The Westinghouse AP1000™ pressurized water reactor is an advanced 1100-MWe nuclear power plant. It is a modular design that uses 50 percent fewer valves, 35 percent fewer safety grade pumps, and 80 percent less piping than previous nuclear plants. It also features a passive safety design.
Six utilities have chosen the AP1000™ PWR for use in seven combined construction and operating license (COL) applications to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a total of 14 AP1000™ units, including six for which engineering, procurement and construction contracts have been signed. Additionally, four units are under construction at two sites in China, with the first unit to come on line in 2013.
Hatch has been retained by Westinghouse Electric Company to provide engineering and design services to assist in the development of construction drawings for the containment and auxiliary buildings for their AP1000™ pressurized-water-reactor (PWR) nuclear plant. Hatch’s services include 3D PDS modeling and 2D CAD services.
Hatch is supporting Westinghouse’s structural, piping, layout, mechanical modules and structural modules groups for an initial 18-month period which began in January 2010. Work in safety-related areas is being performed under the Westinghouse Nuclear Quality Assurance Program.
The major design effort extends through 2012. Future AP1000 units will require site-specific design enhancements.
Hatch is providing services for the first U.S. units as well as for the Chinese units, as part of an integrated team led by Westinghouse. Earthworks have begun at the two U.S. sites. Staff are assigned both in Westinghouse’s office and Hatch’s Pittsburgh office.
Although Hatch has no direct site involvement, designs are reviewed for safety, operability and maintainability.
