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NuclearPlantJournal.com Nuclear Plant Journal, March-April 2014
Watts Bar Statistics
Plant site
Location: Near Spring City in southeastern Tennesse
Acreage: 1,700-acre site on Chickamauga Reservoir
Cooling towers
Quantity: 2
Height: 506 feet
Diameter: 405 feet at ground level
Water flow: 410,000 gallons per minute
Switchyard
500,000-volt transmission lines: 5
161,000-volt transmission lines: 2
Plant design
Westinghouse pressurized water reactor that is expected to generate
1,150 megawatts (summer net capability) – enough to supply power
for about 650,000 Tennessee Valley homes. Reactor core holds 193
fuel assemblies, each contains 264 fuel rods
Reactor vessel
Height: 43.8 feet
Weight: About 265 tons (empty)
Inside diameter: 14 feet
Steel thickness: About 9.4 inches
Operating temperature: About 586 degrees Fahrenheit
: About 2,235 pounds per square inch
Primary containment
Inside height: 197.3 feet
Inside diameter: 115 feet
Steel inner thickness: 1 inch
Design pressure: 15 pounds per square inch
Steam generators
Quantity: 4
Height: 67 feet 8 inches
Weight: About 380 tons
Operating temperature: About 600 degrees Fahrenheit
Operating pressure: 1,000 pounds per square inch
Main generator
Height: 16 feet
Length: 40 feet
Stator weight: About 1,000 tons
Rotor weight: About 200 tons
Ratings: 1,411 megawatts, 24,000 volts
Speed: 1,800 rotations per minute
Steam turbines
High pressure: A single 8-stage double-flow axial turbine
Low pressure: A series of three, 8-stage double-flow axial turbines
Maximum blade diameter: 16 feet
Rotor weight: About 177 tons
Watts Bar...
Looking forward, Watts Bar Unit 2
is steadily approaching a major milestone
— open vessel testing — spring 2014.
This test involves pumping water through
systems used when shutting down the
reactor.
This ongoing progress means Watts
Bar 2 remains on target for a most likely
completion date of December 2015,
within the estimated completion range of
between September 2015 and June 2016.
During the quarter, no new risks were
identified that might compromise project
completion. Several challenges still exist
given the size, scope and complexity
of completing a nuclear reactor. Those
include:
Completing complex work and
required documentation
Completing and testing shared
systems without impacting Unit 1’s
safe and reliable operation
Addressing regulatory and licensing
issues
Successfully transitioning the site
into dual-unit operation
Watts Bar Unit 2 will play a vital
role in TVA meeting the energy needs of
Tennessee Valley families and industry
with low-cost, reliable and carbon-
free electricity. The Watts Bar team
recognizes the importance of its work and
is committed to completing the project in
a safe manner, on time and within budget.
Contact: Jim Hopson, Tennessee
Valley Authority, telephone: (423) 751-
8008 , email:
