ASN’s supervision of the Flamanville-3 reactor (EPR) : News

In late 2023 and early 2024, ASN continued its monitoring of the construction of the Flamanville EPR reactor. It notably checked: the preparation for and performance of hot testing at the end of 2023, to verify the ability of the systems to perform their safety functions during hot operation of the reactor, prior to commissioning, preparedness of the teams who will be operating the reactor, prior to commissioning, the conformity of the nuclear pressure equipment, which notably includes completion of the quality review, the processing of the irregularities affecting certain equipment, and equipment conservation, completion of the installation before commissioning, whether in terms of works, processing of anomalies and start-up tests, with detailed monitoring of the progress of these actions, up until reactor commissioning, the start-up operations following commissioning, notably loading of fuel into the reactor vessel and analysis of the experience feedback from the significant events reported.

In 2022 and in the first half of 2023, ASN continued with its monitoring of the construction of the Flamanville EPR reactor. It was particularly vigilant with regard to the treatment of the deviations detected on the main primary and secondary system welds and to the correct operation of the filtration function of the safety injection system (SIS). It continued to examine the installation start-up tests and the correct operation of the primary system protection valves.

ASN continued its monitoring of the construction of the Flamanville EPR reactor. In 2020 and 2021, it was particularly vigilant regarding the processing of the anomalies detected on the main primary and secondary system welds and the continuation of the reactor start-up tests. ASN also authorised partial commissioning of the installation to allow nuclear fuel to enter the site, starting on 26 October 2020 and ending on 24 June 2021. A look back at these notable events.

ASN continued its monitoring of construction of the Flamanville EPR reactor. ASN was particularly vigilant regarding the processing of the anomalies detected on the main secondary system welds and the continuation of the reactor start-up tests. Review of the notable events.

ASN continued its monitoring of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor construction site and the various manufactured items intended for it. The significant points in 2018 and early 2019 are detailed below; ASN was particularly vigilant with regard to the processing of the deviations detected on the main secondary system welds and the continuation of the reactor start-up tests.

ASN continued its monitoring of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor construction site and the various manufactured items intended for it. The significant points for 2017 and early 2018 are detailed below; ASN was particularly vigilant with regard to start-up testing activities, which were ramped up during the course of the past year.

In the second half of 2016, ASN continued its monitoring of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor and its various manufacturing operations. The notable points observed over these last few months are detailed below.

In the second half of 2015 and early 2016, ASN continued its oversight actions on the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor construction site and the various manufacturing operations for this reactor. The notable points observed over the last few months are detailed below.

In the second half of 2014 and early 2015, ASN continued its monitoring of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor and the various manufacturing operations for this reactor. The notable points observed over these last few months are detailed below

In the second half of 2013 and early 2014, ASN carried out a number of inspections to continue its monitoring of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor construction site and the various items being manufactured for it. The significant points over these recent months are detailed below.

On 13th December 2013, further to the ASN inspectors’ findings concerning lifting and handling equipment for large components in NPPs, ASN asked EDF to ensure the conformity of this equipment prior to any use

In the first half of 2013, ASN continued its monitoring of construction of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor and various other manufacturing operations for this reactor; ASN carried out several inspections. The notable points observed over these last few months are detailed below.

In the second half of 2012, ASN conducted several inspections for continued monitoring of the construction of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor and various other manufacturing operations for this reactor. The notable points observed over these last few months are detailed below.

Since the end of 2011, ASN has conducted several inspections [link to inspection follow-up letters posted on line on asn.fr] that continue its monitoring of the construction of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor and various other manufacturing operations for this reactor. The notable points observed over these last few months are detailed below.

ASN considers that the changes EDF has made to the instrumentation and control (I&C) architecture of the Flamanville 3 EPR are satisfactory and enable it to lift the reservations it expressed in October 2009. This position is based on the analysis by its technical support organisation, IRSN, and the opinion of the Advisory Committee for nuclear reactors.