The world is focusing on Korea. Korean technologies are spreading throughout the world. A rich world created by nuclear power. The future of energy technology and Korea - Korea Nuclear Fuel !
Welcome to KEPCO NF!
Korea suffers from a lack of energy resources and is currently importing 97% of its energy resources.
Having gone through two oil shocks in the 70’s, the government recognized the importance of energy when it selected nuclear power as the key energy resource during the 1970’s and is now securing energy sources to meet with the rapid economic growth and demands for electricity.
The government imported their nuclear fuel at the early stages of operating nuclear power plants, and founded the KEPCO NF to domesticate and provide nuclear energy.
KEPCO NF, which was founded as a subsidiary company of KEPCO in 1982, is currently performing uranium re-conversions, nuclear fuel and core design, producing nuclear fuel for PWR and PHWR as well as fuel and engineering services.
Production and Supply of Nuclear Fuel
In 1988, KEPCO NF established the plant1, capable of producing 200 tons of PWR nuclear fuel a year. It began production in 1989 and supplied nuclear fuel to power plants in Korea.
Today, KEPCO NF is producing nuclear fuel for both PWR and PHWR from facilities with an annual production capacity of 550 tons for PWR and 400 tons for PHWR, as well as a facility for producing 1,400 km of zirconium alloy tubes a year.
The Nuclear Power Plants in Korea
In Korea, there are 16 PWR nuclear power plants and 4 PHWR nuclear power plants, KEPCO NF is supplying all the nuclear fuel consumed by these facilities. There are also 8 more PWR plants under construction. KEPCO NF will supply the nuclear fuel for these facilities as well.
Core Design and Safety Analysis
KEPCO NF is exclusively performing the core design for all PWR nuclear power plants in Korea.
Thanks to continually evolving technology, KEPCO NF is helping to improve the performance and economic efficiency
KEPCO NF is also performing the reactor core design and safety analysis for the safe and economic operation of PWRs, as well as for the construction of PWRs
R&D Activities
As a result of its valuable experience, KEPCO NF has developed two types of advanced nuclear fuel with large improvements from conventional fuel in 2002 and 2004. PLUS7 for OPR1000 and APR1400 plants has been being commercially supplied since 2006 and ACE7 for WH type nuclear power plants plants has been supplied since 2008. Based on its accumulated experience and technology, KEPCO NF is developing third-generation high performance nuclear fuel with over 20 increase in burn up capacity and outstanding fuel integrity using Korea’s original technologies. The development is due to be completed by 2012.
KEPCO NF provides a variety of value-added engineering services and technology offering. KEPCO NF has performed core design and safety analysis for all nuclear power plants in Korea.
KEPCO NF provides nuclear fuel services to improve the safety of nuclear power plants, shorten the refueling outages and reduce radiation exposure. Major fuel service areas are the coolant activity analysis, the visual inspection of fuel during refueling outages, the repair of the leaking or damaged fuel assemblies, the poolside examination of fuel assemblies, etc.
KEPCO NF ensures the quality of nuclear fuel through a comprehensive Quality Assurance Program which complies with national and international quality assurance requirements as specified in Korea Atomic Energy Law, ISO 9001:2000 and International Atomic Energy Agency Standards.
International Collaborations and Overseas Exports
By enhancing cooperation with the world’s leading nuclear fuel companies such as Westinghouse, Areva, GE Canada, NFI, ENUSA, Conuar S.A. , INB, CJNF, NPIC, and TVEL, KEPCO NF has been promoting nuclear-fuel-related technology and information exchanges.
It has also been exporting the essential components of PWR and PHWR nuclear fuel to the United States, Canada and Brazil and performing engineering participation for Westinghouse. KEPCO NF also plans to promote overseas exports of UO2 powder, production facilities, engineering and nuclear fuel services, tubes and completed nuclear fuel products.
Epilogue
Electricity is the driving force of a nation’s growth and development. Nuclear power is an economical energy source that can be self-sufficed with the right technology, and will illuminate a light of peace throughout the global village.
A clean and beautiful world made possible by nuclear fuel -
Based on our experience and technological advances over the years, KEPCO NF will stand by you all the time and open the doorway to a prominent future. KEPCO NF will be there where you need them.