Industrial Accident at ANO-1

RELEASE FROM ENTERGY NUCLEAR FOLLOWS.

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Significant Industrial Accident at Arkansas Nuclear One

Russellville, Ark. – A significant industrial accident occurred at Arkansas Nuclear

One at approximately 7:45 a.m. There has been one confirmed fatality and three additional

injuries. The injured employees have been transported to a nearby hospital. The accident

occurred when a generator stator fell as it was being moved out of the turbine building.

Unit 1 is in a refueling outage and Unit 2, which was operating at full power, automatically

shut down. Both plants are in a stable shutdown condition and there is no danger to the

public. The plant is in an unusual event classification, the lowest of four emergency

classifications designated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Additional staff has

been brought to the site to manage the situation.

Jeff Forbes, executive vice president and chief nuclear officer said, “We are deeply

saddened by what has happened today. Our greatest sympathy is with the family and friends

of the employee who lost his life, and with those who sustained injuries. I also want to

express my sorrow and support to all those who work at Arkansas Nuclear One. I know this

is especially hard on them.”

Entergy News Release

Page 2

Date 3/31/2013

Area residents are requested not to call the plant. Local radio stations are the best

source of up-to-date information and are being provided with the latest information by plant,

federal, state and local officials.

Entergy Corporation, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year, is an integrated

energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution

operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts

of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power,

making it one of the nation’s leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8

million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual

revenues of more than $10 billion and approximately 15,000 employees.

Entergy Operations, Inc.’s online address is entergy-nuclear.com.

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Carnival of Nuclear Energy 150

Atomic Power Review is proud to host the 150th edition of the Carnival of Nuclear Energy today; even though this Carnival falls on Easter, it's important to remember that those employed in the energy industry don't get holidays off -- your lights are probably on today -- and so in that spirit I made the clear decision to publish on Easter. 

As is always the case here, there's a guessing game before we get to the Carnival entries.  So, I ask you -- What is This?

It's very colorful, isn't it?  And yes, it's floating.  (Click the picture to enlarge it.)  And, yes, this absolutely has to do with nuclear energy.  It's my hope that this will be among the easiest of these I've ever done, because I would imagine that if you'd EVER seen this thing in person or in photos, you wouldn't have forgotten what it was.  I'll give you the answer and some background after the Carnival - so let's get to it!

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Meredith Angwin

At ANS Nuclear Cafe, "Framing the Discourse"  

"Framing" is the way people use words and concepts to present their point of view in an understandable and appealing way. Meredith Angwin gives an example of nuclear opponent framing, and invites people to do some pro-nuclear framing. An excellent comment stream contains many frames that will be useful for all nuclear advocates.

 

At Yes Vermont Yankee, Specific Power Sources in Vermont - VTEP Report.

 

After the Vermont utilities contract with Vermont Yankee ended, the utilities made extensive purchases of "system power" from the grid, and power from Millstone and Seabrook. Residential electricity prices have gone up 5% in Vermont, though electricity prices have fallen in most of New England.

 

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Rod Adams

 

At Atomic Insights, Dieter Helm – Nuclear saga cannot go on (Leaders must push to a happy ending)

Nuclear energy offers a solid path to a sustainable future, but nuclear energy advocates and business leaders need to take action to solve the biggest hurdle inhibiting atomic abundance.

 

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Leslie Corrice

 

At Hiroshima Syndrome, "Where is the Water Going?"

 

There is little doubt that cooling water is leaking out of the (three damaged units') reactor systems and into the outer reactor buildings' basements, and from there to the attached turbine buildings' basements.  The question is the path of the outflows.  Evidence suggests it isn't coming from inside the primary containments, but rather from piping outside of them.

 

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ANS NUCLEAR CAFE - submitted by Paul Bowersox

 

"Nuclear Pulse Propulsion: Gateway to the Stars"

Nuclear energy offers an unlimited future in space, as well as on
earth. Project Orion, Project Daedalus, the Bussard Ramjet… Stan
Tackett takes readers on a journey to explore "nuclear pulse
propulsion," which makes interstellar travel possible, and solar system
travel fast (and the technology exists right now for Orion). With a
delightful and inspiring video discussion by famed astronomer Carl
Sagan.

 

 

"Inherent and engineered safety: Did Weinberg predict today’sreactors a quarter century ago?"

In the early 1980s Dr. Alvin Weinberg and a team of experts studied the
path forward for new nuclear builds after the Three Mile Island
accident. On the anniversary of the TMI accident, Will Davis clears up
some prevalent misconceptions about swings in public opinion before and
after the accident and asks, "How well did Weinberg's team predict
today's reactor designs?"

