Press Release Back Number(2006)

New Fuel Transportation at Hamaoka Reactor No. 5 (Notice)

October 6, 2006
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.
Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station

Chubu Electric's Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station Reactor No. 5 (boiling water reactor, rated electric output 1.38 million kW) has received new fuel as described below.


Details

1. Date of transportation

Thursday, October 5, 2006


2. Route of shipment

From Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co., Ltd. (Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture) to Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station


3. Quantity shipped

New fuel assemblies (uranium fuel):
244 (122 shipping containers) (9 9 fuel rod arrays (Type A))


4. Transport mode

Ground shipping (14 trucks)



(Reference data)

9 9 fuel rod arrays

The 9 × 9 fuel rod arrays come in two different designs, A and B, based on the designing manufacturer. The design and form are different, but fuel performance is the same.

Specifications of the Type A fuel rod arrays (for Reactor No. 5) are as below.


  9 × 9 fuel rod arrays, Type A
Fuel rod arrangement 9 rows, 9 columns
Number of fuel rods 74
Maximum burnup
(calorific value per ton of uranium)		 55GWd/t
Average enrichment
(percentage of uranium 235 to total uranium by weight in fuel)		 Approx. 3.8wt%
Number of water rods 2 (tubular)
(equivalent to seven fuel rods)

Overview of shipping containers used for shipment

Model(number used for this shipment) RAJ-II shipping containers(122 units)
Owner of shipping containers Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co., Ltd.
Materials Stainless steel
Weight of shipping containers* Approx.930kg
Length Approx.507 cm
Width Approx.73 cm
Height Approx.74 cm

*Weight: Without fuel assemblies

Shipping containers were designed to pose no problem even under severe conditions as stipulated by national technical standards, including falling from a height of nine meters or being exposed to 800°C for 30 minutes.


New fuel transportation record

Up to the present, Chubu Electric has transported a total of 13,279 rods of new fuel in 91 shipments for Hamaoka Reactors No. 1 - No.5.


(Breakdown)

Unit Number of shipments Number of units transported
No. 1 28 2,390
No. 2 29 3,659
No. 3  21 3,564
No. 4 13 2,540
No. 5 5 1,126
Total 96 (91)*1 13,279*2

*1: The total number of times fuel was transported to Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station was 91 (the figure in parentheses) because some shipments were simultaneous (for No. 1 and 2, No. 1 and 3, No. 1 and 4 (two times) and No. 2 and 5).

*2: The total number of fuel rods delivered to the power station.