From 28 to 29 May 2004 a scheduled plant shutdown for repairing a primary leakage (gland of a control valve ) inside the containment was carried out. In the course of the restart on 28 May (criticality at 22 h 48), at about 50°C, the reactor was made critically for warming-up. During that process, which is closely monitored by the operator to switch over timely the neutron flux monitor ranges (eight decades) to prevent a Scram, he did not fully recognize the positive temperature coefficient of the fuel near to the end of the cycle (power increased to approx. 4% of rated power and a water temperature of 142 °C). This caused a significantly higher warm up rate than it is specified in the Technical Specification, which has to be controlled in periods of 30 min. Although the operator recognized the excessively high heat-up rate within that period and cooled down the reactor coolant system, the average rate of 56°C/h was violated. The following evaluation of consequences (stress calculation), required by the Technical Specification as a condition for further proceeding with the warm-up was not done timely. The calculation showed later that no negative impact of the event occurred.
Last year, the Dutch Province of Limburg started an alliance in which, besides the local government, research institutes, small nuclear reactor (SMR) developers, utilities, industrial customers and funders cooperated. With this "Limburg SMR alliance" Limburg tried to lead the way towards an SMR in Limburg. The preferred site for a first SMR would be Chemelot, […]
From the IPFM: During a visit to the Civaux nuclear power plant on 18 March 2024, France's Minister of the Armed Forces unveiled a plan to use the plant to produce tritium for the French nuclear weapons program. Civaux is a civilian power plant that belongs to and is operated by Electricité de France. According […]
An analysis by the Norwegian NGO Bellona of transborder trade operations with the customs code 840130 (irradiated fuel assemblies or fuel elements) show a more than twofold increase of import to EU countries of fresh nuclear fuel in cash terms – from 280 million Euros in 2022 to 686 million Euros in 2023. In physical […]
The French government has said it is "seriously" studying the option of building a plant to convert and enrich reprocessed uranium to cut its reliance on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. The only plant in the world that currently converts reprocessed uranium for use in nuclear power plants is in Russia. "The option of […]
Jan vd Putte quickly changed from dressing as the pied piper at the protest during the IAEA nuclear power conference to warn for the Russian nuclear power conglomerate Rosatom and its role in Ukraine.
