Nuclear Energy - Energie EDF

Series: | The future of our energy
Nuclear
energy

“How to reconcile power
generation with environmental
protection?”
“Is EDF
competitive?”
“25% of the world’s
population uses almost
two thirds of the world’s
energy resources.”
PERFORMANCE
SAFETY
ENERGY EXPERTISE
A key player in the landscape of energy
challenges, EDF generates ample quantities
of energy in varied and environmentallyfriendly
forms, thus providing the wider
public with access to electricity.
“Energy demand could
increase by 60% by the
year 2030.”

EDF,
EUROPEAN LEADER
IN POWER
GENERATION
The EDF group has a stake in the main
leading European energy markets:
the United Kingdom with EDF Energy,
Italy with Edison, and France where EDF
is leader in its market. With its mix of
nuclear, hydroelectric, fossil-fi red and
other renewable energies, EDF operates a
highly effi cient, diversifi ed and
comprehensive power generation fl eet.
POWER GENERATED BY EDF
IN MAINLAND FRANCE, 2010*
407.9 TWh
86.7%
Nuclear
45.4 TWh
9.7%
Hydroelectric**
16.9 TWh
3.6%
Fossil-fi red
* These fi gures are rounded off to one decimal point as compared with
exact values.
** Including power generated by pumped-storage plants.
INSTALLED CAPACITY
in France as at 31 December 2010.
NATIONAL POWER OUTPUT*
were generated by EDF in France in 2010.
of the electricity generated
by EDF does not emit greenhouse
gases.
FRENCH FLEET
19 nuclear
power plants
439
hydroelectric
plants
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
• Mechanical and electrical power is measured
in Watts (W).
• The megawatt/hour (MWh) is the amount of
power generated by a 1-megawatt (MW)
generation facility within a one-hour period.
• 1 MW = 1 000 kilowatts (kW) = 1 million watts.
• 1 terawatt/hour (TWh) is equal to
1 billion kWh.
23 fossil-fi red
plants
and
13 gas
turbines

December 13, 2007.
Gravelines nuclear
power plant
Mickaël Lenfant,
apprentice, with
Jérôme Leboucher,
electromechanical
engineer, and Lionel
Lourdel, his mentor.

Cover:
Saint-Laurentdes-Eaux
nuclear
power plant.
04
Securing energy
independence
Nuclear power,
a vital energy
source
06
Safety,
an absolute
priority
Keeping a close
watch on the
French nuclear
fl e e t
08
From the atom
to electrical
power:
how does
it work
Understanding
how a nuclear
power plant
works
10
Energy
for the future
Nuclear power
and tomorrow’s
economic and
environmental
challenges
Creation of series: Spécifi que
Production and design:
Translation: Concept & Langage – Photo credits: Onoky/
Photononstop, Getty Images/DR, EDF media library/Marc
Didier, Philippe Dureuil, Laurent Mayeux, Laurent Vautrin
Printers: JPA - REF.ENE961-2011
Printed on 50% recycled, 50% FSC paper.
Nuclear power: mainspring of
electrical power generation
In order to supply clean, constant and
affordable electricity to all its customer bases,
regardless of location, EDF uses all sources of
energy: nuclear fuel, water, coal, fuel oil,
ever increasing amounts of wind energy, solar
energy and biomass. Nuclear power
continuously forms the basis of French energy
supply while other energy sources such as
fuel oil, coal and water, are periodically used
to cope with peaks in energy demand, during
very cold period, for instance. These other
generation facilities are able to supply
electricity very promptly. Within this mix,
nuclear energy constitutes the “bedrock”
of EDF’s power generation.
www.edf.com

Nuclear energy
SECURING
ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE
Nuclear power accounts for 21% of all electrical power generated around the world. France
opted for this form of energy in the post-war years, when the country decided to conduct
research into means of developing this new energy source. France’s decision was corroborated
in the nineteen-sixties, and particularly in the aftermath of 1973 and the petrol crisis, a year
which saw the cost of the barrel quadruple within a mere few weeks. At the time, France was
sourcing 76% of its energy supplies from other countries, and oil accounted for 84% of its
imports.
The decision to build a nuclear fl eet was taken with a view to securing France’s energy
independence.
This turned out to be a wise decision: By the late eighties, more than half of energy demand
was already covered by the country’s output.
EDF is now the world’s leading producer of nuclear energy. It enjoys world-wide renown as
the leading light in technical know-how.
Nuclear energy is now increasingly perceived as a crucial source of energy. Global energy
demand continues to rise while petroleum and gas resources, and coal resources in the longer
term, will be in short supply. Not to mention the need to combat global warming. Nuclear
power does not generate greenhouse gases.
04
RESEARCH
In 1956, The Atomic
Energy Commission
(CEA) started up
the very fi rst French
reactor at the
Marcoule facility
(Gard). EDF
connected a power
generator at the
site.

