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Base Load Power Plant

In general, nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been considered as baseload sources of electricity as they rely on technology with low variable costs and high fixed costs. Baseload power plants are generally run at close to maximum output (100% of rated power) continuously (apart from maintenance refueling outages).

Although most nuclear power plants were designed as baseload power plants, today, the utilities have had to implement or improve the maneuverability capabilities of their NPPs to be able to adapt the electricity supply to daily, seasonal, or other variations in power demand.

Base Load - Load Follow - Peak Load
Base Load vs. Peak Load Power Plants

Nuclear power plants may take many hours, if not days, to startup or change their power output. Modern power plants can operate as load-following power plants and alter their output to meet varying demands. But baseload operation is the most economical and technically simple mode of operation. It is primarily because they require a long period to heat up the nuclear steam supply system and the turbine-generator to operating temperature. From this point of view, power plant generally is divided into two basic categories:

Base Load Power Plant

Electricity Generation by SourceIn general, nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been considered as baseload sources of electricity as they rely on technology with low variable costs and high fixed costs. This is the most economical and technically simple mode of operation. In this mode, power changes are limited to frequency regulation for grid stability purposes and shutdowns for safety purposes. Different plants and technologies may have differing capacities to power changes on demand. Baseload power plants are generally run at close to maximum output (100% of rated power) continuously (apart from maintenance refueling outages). During refueling, every 12 to 18 months, some of the fuel – usually one-third or one-quarter of the core – is replaced by fresh fuel assemblies. After refueling, the reactor is usually started up and operated again at nominal power.

Although most nuclear power plants were designed as baseload power plants, today, the utilities have had to implement or improve the maneuverability capabilities of their NPPs to be able to adapt the electricity supply to daily, seasonal, or other variations in power demand. The share of nuclear power in the national electricity mix of some countries has become large due to the significant increase in renewable energy sources.

 
References:
Nuclear and Reactor Physics:
  1. J. R. Lamarsh, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory, 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA (1983).
  2. J. R. Lamarsh, A. J. Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, 3d ed., Prentice-Hall, 2001, ISBN: 0-201-82498-1.
  3. W. M. Stacey, Nuclear Reactor Physics, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, ISBN: 0- 471-39127-1.
  4. Glasstone, Sesonske. Nuclear Reactor Engineering: Reactor Systems Engineering, Springer; 4th edition, 1994, ISBN: 978-0412985317
  5. W.S.C. Williams. Nuclear and Particle Physics. Clarendon Press; 1 edition, 1991, ISBN: 978-0198520467
  6. G.R.Keepin. Physics of Nuclear Kinetics. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co; 1st edition, 1965
  7. Robert Reed Burn, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Operation, 1988.
  8. U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 1 and 2. January 1993.

Advanced Reactor Physics:

  1. K. O. Ott, W. A. Bezella, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Statics, American Nuclear Society, Revised edition (1989), 1989, ISBN: 0-894-48033-2.
  2. K. O. Ott, R. J. Neuhold, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Dynamics, American Nuclear Society, 1985, ISBN: 0-894-48029-4.
  3. D. L. Hetrick, Dynamics of Nuclear Reactors, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48453-2. 
  4. E. E. Lewis, W. F. Miller, Computational Methods of Neutron Transport, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48452-4.

See above:

Normal Operation