 

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Brian Wang (Next Big Future)

 

New nuclear reactors expected from 2013 to 2017

 

A new nuclear fusion microbomb propulsion design for a spaceship to Mars that would travel at 200,000 miles per hour. This would enable a travel time of about 2 weeks. Winterberg had microexplosion designs that were the basis for project Daedelus.

 

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Entreprenuclear Blog

 

Energy Abundance - The Moral High Ground

 

At Entreprenuclear, actually using energy is contrasted with the concept of "Negawatts", with 2 intended takeaways.
1. Using energy does not make you a bad person.
2. Avoidance of energy usage is not inherently morally superior to the numerous positive uses of energy.

 

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Gail Marcus 

 

At Nuke Power Talk, Gail Marcus reports on a study in Japan comparing thyroid anomalies in children in the Fukushima area to thyroid anomalies in children elsewhere in Japan. Not surprisingly, they find no major differences, thus debunking previous concerns that effects were already showing up--something those of us in the field realized could not be true. 

 

On a lighter note, Gail Marcus has another blog in Nuke Power Talk this week reporting that her book, "Nuclear Firsts: Milestones on the Road to Nuclear Power Development," was now selling for a few hundred dollars a copy on Amazon! Her first reaction was to buy out ANS's stock and resell the books herself, but she wrote a blog on what she had seen and got a very helpful response from Steve Skutnik reporting on how the robo-pricing works in the wonderful world of on-line sales.

 

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Things Worse Than Nuclear Power

 

"Battery State of the Art"

 

Did you know that the state-of-the-art battery installed for $44 million at the Notrees wind farm in Texas is of the lead-acid type?  Or that it can only supply electricity for 15 minutes?  And costs 134 cents per kwh?  Maybe ARRA should have funded modular nuclear instead.

 

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That's it for this week's Carnival entries.  All that's left now is to tell you what that Technicolor riot painted ...   thing ... was that you saw at the head of today's Carnival.

 

 

This is THE SECOND SUN, a converted near-turn-of-the-century ferry boat that was used as a floating nuclear energy information center for a number of years by the utilities building (among others) the Salem Nuclear Generating Station.  Above, we can see The Second Sun moored by Salem as the nuclear generating station was under construction in the 1970's.  (The colors should have given away the decade, roughly anyway!)

 

While the illustration above is from a post card, the first at the top was from a large brochure available at The Second Sun (or by mail) which was entitled, appropriately, "The Second Sun" and which detailed the history of energy.  In this brochure is the brief story of The Second Sun itself:

 

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"The Salem Nuclear Generating Station's floating information center, The Second Sun, is a ferryboat which was launched in 1901.  It is a vessel that reflects a bygone era whose charm and fascination is now preserved.  During its years of transporting hundreds of thousands of passengers back and forth across the Hudson between Jersey City and New York, the Elizabeth, as it was then named, was owned and operated by the Jersey Central Railroad.  Public Service Electric and Gas Company purchased the vessel after its last run in 1967 and refurbished it.  It is now a novel and adventurous nuclear information center which can be conveniently moved from one city to another to bring the story of nuclear energy to people living in the four-state area of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

 

The refurbishing of the old Elizabeth was a major undertaking, as any visitor to The Second Sun can see.  Tunnelways previously occupied by automobiles are now filled with fascinating exhibits of man's quest to harness nature's energy.  What was once a large deck area where passengers stood to see the Manhattan skyline, is now a colorfully appointed 140-seat theater which contains the most modern equipment for presenting an exciting audio-visual program (combining rear-screen motion picture and still projectors and stereophonic sound.)

 

The Second Sun moored by Salem - Post Card view

 

Also on board The Second Sun is a large classroom area for special lectures to school groups and clubs.  The entire ferryboat is air conditioned.  The vessel's giant steam engine is still intact and ship enthusiasts may view it by special appointment.

 

Truly, the romance of a bygone era has joined hands with a new adventure of the future."

 

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The Second Sun, as described above, included a wide number of displays covering the development of energy and its use over the decades, and included (as seen below) a model of the Salem Nuclear Generating Station.

 

Model of Salem Nuclear Station - click to enlarge

 

 

As a postscript, I'll just add that The Second Sun did not immediately meet its end when PSE&G was through with it.  It became a floating restaurant for a time -- a Hooters of all things -- and then later sank at its pier.  Eventually, the ship was towed to sea and sunk as part of an artificial reef. 

I hope you've enjoyed this week's Carnival!

