Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Environment & Energy

Showing Original Post only (View all)

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)
Thu Dec 8, 2011, 11:42 AM Dec 2011

First Energy Davis Besse nuclear: cracks in the containment vessel to go with corrosion in the head [View all]

[font size = 3]...of the steel pressure vessel. [/font]

The corrosion around the nozzles of the head were the story of the last decade. There was a hole "as big as a football" in the reactor head. The only metal containing the radioactive water was the layer of chromium plating on the reactor head. Three engineers were found guilty of falsifying safety records in that instance.

Now, the plant owners are reporting a second occurrence cracks in the concrete of the containment vessel. The first crack was a fifteen foot long "hairline crack" near the bottom of the containment vessel.

I will keep you posted about this hazard on our lake. There are relicensing hearings coming up. Hopefully, my thread will outlast Davis Besse.

Davis Besse operators admit to more cracks than previously announced
Thanks to WTOL television

TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - After admitting to discovering cracks in the concrete shell of the Davis-Besse nuclear reactor last month, the plant's operator says there more cracks near the top of the structure. The cracks were immediately announced to the necessary regulators, but they were not made public at the time.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for FirstEnergy Corp. told The Associated Press that the cracks were found in November. Jennifer Young, the plant's spokesperson, says that the cracks were reported to the U.S. Nuclear regulatory Commission, and they never tried to hide the information.
...edit for copyright reasons...
http://www.wtol.com/story/16214458/davis-besse

Davis-Besse meeting postponed
Thanks to The Toledo Blade

...FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, meanwhile, announced Tuesday that the Davis-Besse plant resumed producing electricity at 7:23 a.m. Tuesday following a nine-week shutdown for a reactor-head replacement. The plant was at 23 percent power on Tuesday morning and is expected to reach full output later this week.

A 30-foot, hairline crack was discovered in the shield building Oct. 10 after a contractor cut an access hole through the structure for the reactor-head replacement. Further investigation revealed additional cracking in the concrete, but last week the NRC authorized First Energy to restart the plant while further research about the cracking is conducted.
...edit for copyright reasons...

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2011/12/06/Davis-Besse-meeting-postponed.html

51 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Here is a contribution with photos... kristopher Dec 2011 #1
Oh goody FBaggins Dec 2011 #2
So factual evidence is spam? madokie Dec 2011 #4
When posted over and over and over? Sure. FBaggins Dec 2011 #5
Facts never get old... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #21
The thing with concrete is there is no difference between a hairline as they put it, or a big crack madokie Dec 2011 #3
Another corrosion photo wtmusic Dec 2011 #6
Could just as easily be corrosion due to inhalation of radioactive particles. diane in sf Dec 2011 #7
Actually, no. wtmusic Dec 2011 #8
Yes - that's why taxpayers have spent BILLIONS to compensate nuclear workers for radiation-induced jpak Dec 2011 #9
Nope (and capitalizing lies doesn't make them true) wtmusic Dec 2011 #10
I've posted on the TWO federal compensation programs many times here jpak Dec 2011 #11
The GOGLE and the GOGGLE both show more cancer deaths from coal. wtmusic Dec 2011 #12
I did your work for you - here's some links jpak Dec 2011 #13
wt where did you go madokie Dec 2011 #14
Please chime in, madokie wtmusic Dec 2011 #16
Only someone who is in denial about the dangers their pet project will ask that question madokie Dec 2011 #25
That's correct, no evidence can be found. wtmusic Dec 2011 #28
#1 Scientific method requires a claimant to back up their own claims wtmusic Dec 2011 #15
Ha! From nuclear weapons testing. wtmusic Dec 2011 #17
Nope - it includes workers in the nuclear fuel cycle - jpak Dec 2011 #18
All for nuclear weapons. wtmusic Dec 2011 #24
Sorry - the same enrichment plants that made HEU for bombs make fuel for commercial nukes jpak Dec 2011 #26
Since your post 3 Americans have died from coal pollution wtmusic Dec 2011 #27
Nope jpak Dec 2011 #29
Didn't do the work very well... PamW Jan 2012 #40
Despite the obvious logic... That won't fly here FBaggins Jan 2012 #41
I'm not responsible for their delusions PamW Jan 2012 #45
Those programs cover uranium miners and millers, and uranium enrichment plant workers jpak Jan 2012 #48
Bright shiny object thrown... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #19
What's to 'take your eyes off'? wtmusic Dec 2011 #20
Bet you love flying... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #22
Did someone die at Fukushima? wtmusic Dec 2011 #23
This is exactly the kind of disruption an effective host could end. kristopher Dec 2011 #30
What would you propose? joshcryer Dec 2011 #31
Per unit of energy generated, nuclear is the safest form of energy available wtmusic Dec 2011 #32
I disagree with all three statements. kristopher Dec 2011 #33
Fine, your disagreements are based on personal prejudice and not on fact. wtmusic Dec 2011 #34
When you remove a critical safety feature... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #35
And when you refer to a hairline crack in millions of pounds of concrete... FBaggins Jan 2012 #43
The weight of the concrete has nothing to do with the fact that the concrete is in two pieces madokie Jan 2012 #44
It also shows a lack of engineering knowledge... PamW Jan 2012 #47
I understand that you support nuclear, but it is sad that your only response is a deflection` Kolesar Dec 2011 #37
First Energy Nuclear Operating Company Names Kendall Byrd Director of Engineering at Davis-Besse ... Kolesar Dec 2011 #36
Protesters stage skit before Davis-Besse hearing about cracks in the containment vessel Kolesar Jan 2012 #38
Don't know what caused the cracks, but don't worry, it's safe. kristopher Jan 2012 #39
You don't need to know what causes new hair to grow in your ears... FBaggins Jan 2012 #42
As you've told me.. PamW Jan 2012 #46
Environmental Coalition Challenges Davis-Besse License Extension on Shield Building Cracks Kolesar Jan 2012 #49
Before giving Davis-Besse another 20-year operating license,crack the case of the cracks:PDeditorial Kolesar Jan 2012 #50
See post #42 FBaggins Jan 2012 #51
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»First Energy Davis Besse ...»Reply #0