How long is the effective working life of a nuclear power station?

Answer 1

Nominal 25 years, but in reality this gets extended by re assesments and risk anaylsis.

Most of the nuclear power stations in the Uk are now life expired, most of those that are still working are in this time extension zone.

The twin towers at Windscale (built to provided weapons grade plutonium and a little power) are now being dismantled after 50 years. They have been out of use since a fire over 40 years ago.

Answer 2

I dont believe there are any reactors from the 50s still on line that have not been refueled at least once. The uranium or plutonium does eventually breakdown and need to be replaced. 30 years is the design life and I'm sure this can be extended but probably not to 50 years

I beleive Shippingport Pennsylvania was the first brought on line in the 50s and was refueled in the 80s. .

Answer 3

This is an excellent question but the answer is undetermined because it is mainly a function of (1) politics (2) money. If the government (or in some countries the operator) has the money and wants it badly enough, and pressure groups do not want to oppose it badly enough, then the life can be extended several times. And as technical progress continues, extending the life of the plant becomes more and more feasible as tiime goes on, so it feeds on itself to a degree.

Answer 4

I don't know, but the reactor out where I work has been on line since the mid 50's, and has plenty of life left in it, due to good maintenance.

Answer 5

Design life is (or used to be) about 30 years, but, as the previous answerer says, you can keep them going a lot longer if you treat them right.

Answer 6

it deponds on how do we work with it. i mean maintenance and protection.