Energy resources
of the future
By the year 2030, global energy
demand is expected to have
risen by 60%, while global
electricity demand is expected
to double within the next 30
years. In the light of these
forecasts, oil resources are
expected to be depleted within
the next 40 years, with natural
gas becoming depleted within
the next 70 years, and coal
within the next 200 to 300
years. Uranium resources, on
the other hand, are found in
abundance. They come from
stable countries like Canada
and Australia. Given the
challenges facing energy
supply, nuclear energy stands
out as a sustainable and
economic solution.
The French nuclear
fl eet in fi gures
Two types of nuclear power
plant have been built in France:
French-designed gas-cooled
nuclear reactors, and Americandesigned
pressurized water
reactors (PWR). In the nineteensixties,
6 gas-cooled reactor
units were commissioned,
while 58 PWR plants were
commissioned between 1970
and 1993. The French nuclear
fl eet now comprises 58 reactor
units spread across 19 nuclear
power stations: thirty-four
900-MW reactors, twenty
1300-MW reactors and four
1500-MW reactors. Indeed, EDF
customers enjoy some of the
most competitive electricity
rates in Europe. France is the
world’s second biggest nuclear
energy power, after the United
States.
Reactor units. A reactor unit comprises
one reactor, steam generators, a turbine and
a generator, which produces electricity.
DID YOU KNOW?
EDF’s nuclear and hydroelectric
generation facilities enable it to
generate 95% of its electricity
without emitting CO2.
The Kyoto protocol has called for a
5.7% reduction in CO2 emissions in
industrialized countries over the
period spanning 1990 to 2010 (8%
for European countries).
05

Nuclear energy
SAFETY,
AN ABSOLUTE
PRIORITY
Safety comprises all measures taken at each stage of a plant’s life span, starting
with the design phase, to ensure that plant operations have no adverse effects
on man and the environment. To achieve this aim, EDF relies on the high
professional standards of its work force, on the meticulous attention and care
they bring to their work, on the reliability of its generation facilities and on
scrupulous adherence to regulations, under the watchful eye of the French
nuclear regulatory authority.
Two fundamental principles are applied in the endeavour to avert risk: “defence
in depth”, which entails setting up a number of lines of defence by envisaging
potential equipment and human failures, and “circuit redundancy”, which
provides back-up safety systems. Nuclear fi ssion is also constantly monitored and
can be stopped at any time. The reactor core is constantly being cooled and
radioactive substances are contained behind successive barriers (see diagram).
This safety culture is accompanied by strict measures to control impacts on man
and the environment. Before a nuclear plant is even built, EDF conducts a
radio-environmental survey of each site, the results of which serve as a base line
for subsequent analyses. Throughout its service life, a plant is monitored on two
levels: the on-site laboratory takes measurements and samples of air, water and
fl ora within a 5-km radius, while the Department of Health and Industry then
double-checks these samples. Similarly, liquid and gaseous effl uents produced
by power plants undergo a number of operations prior to disposal, in order to
reduce their radioactivity.
06
Reactor
vessel
1 st barrier:
fuel
cladding
3 SAFETY BARRIERS SEPARATING NUCLEAR
FUEL FROM THE ENVIRONMENT
3 rd barrier:
reactor
containment
structure
THE NUCLEAR
REGULATORY
AUTHORITY
On behalf of the
State, the French
nuclear regulatory
authority (ASN)
monitors nuclear
safety and
radiation
protection in
France, in order to
protect workers,
patients, the public
and the
environment from
the risks associated
with nuclear
activity. Enjoying
the status of an
independent public
authority, the ASN
is also instrumental
in providing the
French public with
information.
Pressuriser
Steam
generator
2 nd barrier:
reactor
coolant
pressure
boundary

