Inspectors Warn Faulty Valves In New-Generation EPR Nuclear Reactor Pose Meltdown Risk

Bruce66423 writes: Valves for the new generation of French reactors being built now have raised substantial safety concerns on top of the existing issues about the quality of the steel used for the containment vessel. Similar to the Three Mile Island nuclear accident, France’s nuclear safety watchdog found “multiple” malfunctioning valves in the Flamanville EPR that could cause its meltdown. The Telegraph reports: "The watchdog reportedly cited 'multiple failure modes' that could have 'grave consequences' on the safety relief valves, which play a key role in regulating pressure in the reactor. Owned by state-controlled French utilities giant EDF, Flamanville lies close to the British Channel Islands and about 150 miles from the southern English coast. Designed to be the safest reactors in the world and among the most energy-efficient, the €9 billion (£6.5 billion) EPR has suffered huge delays in models under construction in France, Finland and China. It is now due to enter service in 2017, five years later than originally planned."

Comments

Hack piece

[Mr D from 63]

Valves don't cause meltdowns. Multiple faulty valves could inhibit the mitigation of an even that could lead to a meltdown.

In this case, valves did not pass the required tests so they can't be used in the plant when it is built. The testing process is there for a purpose.

Re:Hack piece

[Zalbik]

It shows that the engineers designing and building these reactors are still unable to correctly predict and specify the needed hardware for it to be safe

How do you figure? The valves are faulty. Not designed incorrectly, but actually malfunctioning.

This indicates possible errors in the manufacturing/supply process. It says nothing about the design.

have to rely on checks catching these faults.

Like every other manufacturing process EVER.

Surprisingly, humans aren't perfect. Inspections are done specifically to ensure that mistakes are caught.

As far as I can tell, the process is working correctly...nothing to see here.

Re:Typical Frogs

[Xiaran]

The article is from the British newspaper The Telegraph so it is directed at a British audience.

5 years late

[Orgasmatron]

What is the importance of being 5 years late?

Costs Of Nuclear Power Plants - What Went Wrong?

Re:Typical Frogs

[serviscope_minor]

Powerstations are usually placed near sources of cooling water, either large rivers or the sea. Such geographical features are also often borders. So, are they clustered closer than one would expect to borders given the cooling requirements?