AP1000

AP1000‏‎ is a nuclear power plant design developed by Westinghouse Electric Company. It is a two-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR) that uses a combination of passive safety and standard active systems to achieve a high level of safety. The AP1000 design is an evolution of the AP600 design, which was certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1999.

Design

The AP1000 design is a two-loop pressurized water reactor that uses a combination of passive safety and standard active systems. The design includes a steel containment vessel, a concrete shield building, and a passive cooling system. The containment vessel is designed to withstand the pressure and temperature conditions that could occur during a severe accident. The shield building is designed to protect the containment vessel from external hazards such as earthquakes and aircraft impacts. The passive cooling system is designed to remove heat from the reactor core without the need for active mechanical systems or operator actions.

Safety

The AP1000 design includes a number of safety features that are intended to prevent or mitigate the consequences of severe accidents. These include a robust containment design, passive safety systems, and a simplified plant layout. The containment design includes a steel containment vessel and a concrete shield building that are designed to withstand extreme pressure and temperature conditions. The passive safety systems are designed to operate without the need for active mechanical systems or operator actions. The simplified plant layout reduces the number of systems and components, which reduces the potential for equipment failures and human errors.

Deployment

The AP1000 design has been selected for a number of new nuclear power plant projects around the world. These include the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in the United States, the Sanmen Nuclear Power Station and the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant in China, and the Moorside Nuclear Power Station in the United Kingdom.

See also

• Nuclear power
• Nuclear reactor
• Nuclear safety