Emergency drills
Every year, each nuclear power
plant conducts 7 to 8 emergency
simulation drills in conjunction
with the local and national
public authorities, the aim being
to train staff in responding to all
types of emergency. Controlroom
operators also receive six
weeks of industrial safety
training a year.
The INES scale
Waste management
France came up with the
International Nuclear Event Scale
(INES) in 1987. The scale started
being used internationally in the
early nineties. Consisting of 7
levels, it is used to gauge the
signifi cance of events and
accidents occurring on a nuclear
facility.
INCIDENT ACCIDENT
7 Accident Major accident majeur
6 Accident Serious accident grave
5 Accident entraînant with wider un consequences risque hors du site
4 Accident n’entraînant with local consequences pas un risque important hors du site
3 Incident Serious incident grave
2 Incident
1 Anomalie Anomaly
0 Ecart. No Safety Aucune Significance importance du point de vue de la sûreté
EDF rigorously manages the waste produced by its nuclear power plants, by restricting the amounts of
waste produced at source, by selectively sorting its waste into categories and activity levels, and by
packaging its waste appropriately. Repositories are already in place for the disposal of “short-lived”
waste produced in the course of plant
operation and maintenance activities. These
disposal facilities are run by the French
radioactive waste management agency
(ANDRA) and are located in the Aube,
region of France. Long-lived waste
produced through the reprocessing of
spent fuel is temporarily stored at AREVA
facilities. After the 15 years of research
called for by the Bataille Law enacted in
1991, the programme-bill on the
management of radioactive waste and
materials was adopted by Parliament on
the 15 th of June 2006. Among other
aspects, this law incorporates the principle
of reversible, deep underground storage
of ultimate waste, by 2015.
For more information go to www.edf.com
EDF has been awarded ISO 14001 certifi cation,
which grants international recognition of its
environment management system (monitoring
of air and water quality, etc.).
07

Nuclear energy
FROM THE ATOM
TO ELECTRICAL
POWER:
HOW DOES IT WORK
(1) Inside the reactor core, nuclear fi ssion generates a
large amount of heat. Water, heated to 320 °C, fl ows
through a circuit where it is pressurized in order to
keep it in a liquid state.
(2) The primary circuit heats the secondary circuit by
applying the heat exchange principle. Inside the steam
generator, water in the secondary circuit is turned into
steam. This steam rotates a turbine, which is
connected to a generator that produces electricity.
Electricity is then transmitted along very high-voltage
power lines from the transformer.
(3) Water inside the cooling circuit cools the secondary
circuit upon contact with air inside the cooling tower.
In power plants without cooling towers, the cooling
function is fulfi lled by sea or river water.
08
A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WITH A COOLING TOWER: HOW IT WORKS
Reactor building
(nuclear area)
River
Reactor
vessel
Pressuriser
Steam
generator
Pump
1
Primary circuit
Turbine building
(non-nuclear area)
Turbine
2
Secondary circuit
Main
generator
Condenser
Cooling tower
emitting water
vapour
3
Cooling circuit

Heat source:
nuclear fi ssion
During the nuclear fi ssion
process, an uranium atom is
bombarded with a neutron.
When the nucleus splits, it
releases two or three neutrons
which in turn collide with other
nuclei. This process is known as
a chain reaction, which
generates heat.
NUCLEAR FISSION PROCESS
Neutron Noyau fissile Nouveaux Neutrons
noyaux
Neutron Fissile New nuclei Neutrons
nucleus
Nuclear fuel: uranium. Uranium 235 is used as fuel as it is the only fi ssile
atom (capable of undergoing fi ssion) occurring in nature. In nature, it
occurs in insuffi cient quantities. It therefore has to be enriched in order
to increase the number of atoms. This uranium is then converted into
uranium oxide, used as fuel on nuclear power plants. Prior to combustion,
FUEL ROD AND FUEL ASSEMBLY
the uranium oxide is
compressed into
Cladding Gaine Pastille d’uranium Enriched
uranium enrichie pellet
Ressort Spring
cylindrical pellets that are
enclosed in sealed metal
cladding and placed in
tubes known as fuel rods.
4 m
These are grouped
together in fuel
assemblies and placed
inside the reactor.
Base Plaque de pied
plate
Tube guide Guide
tube
Grappe Control Araignée Spider
de commande rod assembly
The core contains 150 to
200 fuel assemblies.
INSIDE THE ATOM
The nucleus of an atom, the
smallest particle of a single
body, consists of protons
(positive electrical charge)
and neutrons (no electrical
charge). An atom has an
equal number of neutrons
and protons, but an isotope
may have a different
number of neutrons.
Power plant
operation
A power plant is
operated from a main
control room. In order to
increase or decrease the
amount of power
generated, control-room
operators use control
rods to adjust the
intensity of the chain
reaction. In abnormal
operating conditions, the
rods drop automatically
and shut down the
reactor within the space
of a few seconds.
09

