The EPR™ Reactor : Overly Complex or a Testament to Technology?

The dialogue below was found at this live video chat: The EPR™ Reactor : Overly Complex Or A Testament To Technology? by:

• Philippe Knoche, Senior Executive Vice-president Reactors and Services Business Group
• Gaëlle Copienne, Journalist

The original presentation and questions seem to be lost, but there was a post-discussion chat I copied below:

• User : what is the difference between generation 2, 3 and 4?
• michel123 : Why fine-tune the EPR which has a lifespan of 60 years, when there are 40 years of uranium reserves? It would have been more logical to continue producing with the old reactors, with a few improvements, and bank on supergenerators without sodium if it's possible.
• User : what is the EPR and what is the origin of its conception?
• John Doe : Shouldn't the definition of "nuclear power plant" mean more than just the reactor itself? In terms of new markets located to a certain extent in emerging countries, aren't they doomed to fail (or encounter difficulties) if we do not expand are way of thinking? Meaning including such ideas as the establishment of an appropriate regulatory and institutional environment, supply chain and local capacities, and the availability of qualified personnel. But in this case, an equipment manufacturer like AREVA cannot provide this complex product. So, who can? Do (international) bodies really exist who are capable of providing this "intangibles" of a nuclear power plant? Finally, should we be focusing solely on the technology when "selling" an EPR?
• User : Hi everyone
• JK69 : The investment in an EPR and its operating costs over 30 years represent an expenditure that is higher than the same sum allocated to the renovation of old dwellings, which would cut power consumption on a scale that is roughly equivalent to the quantity of electricity generated by the EPR. But there would be no dismantling, no management of hazardous waste and no risks to be controlled. The gains are immediate. This would take less than 5 years. So why is priority given to the EPR, when renovation projects would create many more jobs?
• user : how many are currently under construction?
• Martin : What is the status of the Chinese plants. Are there any additional Chinese plants in the planning stage?
• Gustavo : What is the cost of the average EPR reactor?
• User : Do you think that you will develop a low-cost reactor to meet the needs of an emerging market that may not necessarily have the funds to invest in generation 3?
• user : in what way is EPR safer than previous reactors and reactors developed by your competitors?
• lion : The EPR must meet the security demands of the ASN and, above all, the demands voiced by the German Green politician, Jürgen Trittin, who made the restrictions applying to the design and build so severe that it is almost unfeasible. So I wonder whether the EPR is not “over secure” in terms of design and build, a fact that would not even mean that it is optimally secure when it comes to operations.
• RadioactiveMan1000 : Is Areva developing Generation IV reactors like fast breeder reactors?
• User : We hear that the reactor at Flamanville will be three years late and will be operational only in 2015. In Finland you are also reporting considerable delays... are we waiting for Godot?
• sylvainm : Hello, AREVA has considerably improved EPR safety (double barrier, corium collector, hydrogen absorbers, etc.) in comparison to other 1,450 MW reactors. However, I think that its 1,650 MW power capacity is still weak in relation to these new improvements. The EPR is considered an innovative reactor even though it uses water pressure technology. Certainly, innovation means taking a risk, but why didn’t you construct this reactor with a power capacity of 2,000 MW? I think that the power capacity of this reactor is inappropriate vis-à-vis the major safety improvements. Currently, aren’t 1,450 MW reactors more secure and competitive than the EPR? The safety standards are certainly lower, but they have a power capacity very close to that of the EPR (Chooz B has a power capacity of 1,500 MW). In addition, confidence in these reactors is higher thanks to the experience gained through their operation. Finally, they have a lower cost. Another question. EPR safety has improved through the redundancy of electrical systems, the 4 independent security layers… but this requires a more complex installation. Why didn’t AREVA opt for passive safety devices (gravity, convection, etc.) as for the AP-1000? AREVA has developed the safest and most powerful reactors. However, when I’m at the supermarket, I don’t necessarily buy the most expensive package of Kellogg’s cereal. I might buy a product from a less expensive brand. Why have you designed this reactor with such specifications? The best products are not necessarily the ones that will sell the best. In addition, ASN is impeding AREVA a bit, because they can no longer sell the second generation of reactors (900, 1,300 and 1,450). Best regards.
• slama : Will continue to sell Geneartion 2 rectors? Will they draw on technological advances?
• Ecologue : The concrete in the EPR is wrought with difficulties and probably one of the causes for the delay. Could we envision reducing costs by partially or completely burying the reactor building, with basic safety protection in the pit, without anti-air constraints?
• User : Inside AREVA were you ready and prepared for the construction launch of an EPR series?
• normandie : I don't know whether a EPR is too complex a technological gem but I observe that the building of EPRs today is registring major delays which is causing AREVA to revue its construction costs.Moreover, EPR doesn't seem to strike a consessus within the French nuclear industry. Some people refer to a smaller size generator built in partnership with GDF Suez. Can you clarify that point for me ?
• ludigad : In vue of EPR capital expenditure and construction lead times what is AREVA position on extending its range of reactors in emerging countries and with what safety standards. Will the range be available in European union ?
• User : We have read in the press that the design of the EPR was too complex and therefore difficult to construct. Have you not been too ambitious by designing this "Formula 1" model?
