Analysis of Water Consumption in Nuclear Power Plants and National Standard Formulation for Norm of Water Intake

Abstract

The nuclear power industry consumes a large amount of water. Its water process systems are complex, and require high water guarantee rate. In general, water process and water consumption indexes for different nuclear power plants are still in the exploratory stage. For a long time, there are huge differences between the design values and actual values of water intake, water consumption, and water withdrawal in China nuclear power industry, which brings difficulties to the management. At present, the construction of nuclear power plants in China is in a period of rapid development, but there is no national standard for norm of water intake, yet. Nearly all the design water consumption indexes of nuclear power plants are based on the design values of nuclear power plants that have been built and part water consumption indexes required by few relevant design specifications. With the implementation of the strictest water resources management system, total volume control and norm management have become important tools of water resources management. The national standard formulation for norm of water intake in China’s nuclear power industry can provide a basis for the approval of water intake permits for design and construction of the nuclear power plants, to strengthen the management of water resource and improve the water utilization efficiency of the nuclear power plants. This paper introduces the current situation of water consumption in each nuclear power plant and the basis for national standard formulating for norm of water intake.