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News

USA fleet member PSEG Nuclear recently participated in an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) fuel reliability program visit to Japan, Korea and Taiwan. The visit was well received thanks to the efforts of PSEG’s Director of Nuclear Fuels Don Notigan who served as a member of the program visit team.

“I was extremely impressed with Don’s knowledge – not only with fuel reliability issues but with core management practices, spent fuel configurations, dry storage and just about everything our members asked of him,” explained Jeff Deshon, senior program manager for the EPRI fuel reliability program. “He also did an excellent job describing the regulations driving many of the issues, which was important for our international members to understand.”

According to Notigan, there were some difference between the U.S. and Asian fuel reliability efforts. All U.S. utilities openly share fuel and core design operating experience and lessons learned which helps to understand fuel reliability trends and gaps to investigate for improvements. American plants also participate in routine teleconference calls and meeting forums to share lessons learned and exchange best practices face to face. This openness for exchanging information was not as evident amongst the different Asian peers.

For Notigan who has more than 31 years’ experience in the nuclear industry, it was also a great learning experience for him.

“The construction of new nuclear plants is very visible in Southeast Asia including the Kori plant where there are eight operating reactors and two more planned,” said Notigan. “It was impressive to see so many reactors on one site.”

Even more impressive was the KEPCO Institute of Nuclear Graduate School located at Kori. The training complex is designed to educate leadership-level professionals from 20 different countries in a variety of disciplines as they prepare to assume leadership roles in the nuclear industry.

The EPRI Fuel Reliability Program visited the Kori plant.