10:30 AM Eastern 3/31/2013
Atomic Power Review


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Haiyang Unit 1 sets Containment Vessel Head

Press release from Westinghouse Electric Corporation follows:

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WESTINGHOUSE ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL SETTING OF AP1000^®
CONTAINMENT VESSEL TOP HEAD AT CHINA'S HAIYANG UNIT 1

BEIJING, March 29, 2013 – Westinghouse Electric Company, its consortium team member CB&I, China’s State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation Ltd. and Shandong Nuclear Power Company Ltd. of China Power Investment Corporation today announced the successful setting of the AP1000 containment vessel top head (CVTH) for the nuclear island of Unit 1 at the Haiyang site in China.

Placement of the CVTH, which weighs approximately 659 tons, was completed at 9:36 a.m., China Time, on March 29. It was manufactured by Shandong Nuclear Power Equipment Manufacturing Company Ltd. in China’s Shandong province.

The setting of the CVTH for Haiyang Unit 1 is another significant step this year in Westinghouse’s delivery of China’s four AP1000 nuclear power plant units, following the successful placement of the CVTH at Sanmen Unit 1 on Jan. 29. The achievement further demonstrates the company’s commitment to the safe, high-quality and efficient delivery of its AP1000 plants worldwide.

“This is a notable milestone in our delivery of Haiyang Unit 1, and represents the solid progress that we continue to achieve at the site. Multiple pieces of critical equipment were required to be manufactured, tested and placed into the containment vessel before the setting of the CVTH could be accomplished,” said Deva Chari, Westinghouse senior vice president for Nuclear Power Plant Project Delivery.

“We are pleased to mark this milestone with our partners, suppliers and customers, and to continue to work closely with them to bring the benefits of the AP1000 plant technology to the citizens of China,” Chari said.

Westinghouse and CB&I signed landmark contracts with Chinese customers in 2007 to provide four AP1000 pressurized water reactors in China: two in Sanmen in Zhejiang province, and another pair in Haiyang in Shandong province.

About Westinghouse

Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Westinghouse supplied the world's first pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants. For more information about the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor, visit the Westinghouse AP1000 site. AP1000 is a trademark of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC. All rights reserved.

About CB&I

     CB&I (NYSE: CBI) is the most complete energy infrastructure focused company in the world and a major provider of government services. Drawing upon more than a century of experience and the expertise of approximately 50,000 employees, CB&I provides reliable solutions while maintaining a relentless focus on safety and an uncompromising standard of quality. For more information, visit www.CBI.com.

CONTACT: Vaughn Gilbert
Westinghouse Communications
Mobile Phone: +1-412-491-9820
Office Phone: +1-412-374-3896
Email: gilberhv@westinghouse.com


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March 30, 2013
Atomic Power Review

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SCE Considers Futher License Amendment for San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

Press release from Southern California Edison reproduced below. 

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SCE Considers License Amendment for San Onofre Nuclear Plant

ROSEMEAD, Calif., March 22, 2013 — Southern California Edison (SCE) is considering voluntarily submitting a license amendment request to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to support the restart of Unit 2 of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The amendment is consistent with SCE’s plan to operate the unit’s steam generators at 70 percent power as a conservative safety measure.

SCE is requesting a meeting with the NRC to discuss the possible amendment. This meeting, which would be open to the public, would provide an opportunity for SCE to discuss with the NRC the scope and content of a potential amendment to ensure it meets regulatory requirements. The meeting will also help SCE evaluate the nature and timeliness of the NRC process for review and approval of the amendment. Separately, SCE representatives have informed the Atomic Safety Licensing Board, the independent, adjudicatory arm of the NRC, of the company’s consideration of submitting a license amendment.

SCE would like to restart Unit 2 by the summer to meet peak customer demand for electricity. The San Onofre nuclear plant is the largest source of baseload generation and voltage support in the region and is a critical asset for reliability and in meeting California’s clean energy goals.

Last week, SCE submitted a detailed operational assessment requested by the NRC that supports safe operation of Unit 2 at 100 percent power for 11 months to answer a request from the NRC related to the plant’s technical specifications. Approval of that assessment would eliminate the need for the license amendment. However, because the NRC may take substantial time to review this operational assessment, SCE is simultaneously considering the license amendment.

“We want to do every responsible thing we can do to get Unit 2 up and running safely before the summer heat hits our region,” said Ron Litzinger, SCE president. “While the NRC continues to review the technical materials we’ve submitted, we’re considering a request for a license amendment so that we can pursue the best path to safe restart while avoiding unnecessary delays.”

