Technology
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is home to four third-generation reactors called the APR1400. The APR1400 is one of the most technologically advanced nuclear reactor designs in the world and meets the highest international standards for safety and performance.
This advanced design combines the latest developments in nuclear energy technology with a reliable design that has been proven over decades of operations.
The APR1400 is a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), and each unit produces up to 1,400 Megawatts of electricity. The reactors have an operational lifespan of at least 60 years. This advanced reactor is based on the System 80+ design, which was certified by the independent national nuclear regulatory bodies of South Korea, the UAE, and the USA.
As a Generation III+ reactor, the APR1400 safety system is designed to prevent or mitigate severe accidents. The design incorporates passive safety systems, which work to ensure safe reactor shutdown, removal of decay heat, and the prevention of radioactive releases.
The UAE’s reactors have been adapted from the original design to suit the country’s unique climate and specific requirements of the UAE nuclear safety regulator, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). These design modifications include:
- Larger pumps, heat exchangers and pipes to increase the water flow rate of the cooling systems to manage the higher seawater temperatures in the Gulf;
- Seawater intake and plant cooling systems designed to ensure compliance with the Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi’s (EAD) standards for changes in Gulf water temperature near the plant;
- More ventilation and air conditioning to counter the effects of higher temperatures, drier air and high volumes of airborne sand and dust; and
- A refined intake screen design to help protect local fish populations during operations.
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