On 11/08/2014 14:28, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Mon, 11 Aug 2014 13:51:17 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
"Although routine inspections of other boiler spines have not previously
indicated any similar defects EDF Energy has taken the conservative
decision to shut down Heysham 1 Reactor 2 and Hartlepool Reactors 1 and
2 that are of similar design over the next few days to carry out further
inspections in order to satisfy itself and the Regulator that the
reactors can be safely returned to service. Until the results of the
further inspections are known it is not possible to advise exact return
to service dates for these four reactors, however, an initial estimate
is that these investigations will take around eight weeks. EDF Energy's
other nuclear power stations are not affected by this issue as they are
of a different design."
http://newsroom.edfenergy.com/News-R...Heysham-1-and-
Hartlepool-operational-update-2db.aspx
I.e. an issue found with a boiler. During routine maintenance designed
to spot exactly this sort of thing. EDF sensibly takes the decision to
inspect all boilers of the same type now, when power demand is
exceptionally low (less than 25GW last night as it happens).
A total non story except they happen to be nuclear power stations and
therefore guaranteed media coverage by ****s .
And they don't help themselves by using the word "reactor" when they
mean "boiler".
No, it is four reactors: two stations, each of which have two reactors.
Each reactor has several boilers. Interestingly, the problem is
associated with yet another innovative bit of British design. (Some
might say too innovative). The boilers were designed to be replaceable
(in case of long term problems with corrosion, wear, fatigue, etc). So
all of the tubing is suspended from a forged "spine" and, as I
understand it, the problem is with possible defects found during routine
inspection of the "spines". A few years ago, the "closure units", (i.e.
the big plugs that seal the pressure vessel and carry the feedwater in,
and the steam out) and are post-stressed concrete, had expensive
problems with the reinforcment tendons.