If SCE pursues the amendment, it will submit a “No Significant Hazards Consideration” analysis demonstrating that the license amendment does not involve any significant safety risks. Regardless of whether an amendment or SCE’s 100 percent power operational assessment is approved, SCE will only operate Unit 2 at 70 percent power for an initial period of five months, following which the unit will be shut down for steam generator tube inspections.

Additional background information about the potential license amendment can be found at www.SONGScommunity.com.

NRC approval is required before SCE can restart Unit 2. The repair, corrective action and restart plan for Unit 2, along with additional technical information to address questions from the NRC, are available to the public at www.SONGScommunity.com

More information, including videos that explain how a steam generator works and the role San Onofre plays in providing reliable electricity to the region, is available at www.edison.com/SONGSupdateand at www.SONGScommunity.com. San Onofre is jointly owned by SCE (78.21 percent), San Diego Gas & Electric (20 percent) and the city of Riverside (1.79 percent). Follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/SCE) and like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SCE).

About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company,Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

###

Jennifer Manfrè
Principal Manager, Media Relations
Southern California Edison
626-302-7964

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Recent publications by Will Davis on the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station include the following:

March 15, 2013:  San Onofre debate more more public - and more technical (ANS Nuclear Cafe)

March 10, 2013:  San Onofre: MHI document release by NRC and what it really means (Atomic Power Review)

12:35 PM Eastern 3/22/2013
ATOMIC POWER REVIEW

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Palisades and Pressurized Thermal Shock: 3/18 Entergy Statement

The following statement was released today by Entergy concerning the Palisades plant both on its dedicated Palisades website and also on its Palisades Facebook page.

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Press Statement, Entergy Nuclear 3/18

In regards to the recent media coverage of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant and the industry topic of pressurized thermal shock, Entergy Corporation issued the following statement from Tony Vitale, Palisades’ site vice president:

"The Palisades nuclear plant is a safe and secure facility, and we have an NRC license to operate this facility through 2031.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has str...ict rules, regulations and limits for all aspects of nuclear plant operations. This includes a program to monitor nuclear power plant reactor vessels and the potential impact of a rare accident scenario – pressurized thermal shock – in which a large amount of cold water is injected into the reactor resulting in rapid cooling of the reactor vessel.

This is not a new topic or one that is unique to Palisades. In fact, for decades pressurized thermal shock has been well understood and well monitored by the owners and operators of the nation’s pressurized water reactors.

Every pressurized water reactor plant in the nation is required by the NRC to continually update its calculations to confirm reactor vessel strength – meaning every plant must conduct periodic reactor vessel inspections and analyze reactor vessel samples. Consistent with these NRC requirements, Palisades will conduct these inspections and analysis during our refueling outage this fall.

We have every reason to believe the test results will again demonstrate the safety and strength of the Palisades reactor vessel – which will enable us to continue operating through the end of our license in 2031. We will submit an updated evaluation to the NRC for its review in the spring of 2014.
Our unrelenting commitment and focus are on operating Palisades at the highest levels of safety and reliability – now and for many years to come.”

 

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I have written about this investigation at Palisades before; click here.  The immediate follow up to that post, which is just as important to read, can be found here.

 

6:40 PM Eastern 3/18/2013

ATOMIC POWER REVIEW

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SoCal Ed submits Operational Assessment Requested by NRC

3/18 -  Press Release from Southern California Edison.

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Southern California Edison Submits Operational Assessment Requested by NRC

 

ROSEMEAD, Calif., March 18, 2013 — A new technical evaluation of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Unit 2 demonstrates that the Unit 2 steam generators could be operated safely at 100 percent power and reinforces Southern California Edison’s (SCE) more conservative plan to begin operating Unit 2 at 70 percent power for five months.

 

SCE submitted the operational assessment of potential Unit 2 steam generator tube wear to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in response to NRC questions. The new evaluation determined Unit 2 could operate at full power for 11 months with full tube integrity. The assessment was performed by Intertek APTECH of Sunnyvale, CA, and supplements Intertek’s earlier assessment of Unit 2 operation at 70 percent power. Intertek performs operational assessments relating to steam generators for many nuclear power plants around the U.S.

 

“This evaluation confirms the structural integrity of the Unit 2 steam generators at 100 percent power, as requested by the NRC,” said Pete Dietrich, SCE senior vice president and chief nuclear officer. “While we have no intent to restart Unit 2 at full power, this demonstrates the amount of safety margin we have built into our analyses. We welcome this additional safety analysis but remain steadfast in our commitment to restart Unit 2 at only 70 percent power.”

 

SCE has proposed the reduced power operating level to prevent the conditions that caused premature tube wear in San Onofre Unit 3 and indications of wear in Unit 2.

