[en] The author visited the Hunterston station and gives a brief description of both the Hunterston-A reactors (Magnox) and the Hunterston-B reactors (AGR). (JIW)

[en] The refuelling equipment at Hunterston A is unique in that it removes and replaces fuel from beneath the reactor core. After initial problems the equipment has operated successfully for over 20 years and has recently been re-assessed for a further ten years' operation. Experience with Hunterston A refuelling equipment is summarized briefly in this Paper. In general terms there was comparable early experience with a quite different design of refuelling equipment installed on the B station. After initial testing, followed by a period of off-load batch refuelling, improvements have been made to the B Station refuelling equipment. These have included an additional cooling system, further lines of electrical and mechanical protection and provision of a dropped stringer reactor trip guard line operated from the refuelling machine. Following these changes, on on-load refuelling commenced in August 1982 and this regime has continued successfully since then. The changes made, operational experience gained and contribution of refuelling equipment to station availability is reviewed in this Paper. (author)

[en] Reactor output and availability are closely related to fuel design and performance and the SSEB, in collaboration with the Central Electricity Generating Board have followed a policy of continuous analysis and improvement. The position reached is set out and some views on further improvements, are given. The strategy of increasing fuel burn-up on Hunterston A power station has brought significant dividends in the form of major benefits in fuel cycle cost and station availability. Significant improvements in output and availability at Hunterston B have resulted from increasing the fuel cycle burn-up, from 18 GWd/t U to 21 GWd/t U and introducing on-load refuelling. Additional benefits are soon to be obtained by further extending the burn-up to 24 GWd/t U. Further reduction of typically Pound 2-7 million/year in fuel cycle costs over the remaining life of the stations would be made by extending the burn-up to 30 GWd/t U at Hunterston B and Torness. There would be additional savings of about Pound 4 million/year in replacement fuel costs if the reactors continued to be refuelled at 30% power at Hunterston B and 40% power at Torness. (author)

No abstract available

[en] The paper is concerned with nuclear power stations in Scotland. The operation and performance of the Magnox reactor at Hunterston A, and the Advanced Gas-cooled reactor (AGR) at Hunterston B, are outlined. The construction programme of the AGR reactor at Torness is described. (U.K.)

[en] A brief history is presented of the design and operation of the four Scottish nuclear power stations currently run by Scottish Nuclear, namely Hunterston 'A' and 'B' and the Torness reactors. A design flaw in the Magnox reactor at Hunterston 'A' led to it being operated at lower than optimal temperature and hence producing less power. For Hunterston 'B' reactor the Advanced Gas Cooled design prototype was used. Operating setbacks and successes are noted. The design chosen for Torness embraced all the good points of Hunterston 'B' but sought to eliminate its faults. After 26 years of successful operation Hunterston 'A' is now being decommissioned, while the other three stations continue to generate electricity successfully. (UK)

[en] Scottish Nuclear operate two nuclear power plants at Hunterston (A and B) and Torness. The plants were built under different construction programmes and have different historical backgrounds. Hunterston A was a Magnox-type reactor which operated for 26 years. It was shutdown in 1990 having produced 55TWh of electricity with a load factor of 80.8 per cent. Hunterston B is a two-unit AGR type reactor which has been operating since 1976. Torness also is a two-unit AGR type reactor which has been operating since 1987. The construction and operation of these stations is different and is described. (UK)

[en] When the government decided to privatise the electricity generating industry it was decided to retain nuclear generation in the public sector. Thus, Scottish Nuclear Ltd, formerly part of the South of Scotland Electricity Boeard, was created in March 1990. Scottish Nuclear owns and is responsible for the continued safe and commercially sound operation of two nuclear power stations, Hunterston 'B' on the Firth of Clyde and Torness on the Scottish east coast. Both are Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors. The company is also responsible for Hunterston 'A', a Magnox power station; both the Hunterston 'A' reactors have been shut down on economic grounds. This, the company's first Annual Report, includes the Chairman's statement, Chief Executive's review, a summary of the activities, a list of Directors and advisers, the Directors' report and the accounts. (UK)

[en] The performance of the first of two 660 MWe AGR units at Hunterston B, after 16 months operation, is discussed. Some of the problems encountered such as de-aerator instability control of gas composition and fuel-stringer vibration are briefly discussed. Losses in availability were almost entirely due to faults on peripheral and conventional plant. Safety circuits operated satisfactorily, and fuel performance was extremely good. (U.K.)

[en] Scottish Nuclear owns and operates four advanced gas cooled reactors, two at Hunterston and two at Torness, having a design output capacity of 2640 MW(e), and generates around half of Scotland's electricity. It was formed in 1990 following the split-up of the South of Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB) prior to privatization. It has a staff of around 1700, with approximately 400 located at its East Kilbride design office. This article reviews the inherited documentation structure, its problems and how these have been tackled to provide a user-friendly controlled documentation management system at Torness Power Station. (author)