In December 2015, Bruce Power reached an agreement with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to advance a long-term investment program which would refurbish its nuclear fleet and secure the site’s operation until 2064.
The Life-Extension Program started on January 1, 2016 and involves the gradual replacement of older systems in the company’s eight reactor units during regularly scheduled maintenance outages.
As part of the Life-Extension Program, Bruce Power is carrying out its intensive Major Component Replacement (MCR) Project. The MCR Project began in January 2020 and focuses on the replacement of key reactor components in Units 3-8, including steam generators, pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder tubes.
The program will secure an estimated 22,000 jobs directly and indirectly from operations, and an additional 5,000 jobs annually throughout the investment program, injecting billions into Ontario’s economy.
“Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program will provide quality jobs and substantial economic benefit, while positioning Ontario as a leader in nuclear innovation and expertise.”
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Major Component Replacement (MCR) Project
The MCR Project began with Unit 6 in January 2020 and is followed by Unit 3 in 2023 and Unit 4 in 2025. Each refurbishment must be of the highest quality, shorter in duration and ultimately more cost effective than the last.
The life extension of each unit will add approximately 30 to 35 years of operational life, while other investments will add a combined 30 reactor years of operational life to the units. Extending the operational life of the Bruce Power units will ensure Ontario families and businesses have long-term electricity price stability.
More about the MCR Project »
DID YOU KNOW
Each one of Bruce Power’s reactors is capable of generating enough low-cost, reliable, safe and carbon-free electricity to meet the annual needs of a city the size of Ottawa.
“MCR is so much more than a refurbishment project that will power the province for years to come. It’s a project which will empower people and communities now and into the future.”
Eric Chassard, Executive Vice-President, Projects and Engineering
MCR: Unit 6 Project Overview
Unit 6
Phase 1 – Defuel
Defueling will take place in two phases. Workers begin with the “flow defuel” method for the first stage and then transition into using BRIMS, or the Bruce Reactor Inspection Maintenance System. This system enables shutdown of the heat transport pumps which are expensive to run. BRIMS will reduce the defuel timeline from 74 days to 65.5 days.
Decay heat is too great to use BRIMS directly after shut down. This is why the flow defuel method is employed to start.
Phase 2 – Bulkhead and shielding install
Protective shielding and 16 bulkheads are installed to isolate Unit 6 from the operating units. By installing the shielding, workers can remain in the vault when the Fueling Machine Trolley performs spent fuel runs, which generally occurs one time every 24 hour.
Once the bulkheads are installed, vault pressure testing is completed to ensure Unit 6 has been fully isolated from the three remaining operating units.
16 bulkheads; 7.2 tons each
Phase 4 – Steam generator replacement
An 1,800-tonne capacity crane is used to remove the old steam generators and lower the new ones into place through ports in the roof of the reactor building.
Each steam generator weighs approximately 145 tonnes
Phase 5 – Vault work
This phase of work is the heart of the project. It includes the removal and replacement of the pressure tubes, calandria tubes, as well as the lower and upper feeders.
This work is primarily completed by Shoreline Power Group.
460 feeder tubes, 480 fuel channels, and 480 calandria tubes are removed and replaced.
