At 08:33:30 a.m. the Main Steam Isolation Valve (MSIV) no. 20142 on Train B inadvertently closed thus isolating Main Steam Train B. As a result the Train A steam flow increased and the steam pressure dropped below the setpoint for Safety Injection which initiated safety injection and reactor trip. The reactor trip sequence proceeded in accordance with the design, all safety systems were available. The plant was stabilized at "no load" parameters. The first investigation which concentrated mainly on instrumentation and control circuits of the valve revealed no irregularities. In order to mechanically test the valve the reactor was started and the power was increased to 3%. Since the mechanical test was also OK, the plant in accordance with the internal procedures and the decision of the Krsko Operating Committee was allowed to increase power to full power. While performing tests, before the plant was to be synchronized to the grid, operators detected asymmetry in flow and pressure between both steam generators which led them to test the response of the system by alternatively opening and closing the MSIVs. The test discovered that there was no response to the movement of the train B MSIV. Visually the valve stem responded in accordance with the demand but the flow through he valve didn't change. The conclusion was that the valve cylinder was stuck in closed position. The plant was brought to "cold shutdown" and the valve was disassembled. The valve stem was found fractured inside the cylinder. The fractured stem will be sent to the laboratory for analysis. After replacing the stem with the spare one and testing of the valve the plant will resume power operation.
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.
Anke Herold, Executive Director Oeko-Institut, Freiburg (Germany), in Brussels about the claim to triple nuclear by 2050: IPCC scenarios vs forecast development of nuclear.
