LAUSR

Abstract This process of requesting operation at thermal power levels above the current licensed power level for nuclear power station is referred to as a Power Uprate (PU). There are many nuclear power stations around the world that have implemented power uprate operation for improving their efficiency and economic performance. The Chinshan Nuclear Power Station (CNPS) performed the 1.66% and 2% power uprate for MURPU and SPU, respectively. After successfully achieving the operation of power uprates, the total increase of electrical output for CNPS has amounted to 35.79 MWe. In addition, it also reaches the reduction of CO2 emission about 0.68 million tons per year compare to natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant. Furthermore, the net increase in yearly revenue was compared to the cost of implementing the MURPU and SPU, and the payback time was less than one year. In addition to the calculation of thermal power uncertainty, the power ascension test results, major operating parameters after power uprates, cost benefit analysis, and calculation of CO2 reduction are also presented in this paper. Moreover, the key operating parameters of the turbine cycle measured after power uprate have established a reference base for monitoring station operating performance and provide useful information to turbine cycle design for nuclear power plant.