The next generation of nuclear power plants is likely to require production in limited time-scales to meet the shortfall in power generating capacity as ageing power plants are taken off-line. The reactor pressure ves...The next generation of nuclear power plants is likely to require production in limited time-scales to meet the shortfall in power generating capacity as ageing power plants are taken off-line. The reactor pressure vessel lies at the heart of a light water reactor and can take a number of years to manufacture. This paper reviews the current methods employed for the construction of these major vessels and the issues with this route of production. Possible alternatives to traditional methods are briefly reviewed and found to offer their own challenges to achieving a vessel with high demonstrable structural integrity.展开更多
文摘The next generation of nuclear power plants is likely to require production in limited time-scales to meet the shortfall in power generating capacity as ageing power plants are taken off-line. The reactor pressure vessel lies at the heart of a light water reactor and can take a number of years to manufacture. This paper reviews the current methods employed for the construction of these major vessels and the issues with this route of production. Possible alternatives to traditional methods are briefly reviewed and found to offer their own challenges to achieving a vessel with high demonstrable structural integrity.
