Safety

San Onofre Infantile Disorder
But the struggle of trade unions may not lead to anything, and the revival of the American nuclear imdustry is not moved an inch. Not surprisingly, the owners of San Onofre NPP had to apply for the new steam generators abroad, namely in the Japanese corporation Mitshubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).
From the Japanese plant workers it was requested to produce and deliver new steam generators capable to work reliably at least 20 years or more. Terms of the license for San Onofre NPP units completed in 2012-2013 to achieve 40 years of service. But the owners of the station planned to extend to 20 years, and then, perhaps, another 20.
MHI was actively took up the order. But at first there were warning signs. During the inspection two SGs for third unit in spring 2010, it was revealed the cracks in the welds. The cracks in operating conditions will inevitably become a hotbed of corrosion damage. Results of the inspection were the subject of heated discussions with customers and regulators.

EU Dangerous Nuclear Plants Need Euro 25bn Upgrade

Rosenergoatom completed fitting Russian NPPs with additional equipment

A long-term storage facility for nuclear submarine reactor compartments was opened in Razboinik Bay

Japanese Boost Nuclear Submarine Reactor Disposal

7.0 magnitude earthquake hits east of Japan

Repairs of fire-damaged nuclear sub to take at least one year

Medvedev orders repair of fire-damaged sub

Russian nuclear sub fire put out

Fire on Russian nuclear sub contained - emergencies minister

Fire breaks out during Russian nuclear sub repairs, no radiation threat

Russia reports 25,000 undersea radioactive waste sites

Fire at Vaygach nuclear icebreaker kills two in Siberia

Japan, France to take joint nuclear safety measures

Fire halts Swedish nuclear reactor

UN chief calls for tougher security for nuclear facilities

Two U.S. nuclear reactors shut down by quake

Reactor in Fukui prefecture shut down over cooling problem

Russian reactor reconnected to power grid after shutdown

T-storm shuts down nuclear reactor in central Russia

Japan set to conduct stress tests on its reactors in operation

Japanese reactor to be shut down for unplanned check

Russia may lead global nuclear safety debate - Rosatom

Medvedev to propose G8 blueprint for greater nuclear safety

Stress tests confirm safety of Russian nuclear plants

Medvedev urges global system to fight disasters

French president calls for G20 to discuss international nuclear safety standards

Russian, U.S. experts to conduct joint stress tests at nuclear plants - Rosatom chief

Russians say damaged cooling pump is cause of delay in starting Iranian reactor

No radiation threats over fires near Sarov nuclear center - Rosatom chief

Russia Bryansk region to be monitored over Chernobyl radiation risk from wildfires

The Kursk tragedy: Causes, theories, aftermath
Ten years ago to the day, August 12, 2000, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea, killing all 118 crewmembers on board.
Designed to combat large surface ships, primarily aircraft carriers, the Kursk was the most advanced submarine in the Russian navy at the time. Construction began in March 1990, and the Kursk set out on her maiden voyage in May 1994.
The sinking of the Kursk remains the worst disaster in the history of the Russian submarine fleet. The accident occurred during an exercise of the North Fleet, in which the Kursk was taking part. The vessel sank at a depth of a little over 100 meters, 108 miles from the Kola Strait.
According to the official explanation, the disaster was caused by the accidental explosion of a torpedo in one of the torpedo tubes, causing other torpedoes to explode. Investigators say that the first blast occurred as a result of a hydrogen composite leaking from micro-cracks in the torpedo's casing, which were caused, in turn, by what they termed extraordinary processes in their report.
As for the crew, they are said to have died in the first 7-8 hours following the blast.

Another Russian nuclear facility threatened by wildfires

Wildfire near Russian nuclear center brought under control

No threat of nuke explosion at Russia's Sarov nuclear center - Rosatom chief

Russia's Sarov nuclear center safe - Rosatom chief

No radiation danger as scrapped nuclear sub catches fire in north Russia

Russian shipyard says recent radioactive leak poses no threat

Indian NPP workers get radiation dose from contaminated water

Radiation leak investigated at U.S. nuclear power plant

Ukraine may pay liability for any accident on VVER-1000 with Westinghouse fuel

Corrosion of Alloy 600 - comment of our reader
Corrosion of elements of Alloy 600 is known among Western nuclear specialists long ago, at least much earlier than incident at Davis-Besse NPP. The report of NRC issued in 2005 (NUREG-1823) states that the first similar incident was registered at the third unit of San Onofre NPP with PWR-1000 reactor in California. Here I&C nozzle at pressurizer is subject to corrosion. In 1987 nozzles of the same pressurizer leaked at unit with PWR reactor in Arkansas. In 1989 there was the first information of PWSCC corrosion at French units. Two years after the first incidents of corrosion damages of control rod nozzles on reactor vessel heads of Western pressurized water reactors were detected. Nowadays leakages of measuring detectors in reactor bottom and appearance of cracks in butt weld are observed. Firstly this problem arose in 1971 with leakages in steam generators. All these and other incidents are well documented and collected in the report NUREG-1823 above-mentioned or in another known document MRP-111 (Materials Reliability Program Resistance to Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking of Alloys 690, 52, and 152 in Pressurized Water Reactors).

