DISCUSSION Session 9 : Magnox Fuel Performance

International Conference on Nuclear Fuel

G.B. MUMMERY

The success of any system of power generation can largely be judged on the basis of two criteria, viz. cost and reliability of generation. Now that we have considerable operating experience we are in a position to so judge the Magnox system.

Taking cost first the experience is good. Indeed the best Magnox stations now provide the cheapest generation on the CEGB system. This is true whether judged by fuel cost or by total generation cost (i.e. including capital charges) and this in spite of reductions in the rated outputs from the stations as a result of steel oxidation problems. Station reliability may be described in terms of load factors and, as we have shown -in Paper 1, in most cases those for the Magnox stations have been exceptionally good.