Background

In the 1980s, Westinghouse embarked on a development program to advance pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology to the next generation. The design objectives of this program, while maintaining field-proven features of the PWR design, were to improve availability, generation economics, and operation and maintenance with respect to the best performing plants in the world.

The technology improvements and design simplifications achieved in the next-generation development program were used to establish the AP600, a 600 MWe pressurized water reactor utilizing passive safeguard systems and extensive plant simplifications. The AP600 design uses field-proven technology, integrates modifications based on lessons learned or operating experience, and incorporates changes only where clear benefit is measurable.