ABB to help uprate Forsmark unit

Friday, 16 January 2009

Swiss power and automation technology group ABB has received an order from Vattenfall to support a 160 MWe uprate of the Forsmark 3 reactor in Sweden.
 

The Forsmark plant (Image: Hans Blomberg)

The order, worth $45 million, was booked in the fourth quarter of 2008. Under the deal, ABB will provide the electrical package needed to increase gross output of the Swedish unit from 1200 MWe to 1360 MWe. The project, which will also help to extend the operating life of the reactor, is scheduled to be completed by 2014.
 
ABB's centre of competence for nuclear power plant projects, which is based in Sweden, will execute the project involving electrical system studies, design, engineering, installation and commissioning.
 
ABB will also supply a range of power products, including three generator step-up transformers, two auxiliary transformers and an excitation transformer.
 
The Forsmark plant comprises three boiling water reactors (BWRs). Unit 1, which began commercial operation in 1980, currently has a generating capacity of 987 MWe net. Unit 2, which started up the following year, has a capacity of 1000 MWe net, while unit 3, which began in 1985, currently generates 1170 MWe net.
 
In October 2004, Forsmark, announced a 410 MWe (13%) uprate of the three reactors at Forsmark, to be carried out between 2008 and 2010. In 2004, low pressure turbines were replaced in unit 3, giving a 30 MWe uprate, and the same is being done for units 1 and 2.
 
In December 2007, the planned uprates at Forsmark were postponed by one year. Under the revised plan, the capacity increases will take place between 2009 and 2011. The project will increase power output of the plant by 3.3 billion kWh per year. The power output will be 1130 MWe in both Forsmark 1 and 2, and 1360 MWe in unit 3 - an increase in generating capacity of 410 MWe.