The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said it had approved a request by Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut to increase the reactor capacity of unit 3 of Millstone Power Station by approximately 1.6%. NRC staff determined that Dominion could safely increase the reactor’s heat output, primarily through more accurate means of measuring feedwater flow.
The power uprate will increase Millstone 3's generating capacity by approximately 20MWe. Dominion intends to implement the uprate by spring 2022.
The NRC’s safety evaluation of the proposed power uprate focused on several areas, including the nuclear steam supply systems, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, accident evaluations, radiological consequences, fire protection, operations and training, testing, and technical specification changes.
NRC published a Federal Register notice regarding power uprate application in April, providing the public an opportunity to comment or request a hearing.
Photo: Dominion's Millstone nuclear power plant