Nuclear energy
ENERGY FOR
THE FUTURE
How to sustain economic growth and meet growing energy demand while the
reserves of oil, gas and coal are limited, and that, at the same time having to
curb global warming at all costs? While renewable energies and energy-saving
initiatives may provide a partial solution, they are far from being adequate.
All energy sources must be harnessed, including nuclear energy which is able to
provide competitive electricity, which has proven its availability, and above all,
which does not emit greenhouse gases.
A large number of countries such as Finland, China, the USA and the UK are
reviving their nuclear construction programmes.
It is against this backdrop that EDF has gone ahead with the construction of the
new EPR reactor unit at Flamanville in Normandy. The EPR will be even safer,
more economical and more effi cient than its predecessors. Flamanville 3 is a
crucial investment, forming part of EDF’s plans to build an additional 5000 MW
of power generation capacity in order to meet the constantly growing need
for electricity in France and Europe. The new reactor is of vital importance
to EDF as it will help to maintain a high level of skills in the construction and
operation of nuclear power plants.
10
OPERATION OF NUCLEAR
POWER PLANTS
Many plant components
are able to outlast a 40 year
period. Others are replaced
during a plant’s service life.
The facility as a whole may
therefore outlast the service
period for which it was
initially designed, provided
that safety-critical
components such as the
reactor vessel and
containment structure,
which are hard or impossible
to replace, meet the safety
standard.
The ageing of components
and more specifi cally,
of the reactor vessel and
containment structure, is
assessed in order to confi rm
their ability to operate safely
for 40 years and more. All
components are regularly
inspected.

EPR
FIND OUT MORE
Each nuclear power station is
fl anked by a public information
centre featuring educational,
recreational and interactive
exhibits, where the public can
learn more about nuclear power
generation.
The EPR* is a pressurized-water reactor that started being
developed in the 1990s by EDF and Areva, in conjunction
with the German power utilities.
It features four safeguard systems, each of these being
able to stop the nuclear reaction and cool the reactor if an
incident were to occur.
It uses 17% less fuel and cuts down by 30% the amount
of waste being produced. Its 1650 MW capacity will make
it the most powerful reactor in the world.
*European pressurized water reactor
“The EPR is not that different
from existing reactors”
“False! The EPR will bring about
substantial improvements in three
areas: operational safety, availability,
and the effect of plant operations
on man and the environment. In the
area of safety, we will be further
reducing the likelihood of core melt
by ten, particularly through the
doubling of circuit redundancy.
Whereas EPR predecessors featured
two mutually redundant circuits, the
EPR will have four. This will enhance
plant operability and availability, as
it will be possible to perform
maintenance while the reactor is
operating; availability will thus
increase from its current about 80%
to 91%. Lastly, as far as the impact
on man and the environment is
concerned, the EPR will reduce the
quantity of long-lived waste by 30%,
essentially owing to enhanced fuel
effi ciency.”
11

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF
EDF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN FRANCE
Quimper
1
Brennilis
EDF
Cap Ampère – 1, place Pleyel
93282 Saint-Denis cedex
Rennes
Cherbourg
Flamanville
Nantes
Blayais
Head offi ce: 22-30, avenue de Wagram – 75008 Paris
Limited company with a capital of 924 433 331 euros
RCS Paris 552 081 317
www.edf.com
Ref.:ENE961-2011
2
4
3
Chinon
Bordeaux
2
4
Penly
Paluel
Le Havre
Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux
4
Tours
2
Civaux
Toulouse
Limoges
Orléans
2
2
Golfech
Albi
Bourges
Gravelines
6
Amiens
2
Paris
Lille
4
Dampierre
2
Clermont-Ferrand
Chooz
2
Nogent-sur-Seine
Belleville-sur-Loire
Montpellier
Reims
2
Saint-Alban
1
2
Bugey
4
Tricastin
Nîmes
1
Lyon
2
Besançon
Cattenom
Creys-Malville
1
Grenoble
Cruas
4
2
4
Marseille
Strasbourg
Mulhouse
Nice
2
Fessenheim
2
900 MW
1 300 MW
1 450 MW
1 650 MW
Number of
reactors
Reactor in the
process of
construction
Reactor in the
process of
decommissioning
Reactor coolant
pressure boundary
Generation The EDF Group is ISO 14001 certifi ed March 2011