The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a request by Exelon Generation to increase the generating capacity of Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3, by an estimated 1.66%.
The NRC staff determined that Exelon could safely i ncrease the reactors’ output primarily through more accurate means of measuring feedwater flow, after reviewing Exelon’s evaluations showing the plant’s design can handle the increased power level.
The NRC’s safety evaluation of the plant’s proposed power uprate focused on several areas, such as the nuclear steam supply systems, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, accident evaluations, radiological consequences, operations and training, testing, and technical specification changes. For added confidence in the analysis, the NRC staff also conducted independent confirmatory calculations of selected areas.
The power uprate for Peach Bottom, Units 2 and 3, located in Delta, Pa., authorizes an increase of each reactor’s maximum power level fr om 3951 to 4016 megawatts thermal . In terms of gross output, the power uprate represents an increase of approximately 20 megawatts electric over the current gross output for each unit. Exelon plans to implement the power uprate for both units wit hin 90 days.