Patent ID: 6909765

Claim:
A method of increasing the electrical power output of an existing nuclear power plant, the plant including a nuclear island and a balance of plant connected together, the nuclear island including a containment having an interior, a pressurized water reactor having a number of fuel rods that include fissile material, and a steam generator, the reactor and the steam generator being disposed within the interior of the containment, the containment outputting thermal power, and the balance of plant outputting electrical power, the method comprising: operating the nuclear island during a first time period to output from the containment thermal power at a first rate: constructing an auxiliary balance of plant, at least a portion of said constructing an auxiliary balance of plant occurring during at least a portion of the first time period while the nuclear island is operating; connecting the auxiliary balance of plant with the nuclear island; increasing the thermal power output from the containment by operating the nuclear island during a second time period substantially subsequent to connection of the auxiliary balance of plant with the nuclear island to output from the containment thermal power at a second rate that is relatively greater than the first rate; delivering a portion of the thermal power to the auxiliary balance of plant; and outputting electrical power from the auxiliary balance of plant.