Learn how to comprehend what you are reading, you’re embarrassing...
Tests on massive steam generators at the troubled Unit 3 reactor at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which was shut down as a precaution after the leak on Jan. 31, revealed seven alloy tubes that carry radioactive water are in danger of rupturing under high pressure. Traces of radiation escaped during the January leak, but officials said there was no danger to workers or neighbors.
Unusual wear has been found on hundreds of similar tubes that carry radioactive water at its twin, Unit 2, which was shut down earlier this year for routine maintenance, leaving questions about the integrity of equipment the company installed at the two reactors in a multimillion-dollar makeover in 2009 and 2010.
A special team of federal investigators was dispatched to the seaside site, about 45 miles north of San Diego, on Thursday to focus on Unit 3. While gradual tube wear is common in steam generators over time, no one knows why so many state-of-the-art tubes in relatively new equipment have degraded so quickly.
There are nearly 20,000 steam generator tubes in each of the two reactors. After tests, the company said a total of 321 tubes will be plugged and taken out of service at the two reactors, well within the margin to allow them to continue to operate...
Did that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries contract include covering the costs of downtime and paying for backup power generation during repairs?
A guarantee like this could bankrupt a company. Looks like GE sold off parts of their nuke industry and got out when they saw the writing on the wall.
It was 8 tubes at Unit 3, not 7.
They are not “in danger of rupturing”, they ruptured during a deliberate in situ pressure test, after the plant was taken out of service, and the tubes have been taken out of service.
Unit 2 will return to service. It was not “unusual wear”, rather it was expected wear that ocurred unusually early in the life of the steam generator. The wear at Unit 2 is well understood.
No, MHI’s warranty does not cover replacement power.
I’m getting my information from SONGS plant personnel. You’re getting yours from a news release. Just who is embarrassing?