After reviewing the company’s evaluations that showed that the plant’s design can accommodate the increased power level, the NRC staff determined that the reactors output can be safely increased through more accurate means of feedwater flow measurement.
The NRC’s safety evaluation of the plant’s proposed power uprate focused on the nuclear steam supply systems, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, accident evaluations, radiological consequences, fire protection, operations and training, as well as technical specification changes.
The power uprate is expected to increase each station’s total generating capacity from approximately 2,350 to 2,390MW electric.
Located in Braceville, Illinois, and Byron, Rockford, respectively, the Braidwood and Byron stations, each has two pressurized water reactors (PWRs).
The power uprates are expected to be implemented this month.
