New steam generators arrive at Davis-Besse

Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Two replacement steam generators have been delivered to the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant in Ohio. They will be installed early next year.

The two giant components complete the final stage of their journey to Davis-Besse by rail (Image: First Energy)

Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) was awarded a contract by First Energy in December 2009 for the design, fabrication and delivery of two replacement steam generators for the single-unit plant. They were manufactured by B&W's Canadian subsidiary in Cambridge, Ontario.

The completed components - each measuring 22.5 metres in length, 3.7 metres in diameter and weighing 470 tonnes - were shipped across Lake Erie. They were unloaded at the Port of Toledo, Ohio, last week and transported to Davis-Besse by rail.

First Energy said that the new steam generators will be stored on-site until they are installed during a refuelling outage scheduled for early 2014.

First Energy currently has a licence to operate Davis-Besse's 908 MWe pressurized water reactor until 2017, but has applied for a licence extension to 2037. The plant began commercial operation in 1978.

Site vice president of the Davis-Besse plant Ray Lieb commented, "Installation of new steam generators supports the continued safe and reliable operations at Davis-Besse. The new steam generators will help ensure that Davis-Besse remains an integral part of northwest Ohio's economy, and a clean energy source, now and in the future."

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News