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By Adri Senekal de Wet 
10h ago
CAPE TOWN – The first of six new steam generators will be delivered to the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant as part of a major upgrade to the life extension systems.
This project has been underway for a few years and began after Eskom nuclear specialists decided to undertake a system upgrade to ensure Koeberg would function optimally for at least another 20 years.
These steam generators are very complex, designed in France and made in China. They are part of a total upgrade that costs more than R5 billion.
The project will contribute approximately 500 million rand to the local economy.
Nuclear physicist Dr. Kelvin Kemm says: “There are three steam generators in each of the two Koeberg reactors. Steam generators take heat from nuclear reactors and then convert it into high pressure steam that is fed to turbines to produce electricity.
Existing steam generators are nearing the end of their natural life cycle, but they have been cared for by Koeberg’s staff so well that they are considered some of the best maintained in the world.
The new steam generators will allow Koeberg to increase its electricity production by about 10 percent.
Kemm says: “Since Koeberg was built almost 40 years ago; new advanced materials have emerged and design methods have been improved, which meant that higher performance steam generators could be designed and manufactured. “
Eskom’s nuclear engineers have been planning this expansion of the natural plant for many years. Kemm states: “Improved steam turbines were installed in 2010 that could produce an increase in power production of approximately 10 percent, but only after new, higher-performance steam generators were installed in the system.”
The two Koeberg nuclear reactors will not be modified at all and are still working very well.
However, Kemm notes: “The reactors were designed to be able to operate at a slightly higher temperature, some 9 ° C warmer than now, and with new higher-performance steam generators, Koeberg engineers will be able to increase reactor temperatures to feed more power into the upgraded turbines through the new steam generators. “
Kemm noted that Koeberg produces the cheapest electricity in South Africa and will continue to do so for many years. He added that the Eskom nuclear team led by Riedewaan Bakardien and Koeberg power plant manager Velaphi Ntuli should be commended for the world-class work they continue to do so well.
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