SimplyInfo » Entries tagged with "reactor"
US Nuclear Plant Cracks Reactor Vessel
[Translate] The Sharon Harris nuclear plant admitted to having a crack in the reactor vessel. The 1/4 crack did not penetrate all the way through the vessel steel. It was not reported how long or deep the crack was. The reactor ultrasound data was collected a year ago but the plant officials are only now going through it. This raises questions about why they were allowed to wait so long and also to restart before the review is conducted. The plant owners said the repair would need to be done with robots on the reactor head section of the reactor vessel due to the high radiation. The crack appeared on a weld for a control rod nozzle on the reactor head. The unit in question is a 3 loop PWR reactor, this … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Radball To Be Used To Map Hot Spots In Fukushima Reactors
[Translate] A strange looking device will be used to map the radiation in the Fukushima reactors. The device can detect radiation levels and feed them to a computer that can make a detailed radiation level map. This could help pin point hot spots in the building to better understand the failure of each unit. It will also help identify dangerous spots that workers should avoid or require shielding to be put in place. The device was invented at the UK’s National Nuclear Lab. Lancashire Evening Press (photo credit: same) This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
US Petition To Revoke BWR Reactor Licenses
[Translate] Beyond Nuclear filed a petition in March 2013 requesting the NRC revoke the operating licenses of the GE BWR reactors in the US, these are the Fukushima type reactors. With the NRC voting to delay pretty much forever any meaningful regulatory action on the post Fukushima safety upgrades recommended by the Blue Ribbon Panel on Fukushima, it is clear the NRC has no intention of doing anything to deal with the safety risks posed by these units. Beyond Nuclear’s official petition to the NRC explains in detail the grounds for their case. You can read it and sign on to the petition filed with the NRC here. The former head of the NRC, Gregory Jaczko has admitted the US reactor fleet including these BWR reactors are too dangerous to continue operating. He … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
TEPCO Announces Plan To Look At Reactor Vessel In Unit 2
[Translate] TEPCO announced a plan that should enable them to look inside unit 2 and inspect the reactor vessel directly. TEPCO plans to use the long scope camera to conduct the work. They will send the scope down the control rod replacement rail into the pedestal, this will allow a clear view of the underside of the steel reactor vessel. Since the bottom of this vessel is the likely melt through location this work may give some major clues to what happened at unit 2. From the handout it appears they practiced the work at unit 5. This is a common tactic TEPCO has used to allow workers to be familiar with the task before going into the high radiation environment in the other units. This work will be done in late March, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Japan Unlikely To Restart Nuclear Plants This Year
[Translate] The combination of new safety rules being implemented this July and the need to upgrade plants has caused all of Japan’s power companies to say they would not be able to restart any of their reactors within 2013. The high costs of meeting safety requirements is also playing a role in delaying any restarts. Earlier Japan PM, Abe stated Japan would begin restarting nuclear reactors as soon as safety guidelines are in place. This claim flies in the face of the current structure where the NRA would ultimately decide if a plant meets the basic safety that would allow it to restart. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
More US Nuclear Plants May Be Shut Down
[Translate] The Crystal River nuclear plant was formally started on the permanent shut down process this week. It may not stop with this plant. UBS has announced other plants they think are at risk. Reuters mentioned an Exelon units that may shut down. Exelon denied this to Reuters but this was previously admitted by the company. One of Constellation Energy’s units may also face shutdown. The plants that may shut down due to economics: Vermont Yankee Fitzpatrick Clinton Ginna The Kewaunee nuclear plant in Wisconsin is also in the process of permanent shut down due to poor profitability. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Regulator 99% Sure Cracks In Belgian Reactors Are Manufacturing Flaws
[Translate] We previously reported a list of 10 US reactors and 21 worldwide that may have the same flaws as the reactor found in Belgium to have substantial cracks in the reactor vessel. Now FANC the nuclear authority in Belgium is stating they are 99% sure the cracks found at the Doel nuclear reactor and later at the Tihange reactor are due to a manufacturing defect. Tihange had 2500 cracks, Doel had 8000 cracks found on the inspections. The cracks are now thought to have been caused by the steel vessels being cooled too rapidly after forging. There will be additional outside analysis of the reactor vessels before a final decision will be made in Belgium. Currently the NRC is allowing the reactors in the US with this potential flaw to continue to … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Monticello Nuclear Plant Failure & Water Loss Incident
