowl don’t current any danger. “We obviously wouldn’t start if it was dangerous, and in any case we wouldn’t have the authorizations if there was the slightest doubt,” explains Régis Clément, who specifies that the intention of this anticipated substitute “is to not never reach the threshold of fragility”, linked to the period of publicity to radiation. After the primary full inspection and this cowl work, most likely in 2027, the reactor will have the ability to enter business service.

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The Flamanville 3 EPR is “the link between an installed base and the future EPR2 base”, additional specifies Régis Clément, who welcomes this “unique reactor” which makes it attainable to “maintain and develop our skills as a company.” built-in vitality firm” whereas initiating “standardization and simplification” processes for the development and upkeep of EPR2. “Flamanville 3 was not easy, it’s true, but we learned lessons for the future,” he concludes.