Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for expanding an operating domain of a boiling water nuclear reactor, the operating domain characterized by a map of the reactor thermal power and core flow, the reactor comprising a core having a control rod pattern, said method comprising the steps of: determining an elevated load line characteristic that defines an upper boundary line of the operating domain, the upper boundary line comprising a first endpoint of about 120 percent rated thermal power at about 85 percent core flow and a second endpoint of about 100 percent rated thermal power at about 55 percent rated core flow;  performing safety evaluations at the elevated load line to determine compliance with safety design parameters; and  performing operational evaluations at the elevated load line. 2. A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein determining an elevated load line characteristic that improves reactor performance comprises the steps of increasing reactor thermal power to increase load line and evaluating reactor performance. claim 1 3. A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein increasing reactor thermal power to increase load line comprises the step of adjusting a control rod pattern to increase reactor thermal power. claim 1 4. A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein increasing reactor thermal power to increase load line comprises the step of adjusting the core flow to increase reactor thermal power. claim 1 5. A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein increasing reactor thermal power to increase load line comprises the step of adjusting a control rod pattern and adjusting the core flow to increase reactor thermal power. claim 1 6. A method in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising the step of defining a set of operating conditions for the reactor in an upper operating domain characterized by the elevated load line. claim 2 7. A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein performing operational evaluations at the elevated load line comprises the steps of: claim 1 evaluating plant maneuvers;  evaluating frequent plant transients;  evaluating plant fuel operating margins;  evaluating operator training;  evaluating plant equipment response and setpoints. 8. A method in accordance with  claim 7  further comprising the step of establishing constraints and requirements for plant equipment and plant procedures based on the operational evaluations. claim 7 9. A method in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the reactor further comprises a core recirculation system comprising control components, said method further comprising the steps of performing a detailed analysis of the performance of the core recirculation system and performing a detailed analysis of the core recirculation system control components. claim 7 10. A method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the reactor further comprises flow controls and pressure controls, said method further comprising the steps of providing automatic adjustment of the control rod pattern, flow controls, and the pressure controls based on a detection of a reactor transient. claim 8 11. A method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the reactor further comprises process controls and computers, said method further comprising the steps of modifying the reactor process controls and computers to permit the reactor to operate in the expanded operating domain within predetermined safety parameters. claim 8 12. A method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising the step of creating a safety analysis report based on the safety evaluations. claim 1 13. A method for expanding an operating domain of a boiling water nuclear reactor, the operating domain characterized by a map of the reactor thermal power and core flow, the reactor comprising a core having a control rod pattern, said method comprising the steps of: determining an elevated load line characteristic that defines an upper boundary line of the operating domain, the upper boundary line comprising a first endpoint of about 120 percent rated thermal power at about 85 percent core flow and a second endpoint of about 100 percent rated thermal power at about 55 percent rated core flow by increasing reactor thermal power to increase load line and evaluating reactor performance;  defining a set of operating conditions for the reactor in an upper operating domain characterized by the elevated load line;  performing safety evaluations at the elevated load line to determine compliance with safety design parameters;  performing operational evaluations at the elevated load line; and  creating a safety analysis report based on the safety evaluations. 14. A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein increasing reactor thermal power to increase load line comprises the step of adjusting the control rod pattern to increase reactor thermal power. claim 13 15. A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein increasing reactor thermal power to increase load line comprises the step of adjusting the core flow to increase reactor thermal power. claim 13 16. A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein increasing reactor thermal power to increase load line comprises the step of adjusting the control rod pattern and adjusting the core flow to increase reactor thermal power. claim 15 17. A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein performing operational evaluations at the elevated load line comprises the steps of: claim 13 evaluating plant maneuvers;  evaluating frequent plant transients;  evaluating plant fuel operating margins;  evaluating operator training;  evaluating plant equipment response and setpoints. 18. A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising the step of establishing constraints and requirements for plant equipment and plant procedures based on the operational evaluations. claim 17 19. A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the reactor further comprises a core recirculation system comprising control components, said method further comprising the steps of performing a detailed analysis of the performance of the core recirculation system and performing a detailed analysis of the core recirculation system control components. claim 17 20. A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the reactor further comprises flow controls and pressure controls, said method further comprising the steps of providing automatic adjustment of the control rod pattern, flow controls, and the pressure controls based on a detection of a reactor transient. claim 17 21. A method in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the reactor further comprises process controls and computers, said method further comprising the steps of modifying the reactor process controls and computers to permit the reactor to operate in the expanded operating domain within predetermined safety parameters. claim 18