2011-03-14, 07:35 PM
Stereo Wrote:If you'd look a little further you'd find that 40 years is the target lifespan on most reactors. Generally they go through certifications every decade, and then they decide whether it's worthwhile to keep operating them at current efficiency/projected costs. As far as I can ascertain, the actual reactor core is the only part that is not outright replaced over time - the rest of the cooling and external systems are updated or repaired as necessary to keep the reactor up to standards. If it meets those standards, that means it's considered safe to operate, and can be kept running. And nuclear safety standards are probably some of the highest in any energy business.
And yet... you have no link like I asked.
Also, keep in mind that todays reactors are obviously designed to last longer than the reactors 40 years ago.