• User : We remember issues raised by the safety authorities with regards to the instrumentation & control systems... could you tell us what the nature of these issues was and if anything has changed since then?
• Tom_85 : Do you really think you will finish your project in Finland? Are you afraid that EDF will finish before you?
• RealWheel : Why are there instrumentation & control systems safety issues? What safety function was overlooked in the programming stage and was subsequently discovered by EDF? Why is this safety measure, which exists on plants that generate less power, not present on the EPR?
• Laurence : Dear Phillipe. I am a nuclear professional from Koeberg SA. I am currently busy with my PhD research work on human-technology interface and will appreciate your reply to the following question: what are the biggest challenges facing the future operation of the new 3rd generation EPR reactor design, by the next generation of people, and yet ensuring safe operations. Merci Beaucoup.
• User : You build reactors with the Chinese through joint ventures, which must involve transfers of technological knowledge... aren't you afraid of losing your lead?
• zelhar : How do you protect your intelectual property and trade secretes ?
• zelhar : Since you market the EPR in China, Don't you fear your design is going to be copied by the Chinese ?
• blair : With a coming wave of smaller ecological distributed power sources, what is the chance that the EPR's future use is outmoded before operational?
• kellermfk : The cost of new nuclear power plants is exceptionally high relative to alternatives, at least in the US which is blessed with natural gas as well as coal fuel resources. Construction of nuclear facilities will inevitably lead to massive rate increases. Further, the need for new power plants is not that great due to the severe recession in the US. Why should an EPR or any reactor be constructed in the US?
• babar : Why have you decided to abandon generation 2?
• ULTRASTAR : Don't you think that EDF let the industrial fabric come undone after shelving nuclear in France, and that today, mostly inexperienced people are constructing or modifying our power plants?
• L. Dupin : Could the future Atmea reactor be described as a small-scaled EPR ?
• BBMAN : With EDF buying out Constellation in the U.S., when can we reasonably expect them to ramp up the detailed design engineering for the Calvert Cliffs plant?
• RadioactiveMan1000 : Will Areva develop a smaller, modular reactor like Babcox & Wilcox has in the USA. Do you think they are viable?
• zelhar : Is it possible to build EPR away from big natural water source ?
• MrNeutron : With all the effort put into the design of this new reactor, why did you go for a breeder? So now, not only do you have to spend energy on isotope separation, but you only get to use 1/200th of the available energy from the uranium.
• Lorito : How much is the cost of an average reactor ?
• zel : Is the design complex enough so it is protected from being copied by competitors?
• Nanogigas : Is the EPR the missing link in the chain between the GR reactors and the future generations of reactors, commercially speaking.
• Lucia : Do you think that licensing and construction of EPR in Italy (if one) could have same problems of US EPR?
• User : Hi, could you please substantiate your claims of EPR being the world's safest Gen III reactor? By what standards is this claim based on? I thought that core damage frequency was the industry standard for measuring reactor safety (WNA, U.S. NRC)?
• sarazin : Is the shutdown of the superphenix justified?
• AMON23 : The request is still very pragmatic. AECL pursues its development through CANDU by participating in a variety of calls for tender: Energy treatment with water or Energy Tourism or even Energy on industrial development: could we not keep the EPR for European applications and develop PWR 1,000s for export to where cost consciousness is as important as safety? Can we do all this while emphasizing the value of our fuel-cycle competency, or while promoting the market exchanges: Energy versus Uranium.
• Gym75 : What are the evidence indicating that EPR reactors can function safely?
• ENG / Taymour alseed khalil : Egypt will tendering new nuclear power plant end of this year what about AREVA plan in this important tender in arab region ? are you have local partner in Egypt ?
• Lorito : Are you going to install a reactor in Venezuela?
• Nanogigas : If the EPR proves not profitable enough, could speeding up the development of generation 4 be a financially viable solution?
• UweEichler : AREVA also designs and manufactures electrical systems and instrumentation and controls for EPR. Where are the location of the center of design and manufacture.
• User : The way the EPR reactor works is generally the same as for current REPs: could we not have moved on to the 4th generation of reactors (super reactors), which have been studied for a long time, and have already been tested (Phenix, Superphenix for instance)?
• tassiedevil : what temperature is the reactor running at please?
• Estelle Gauquelin : What is the control rods' response time?
• UweEichler : AREVA also designs and manufactures electrical systems and instrumentation and controls for EPR. Where are the location of the center of design and manufacture.
• pfblclb : If we ask the right question now in terms of the EPR, might the Gen4 reactors give more satisfactory results?
• sometime : How can the cleanness of electricity be measured? Where does nuclear energy stand in comparison with other forms of energy?
• DStellfox : Is it a coincidence that you are doing this live chat now at the same time and day as the release of a report critical of the EPR by University of Greenwich Professor of Energy Studies Stephen Thomas?
• User : I suppose that the technological difficulties encountered in the construction of the EPR were known from the outset. On the other hand, I can understand that no-one knew how long it would take to solve them. So shouldn’t the EPR be considered as an experimental project to test in situ the technological solutions, so that they can be replicated later on? The same targets cannot be set for an experimental project and for a tried and tested project.
• CYril : Bonjour
• Cyril : pour Vincent et Yann
• Cyril : Re-test pour Vincent et Yann
• Cyril : TEST