[Translate] The Monticello nuclear plant that sits about 40 miles from downtown Minneapolis had another failure Tuesday. While the reactor was operating workers attempted to do maintenance work on an electrical system. This caused the reactor to lose the power to the reactor cooling water pumps. The water level began to drop. The NRC cites that the water did not drop low enough to turn on the HPCI and RCIC emergency cooling systems. Both of these have set points above the top of the fuel core. The NRC cites water levels in both positive numbers and negative numbers. Most of the data out of Japan related to the Fukushima Daiichi disaster document the “0″ water level to be the top of the fuel core. Some diagrams such as the emergency set point … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Cooper Nuclear Station Running Without Emergency Generators
[Translate] Cooper Nuclear Station, a one unit GE Mark 1 reactor, just like the units at Fukushima was fully operating at 100% power without either emergency diesel generator functioning. One unit has since been restored. The other unit is apparently still out of service. One was already out of service due to a rainwater leak in the roof of the building it is housed in. The service water for the other unit sprung a small leak taking the other generator out of service. If Cooper were to lose offsite power it would have no back up AC power available if both generators are out of service or fail to operate. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Belgian Possible Cracked Vessel Problem At 10 US Reactors (With List)
[Translate] Belgian officials earlier this week announced that the reactor vessel at the Doel nuclear plant, unit 3 was found to have cracks. The Belgian regulator said the cracks in the reactor vessel are due to manufacturing problems, not from aging. Some reporting misstated the reactor vessel as a “tank” in their reports. About 10 nuclear reactors in the US had their reactor vessel made by Rotterdam Dry Dock Company, the company that made the vessel for Doel. The inspection was done with a new ultrasound tool. The operator is re-scanning the the vessel with their old ultrasound tool to rule out problems with the new tool. They are anticipating being out of operation at least until the end of the month. The Swiss scanned their Rotterdam made reactor vessel with … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
21 Nuclear Reactors May Have Failing Reactor Vessels
[Translate] The Belgian Doel 3 nuclear reactor was put into an extended shutdown after possible cracks were found in the reactor pressure vessel. Ultrasonic testing during a mandatory 10 year check found the possible cracks. The operator intends to do additional testing. If the reactor is found to be cracked it could be permanently taken out of service. This finding also raises concerns about the other 21 units made by Rotterdam Dry Docks while the company was in operation. Some of the other units that were made by Rotterdam include: Doel 2 Doel 3 Vermont Yankee N Anna 2 McGuire 2 Catabwa 1 Fermi 2 Tihange 2 A number of these units have had issues with the steel that caused concerns or additional inspections. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Media Picks Up On Risks At Oi
[Translate] The media has picked up on the risks at the Oi nuclear plant in Japan. Our report on the real risks at Oi mentions our concerns with the limited roads into the plant. We also covered the many portions of that single road that are at high risk for tsunami or earthquake damage. The Associated Press has picked up on the issue and found something more. “If the Ohi nuclear reactors plunged into a Fukushima-style meltdown, the only route for escaping or for sending help would be a winding, cliff-hugging road often closed by snow in winter or clogged by beachgoers in summer.” “Still, Japan’s government has chosen to lift its post-Fukushima nuclear freeze and restart two reactors at Ohi, even though construction of an alternative route to the facility is barely on … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Japan Reactor Restarts = Power Company “Corporate Welfare”
[Translate] The national government is pushing hard to restart the Oi reactors in Japan. Pressure is being put on various involved parties at the local level. Nobody wants to have the final decision for the restart put on their shoulders. The vague wording of the need to gain local approval has created a mess with the entities being involved. Many are refusing to admit a clear stance on the issue. Prime minister Noda has claimed that “Japanese lifestyles rely on nuclear power” in an attempt to throw the blame back on the public. The Ohi local assembly has given their approval. The governor of Fukui has not. The mayor of Oi has not. A “group of regional governors” has given approval but it is not totally clear who this includes. The mayor of Osaka has given … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
NISA Finds New Quake Risk Concerns At Oi & Tsuruga
[Translate] NISA has discovered that part of the slope near the Oi reactors could collapse in an earthquake. KEPCO says they will remove some of the soil in 2014. NISA intends to hold an expert meeting to discuss the issue. A landslide could drastically complicate an earthquake caused disaster at the plant. English translation of the original article at the end of the page. NISA will also begin a six month inspection to determine if faults under the Tsuruga nuclear plant are active. There are concerns that faults under the plant could move with a nearby known active fault. “Japan has regulations against building a nuclear plant on top of an active fault that has moved within the last 120,000 to 130,000 years, so the Tsuruga site could be declared unfit to host … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Reactor Restarts Come Down To Money
