US Patent 7333584 Nuclear power plant and operation method thereof

A nuclear power plant and method of operation for augmenting a second reactor thermal power output in a second operation cycle to a level larger than a first reactor thermal power output in the previous operation cycle. The plant is equipped, for example, with a reactor; a steam loop comprising high and low pressure turbines; a condenser for condensing steam discharged therefrom the low pressure turbine; a feedwater heater for heating feedwater supplied from the condenser; and a feedwater loop for leading feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater to the reactor. The operation method includes decreasing a ratio of extraction steam which is led to the feedwater heater from a steam loop in the second operation cycle.