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RE: NRC close to vote on new Westinghouse nuke reactor



> Isn't this model only in the 600 MWe range?

Yes, it is right around 600 MWe.

While what Glenn says is true,, cost/MWe comes down with 
reduced staffing .. one of the problems from earlier designs is that 
the commercial nukes were extrapolated from the naval reactors, 
as far as size. One of the problems in doing that was the 
exponential increase in maintenance requirements, and, various 
stress on system components. An analogy is taking a model 
airplane and stretching it to the size of a 747. Physically it can be 
done, but, look at the increased factors that must be handled. The 
earlier reactor designs didn't do very well. Just look at the Steam 
Generators, for one.

------------------------
Sandy Perle
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205

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