[Translate] The local assembly of Oi town has voted to approve the restart of the Oi reactors. The assembly cited economic concerns such as employment. The $32 million in annual subsidies the city is given from Kansai electric is probably a considerable part of the decision. Some have described the subsidies as like a drug that causes the local municipality to become both dependent and complacent about fostering the economy independent of the power companies. This approval to restart the reactors is not shared by the other nearby towns. Eight of the eleven nearby towns do not want the reactors restarted. The power companies in Japan are heavily invested in nuclear. The plan to reform TEPCO hinges on the ability to restart the reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. The Japanese government has nationalized TEPCO, leaving … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
GAO Slams US Nuclear Decommissioning Fund & NRC
[Translate] The US Government Accountability Office has slammed the NRC and the reactor decommissioning fund claiming the fund is inadequate as is the NRC oversight. Citing that the majority of the funds do not have enough money to cover real decommissioning costs, some with only 57% of the needed money in the fund. GAO also cited a number of NRC rules and procedures that allowed power companies to not have to prove proper funding and left vague metrics to be followed. The NRC also failed to establish a method to assure power companies are not investing their funds into mutual funds or other investments heavily invested in the nuclear industry. Decommissioning funds are also at risk to the stock market ups and downs. GAO listed five corrective actions the NRC needs to take to … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Tsruga Impossible To Restart, Issues At Kashiwazaki Raise Concerns
[Translate] Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission stated it would be impossible to restart the units at Tsruga nuclear plant. Multiple fault lines run under or near the plant with evidence they have acted together in the past. This raised the earthquake risks at the plant beyond the safety margins allowed to operate. It is very unlikely the reactors at Tsruga will ever be restarted. This week NISA raised the ground motion projections for Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant. These new ground motion projections use multiple faults acting at once where TEPCO’s previous assumptions only used one fault line. TEPCO says they will add reinforcement as needed to the plant and intend to restart the reactors. There has been no word yet if NISA considered the risk at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa to be as severe as Tsruga or … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
84% Of Japan Businesses Do Not Support Reactor Restarts
[Translate] 84% of Japan businesses do not want reactors restarted or only want restarts only after sufficient safety changes are made. These businesses were against the reactor restarts even if it could potentially have negative impacts on their business. With such strong opposition in the business community and with the general public it makes one wonder exactly who is for the reactor restarts? Meanwhile Prime Minister Noda’s approval rating continues to fall, Reuters cites the reactor restarts and the proposed sales tax hike as reasons for his waning approval. METI ministers visited the governors of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures to try to pressure them into approving reactor restarts. Shiga’s governor complained of the both the promotion of nuclear power and the oversight of nuclear power being with one agency (METI) and that the … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Japan’s Political Sideshow
[Translate] We have been following the recent political games surrounding the restart of the Oi reactors. The government disconnect with reality or the people continues on. This week the ministry in charge of food safety instructed grocery stores and other companies testing food for radiation to end their food testing standards and use the much higher government standards. Various grocery stores, food coops and food producers began their own testing due to lack of comprehensive testing by the government over the last year or more. The government safety standards of 500 bq/kg and the new lower 100 bq/kg are unacceptable to many consumers. Food retailers and producers did what consumers wanted, food that is assured to be safe beyond the government’s high “safety” threshold. The government early on had declared foods to … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Japan’s Politicians & Advisors Behind The Reactor Restarts
[Translate] While there has been an almost hyper-focus on METI minister Yukio Edano related to the issue of reactor restarts and Japan’s energy policy, he is not the key player. A list of politicians who are likely behind this out of touch government push has been slowly developing. Their comments on nuclear energy in Japan and the reactor restarts indicate they are likely behind this effort. We are looking into others. If you have some related political insight share in the comments or stop by the live chat and let us know. Yoshito Sengoku: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshito_Sengoku DPJ’s Sengoku describes halt of all nuclear plants ‘mass suicide’ NAGOYA, April 16, Kyodo Yoshito Sengoku, acting chief policymaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, on Monday described the halting of all nuclear power plants in Japan as its ”mass suicide.” ”If … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Get SimplyInfo.org RSS Feed
