The CANDU 6 reactor is a proven performer, operating in five different countries with an excellent lifetime capacity factor record. AECL’s latest CANDU 6 plants at Qinshan are rated to deliver a gross output of 728 MWe per unit.

Advancements in the Enhanced CANDU 6 design to further improve the plant output include: the installation of an Ultrasonic Flow meter (UFM) to improve the accuracy of feedwater flow measurements, improvements to the Moisture Separator Reheater (MSR), Optimization of the BOP thermal cycle to take account of the drier steam delivered by the Steam Generators, reducing seal leakage losses in the Generator, reducing the station house loads and utilizing more efficient equipment such as improved feed water heaters. These advancements can deliver over 3% of additional gross power output per unit.

AECL continues to develop other features to further improve the plant’s performance while maintaining the basic features of the CANDU 6 design, which over time have proven to be extremely reliable with an excellent production record since the early 1980s. The additional enhancements include:

• Improved Plant Operability and Maintainability
• Reduced Overall Project Schedule
• Optimized Plant Maintenance Outages
• Improved Severe Accident Response
• Improved Plant Security
• Modern Computers and Control Systems
• Advanced Fire Protection System
• Flexible Fuel Cycle Options
• Advanced MACSTOR Design for Spent Fuel Storage
• Enhanced Heavy Water Management Systems.