Wylfa Magnox Station

The large physical size of the later Magnox stations, such as Wylfa, led to the development of the more compact advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) design [31] that could utilize the standard turbine generator units available in the UK, Stainless-steel clad, enriched uranium oxide fuel can tolerate higher temperatures... 

Storage of spent nuclear fuel under dry conditions is not a new idea, but dates back to the end of the fifties. MAGNOX fuel has been stored in diy vaults since 1957. Under dry conditions, there have been no major problems with MAGNOX fuel storage. In-leckage of rain water into the dry vault at Wylfa power station, however, has led to severe corrosion of a few fuel elements. Also spent fuel elements from research reactors and fast reactors have been stored in the U. S., in Jq>an and France for many years without problems. 

Wylfa was the last of the magnox stations to be built, and its construction — or, at the least, the tender for its construction — would cause considerable controversy, highlighting the contradictions in government policy. Indeed, it could be said that it highlighted the lack of any government policy. 

By 1963, the consortia had been reduced to three in number. One of these was the UPC. The consortia in general were not happy with the government s policy, feeling that it was too short term. They had suffered as the nuclear programme had first been expanded in 1957, and then cut back later. A further problem was that Wylfa would be the last of the magnox stations, and it was not clear what was going to happen after Wylfa. Thus they faced a distinctly uncertain future. 

The paper went on to make comparisons between the last and most efficient of the magnox stations, Wylfa, and the AGR design ... 

Sellafield currently accepts fuel from Magnox power stations in the UK and elsewhere, and Magnox fuel will continue to arrive at Sellafield at least until the elosure of Wylfa which is expected to be no later than 2012. Temporary dry storage has been successful... 

Fears over the effects of privatization on nuclear safety have been responsible for some of the concerns about electricity privatization. In 1995, the former director of safety at Scottish Nuclear, Richard Killick, claimed that Low morale, overworked operators, and the rush to reduce costs before privatization posed a threat of a significant reduction in safety [and that] privatization would erode safety culture (The Herald, 1993). Criticism of nuclear safety was also leveled against Nuclear Electric following an incident at the Wylfa Twin Magnox Power Stations in 1993 (Safety Management, 1995). In this incident, reactor operation was allowed to continue even though safety had clearly been compromised. However, Nuclear Electric denied that commercial considerations played any part in the decision to defer shutdown. 

The general design features of the magnox line of reactors will be illustrated by describing the last of the series to be constructed in the United Kingdom, the twin-reactor 1180-MWe station at Wylfa Head, North Wales. The Wylfa station commenced generation in January 1971. 

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