Davis-Besse NPP - Mistake in DNA
After incident at Davis- Besse NPP, material 1600MA was removed urgently from the AP-1000 reactor project. American designers actually admitted by this fact - there was an internal critical mistake in PWR reactor technology. In other words - a mistake in reactor DNA. Here comparison with DNA is not accidental. Following USA, 1600 MA was implemented practically in all PWR projects - similar reactors in the world, except Russia. If unreliable material can be replaced in new light water reactors, unexpected catastrophe at operating NPPs can be prevented only by organizational measures such as careful and repeated inspections. About seriousness of mistake one can judge on panic behavior of AP-1000 designers. A replacement of 1600MA material is suggested in all elements of new unit of almost the third generation. First of all it proves that the designer is not sure in reliability of own project.

Proposal to Atomstroyexport to Participate in the Activities for the Chernobyl NPP Shelter Safety Enhancement

EU to fork out $27 million on Russia nuclear safety - NPP operator
The European Commission plans to allocate 20 million euros (over $27 million) for nuclear safety projects with Russia, the country's nuclear power plant operator said Thursday. Rosenergoatom, which runs all 10 Russian NPPs with a total capacity of over 23 GW, said the funds offered by the European Union's executive branch aimed at optimizing their preventive maintenance. The funds will be allocated under The Instrument of Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) program, intended for seven years. A source in the company said Rosenergoatom is supposed to prepare bidding documents no later than December. The INSC has a budget of 450 million euros ($620 million), about one-third of which will be earmarked for joint nuclear safety projects with Russia.

IAEA will inspect Rostechnadzor activity

Belorussia discusses a foundation of independent regulating body for nuclear safety supervision

Turbogenerator of the 2nd unit of Kursk NPP was shut down

Russian expert: Reliability of Russian NPPs were checked in Spitak

Quake hits Japanese nuclear plant: a Russian view
I saw a burning transformer on the television. It was no shock to a specialist-a tank transformer can catch fire with the slightest spark. Every project envisages safety measures. Transformers are set apart from each other, so fire cannot spread to cause a leak. Radioactive water could have leaked from the reactor containment sump-but I don't think it could get out of the circuit and pollute the environment, whatever the press might be saying. As for polluted sea, I think that's a paranoid allegation.
The expert dismisses speculation that seismic danger was underestimated when the plant site was chosen: The Japanese are top-notch professionals, and exacting and pragmatic to the utmost degree in choosing plant sites. It was a mere accident, I think.

IAEA experts visited Kursk NPP within cooperation program

The 1st unit of Kursk NPP disconnected from the grid

Angarsk electrolyze chemical complex suspended its operation because of lightening struck electric power lines

Russian people magnify danger of radiation accidents tens thousand times

Kalinin NPP first realized a project of underground deposit for industrial waste

Competitors spread rumors about accidents at NPP

Rostechnadzor head: 143 violations of nuclear rules at Russian NPP were revealed in 2007

Turbogenerator was shut down at Kursk NPP again

The peaceful atom appears in internet

Working meeting on NPP safety issues was held in Moscow

Two turbo-generators of the second unit were shut down at the Kursk NPP

Russia to set up radioactive materials control body

Hero of the day

Core Catcher for Unit 3 has been delivered to the Construction Site of El-Dabaa NPP

The vessel delivering the components of the Core Catcher for Unit 3 left the port of Novorossiysk and arrived to the construction site of the El-Dabaa NPP at the end of June.

INTERVIEW

CNNC
Ma Wenjun also emphasized that CNNC has consistently upheld an open and collaborative approach, hoping to work together with international counterparts to accelerate the development of nuclear energy, contributing to addressing challenges such as climate change and nuclear safety.

OPINION

AtomInfo.Ru
The global nuclear energy industry has reached a landmark milestone. According to the PRIS database maintained by the IAEA, the total number of reactor years of operation of nuclear power units in the world has exceeded 20 thousand.