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Power Station Guide |
Tokai Power Station
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Japan’s first commercial nuclear power plant
Tokai Power Station is an improved type of nuclear power plant, using natural
uranium and carbon dioxide gas cooled reactor. The facility is built according
to Japan's unique, earthquake-proof design, which was largely adapted from
the Calder Hall type reactor developed in the United Kingdom. The plant
commenced commercial operations in July 1966 as the nation's first commercial
nuclear power station.
The technical expertise gained from construction and operation of Tokai
Power Station served as the solid foundation for further strides in the
field of nuclear power engineering in Japan.
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| Reactor type: |
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Graphite-moderated, carbon dioxide gas-cooled reactor (GCR) |
| Fuel: |
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Natural uranium (approx. 187 tons) |
| Start of Commercial operation: |
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July 25, 1966 |
| Operation period: |
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31 years and 8 months |
| Total electricity generated: |
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29,006,720kWh |
| Average capacity factor: |
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62.9% |
| Average availability factor: |
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77.5% |
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| The power station now, however, has disadvantages from an economic standpoint
because the carbon dioxide gas-cooled reactor has a relatively low power
output for the volume of reactor and heat exchanger. This raises the cost
of electricity generation compared with light water reactors. And since
this type of reactor is unique to Japan it is more expensive to maintain
and for fuel cycling. |
The Tokai Power Station terminated its commercial operation on March 31, 1998 and is currently being decommissioned.
Starting with peripheral equipment outside the reactor area, the power
plant is being demolished in stages. Equipment in the reactor area will
be dismantled and removed after being securely stored for about 10 years
until radioactivity has decayed to an allowable level.
Finally, the site will be ready for a future nuclear power plant. Heat exchangers and other equipment are being dismantled at present.
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This being the first decommissioning of a commercial nuclear power station
in Japan, we have the pioneer mission of establishing proper procedures
for safe and rational decommissioning.
So that future projects for decommissioning light water reactors can benefit by our experience, we are accumulating our knowhow in areas like techniques for remote-controlled dismantling, methods for evaluation of resources /radiation level, waste disposal, and we are promoting development of project management systems. The decommissioning of the Tokai Power Station prompted the development of a clearance system in Japan. A clearance system is a system developed to allow the recycling or disposal of objects removed from nuclear power plants through decommissioning that are extremely low in radioactivity and do no need to be treated as radioactive materials. A clearance system enables these objects to be recycled or disposed of in accordance with proper procedures specified in laws and regulations. |
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The decommissioning of the Tokai Power Station prompted the development of a clearance system in Japan.
A clearance system is a system developed to allow the recycling or disposal
of objects removed from nuclear power plants through decommissioning that
are extremely low in radioactivity and do no need to be treated as radioactive
materials. A clearance system enables these objects to be recycled or disposed
of in accordance with proper procedures specified in laws and regulations.
The decommissioning of the Tokai Power Station prompted the development
of a clearance system in Japan.
Using this clearance system, we are promoting the recycling of various
materials. For example, we had benches and tables manufactured by a casting
manufacturer in Tokai-mura using iron discarded through decommissioning.
These benches and tables are used in our company offices and facilities
related to nuclear energy.
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Table and benches manufactured using metals
under the clearance system (JAPC Head Office) |
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