 

The San Onofre nuclear plant is the largest source of baseload generation and voltage support in the region and is a critical asset in meeting California’s summer electricity and clean energy needs. Both units at San Onofre are currently safely shut down. Unit 2 remains shut down since it was taken out of service Jan. 9, 2012, for a planned outage. Unit 3 was safely taken offline Jan. 31, 2012, after station operators detected a leak in a steam generator tube.

 

NRC approval is required before SCE can restart Unit 2. The repair, corrective action and restart plan for Unit 2, along with additional technical information to address questions from the NRC, are available to the public at www.SONGScommunity.com

 

More information, including videos that explain how a steam generator works and the role San Onofre plays in providing reliable electricity to the region, is available at www.edison.com/SONGSupdate and at www.SONGScommunity.com. San Onofre is jointly owned by SCE (78.21 percent), San Diego Gas & Electric (20 percent) and the city of Riverside (1.79 percent). Follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/SCE) and like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SCE).

 

About Southern California Edison

An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

 

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6:30 PM Eastern 3/18/2013

ATOMIC POWER REVIEW

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Westinghouse Statements on V.C. Summer, Vogtle nuclear concrete pours

Westinghouse Electric Corporation statements on this week's nuclear plant construction events -- the first "nuclear concrete" pours at the United States' two newest nuclear power plants.  ("Nuclear concrete" is concrete under the nuclear island, or the reactor plant itself.)



V.C. SUMMER -- MARCH 11, 2013

PITTSBURGH – March 11, 2013 – The following statement is attributable to Westinghouse Electric Company President and CEO Danny Roderick:

“The successful completion of the first concrete pour at V.C. Summer Unit 2 signifies the start of an exciting new phase in the delivery of our AP1000^® plants in the United States. It is a milestone of global significance that positions our consortium team to move forward with work on the critically important module installation.

“Westinghouse is proud to be delivering these technologically advanced nuclear power plant units to our customers in South Carolina. The AP1000 plant’s innovative passive safety systems, combined with its proven technologies, will enable South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) and Santee Cooper to provide safe, clean, reliable electricity to the citizens they serve, for generations to come. The two units at V.C. Summer will help power the economy with needed baseload electricity and provide well-paying jobs – both now during construction and during the future operation of the plant.

“I applaud the team for the hard work that they have invested in the progress achieved to date at the V.C. Summer 2 and 3 site. Our top priority in the AP1000 new-plant business is to deliver new units to our customers safely, with the highest quality and in the most efficient manner. We are honored to have the opportunity to demonstrate this commitment to our customers at the V.C. Summer site in South Carolina and the Vogtle site in Georgia, as well as the Sanmen and Haiyang sites in China.

“As we mark this key accomplishment at V.C. Summer, we continue significant progress on site on the Turbine Island and Balance of Plant, as well as operator training for this next generation of nuclear plants.”

Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Westinghouse supplied the world's first pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa., U.S. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants.



PLANT VOGTLE -- MARCH 14, 2013

PITTSBURGH – March 14, 2013 – The following statement is attributable to Westinghouse Electric Company President and CEO Danny Roderick:

“This has been a week of momentous progress in bringing a new generation of safe, clean, reliable nuclear energy to the United States. In the span of a few short days, the foundations have been successfully completed for two new AP1000^® units in the southeastern U.S. – the first new nuclear plants to start construction in the country in three decades.

“I congratulate the hundreds of workers who supported the first concrete pour at Vogtle Unit 3 in Georgia, which was achieved early Thursday afternoon and sets the stage for the installation of key modules in the unit’s nuclear island. This is an important milestone for our customer, Southern Nuclear, and Westinghouse is honored that our AP1000 plant technology will enable Southern and its partners to meet the future energy needs of the citizens they serve.

“The two AP1000 units under construction at the Vogtle site will generate the electricity that powers 500,000 homes and businesses in Georgia. These units are also powerful job-creation engines, employing a peak of 5,000 people during construction and providing 800 full-time positions during the plant’s operation.

“Westinghouse and CB&I, our consortium partner, remain committed to the safe, high-quality and efficient delivery of the AP1000 plants at the Vogtle site in Georgia, the V.C. Summer site in South Carolina, and the Sanmen and Haiyang sites in China. Significant progress is being achieved in the construction of all eight units at these locations, and we continue to work closely with our partners, suppliers and customers on upcoming milestones in the delivery of the plants.”

Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Westinghouse supplied the world's first pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa., U.S. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants.

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5:50 PM Eastern 3/14/2013
ATOMIC POWER REVIEW

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