New cracks found in tihange 2 belgian nuclear power plant. Feb 28, 2015 tests revealed a stunning 047 cracks in doel 3. Afcn cleared their restart in november, saying the cracks were hydrogen flakes trapped in the walls of the reactor tank and had no major impact on safety. Apr 20, 2016 germany has asked belgium to take two nuclear reactors temporarily offline while questions about their safety are cleared up, an unusual diplomatic move that underscores german concerns about the. Belgian nuclear reactors riddled with 16,000 unexplained. Hendricks request comes one week after the state of north rhinewestphalia said it would join a lawsuit filed by the aachen city region against the tihange 2 reactor, which is roughly 65km. Thousands of cracks were found in unit 3 of the doel nuclear power plant in belgium photo. The belgian nuclear regulatory authority released clarifications regarding the detection of the flawscracks in the doel and tihange nuclear reactor pressure vessels, on february 25, 2015. They were put into operation in the period 19751985. The yearslong saga surrounding the reactor pressure vessels at the doel 3 nuclear power plant and tihange2 npp in belgium has taken another turn, pushing these units back into the broader news cycle and renewing calls from some uninformed quarters for further worldwide action andor permanent shutdowns. New cracks found in tihange 2 belgian nuclear power plant news. Doel 3 and tihange 2 potential effects of processgenerated hydrogen on reactor pressure vessel walls affected by hydrogen flaking abstract three years after its first detection, the problem of hydrogenrelated cracks in rpvsteels is still imminent in the belgian nuclear power reactors doel 3 and tihange 2.
Same as at the tihange 2 reactor, tiny cracks have also been found at the doel 3 reactors pressure vessel, causing it to be taken off the grid until its restart shortly before the end of the year. The cracks at belgiums doel 3 and tihange 2 point to a. Belgium decided to extend the lives of the aging doel 1 and doel 2 reactors until 2025, both of which are 40 years old. While doel 3 was constructed by framacec framatomeaceccockerill. Recently a set of complementary inspections of belgian nuclear power plants npps, doel 3 and tihange 2, have shown that some unexpected flaws exist in the reactor pressure vessel rpv wall.
Sometimes these cracks are hidden by the object itself. The three reactors that comprise the tihange nuclear power station are located. Reactor vessel cracks revealed in belgium earlier this month. Doel 3, was shut down for 21 months after the discovery of microcracks in the reactors. The plant represents about 15% of total electricity production capacity in belgium. Germany asks belgium to switch off nuclear reactors. Aug 21, 2012 reactor number 3 at doel nuclear power plant, near antwerp, has not just one but probably thousands of cracks and cannot be restored. Doel 3 and tihange 2 cracks appear in the nuclear industry cracks discovered in the walls of belgian nuclear reactors are causing unease among experts. Edf said this week that it was taking reactor 3 of hunterston b in scotland offline for half a year, after inspections found more cracks than expected in the graphite bricks at the reactors core.
The site is located on the bank of the scheldt river, near the village of doel in the flemish province of east flanders, on the outskirts of the city of antwerp. Germany has asked belgium to take two nuclear reactors temporarily offline while questions about their safety are cleared up, an unusual diplomatic move that underscores german concerns about the. Germany has asked belgium to take two nuclear reactors temporarily off the grid while questions about their safety are cleared up, an unusual diplomatic move that underscores german concerns about. Another mishap rocked belgium on november 1, when an explosion occurred overnight at a nuclear power plant in doel, causing a fire. Cracks in nuclear reactor will hit edf energy with. Doel 3 and tihange 2 were taken offline in 2012 when ultrasound testing suggested the possible presence of cracks in their reactor vessels. Aug 28, 2012 a new ultrasound measuring technique was used for the first time in june 2012 over the whole surface of the doel 3 reactor vessel, rather than just around the weld zones. It may well be possible that two of belgiums nuclear reactors, doel 3 and tihange 2, will never be put online again. Dozens of new cracks discovered at belgian nuclear reactors. Update 2belgian doel 4 nuclear reactor closed till year.
During an overhaul on doel 3 in 2012, a periodic inspection was performed on certain. Germany asks belgium to switch off nuclear reactors reuters. Cracks appear in the nuclear industry environment all topics from. Update 2belgian doel 4 nuclear reactor closed till yearend. The yearslong saga surrounding the reactor pressure vessels at the doel3 nuclear power plant and tihange2 npp in belgium has taken another turn, pushing these units back into the broader news cycle and renewing calls from some uninformed quarters for further worldwide action andor permanent shutdowns. The cracks possibly date back to the reactors construction some 40 years ago by dutch rdm rotterdamse droogdok maatschappij, which is no longer in business. The inspections revealed the presence of certain impurities in the doel 3 reactor vessel, and later in the tihange 2 reactor vessel. Doel1 in belgium closed world nuclear industry status. Reactor vessel cracks revealed in belgium earlier this. Integrity reactor vessels doel 3 and tihange 2 page. Potential effects of processgenerated hydrogen on reactor. Ultrasonic testing of a reactor vessel at the doel nuclear power station in belgium has revealed what may be tiny cracks, causing the owneroperator group and belgian regulatory authoritythe federal agency for nuclear control to commence further testing. The tihange nuclear power station is one of two nuclear energy production sites in belgium and contains 3 nuclear power.
Inge it is in the reactor vessel that the water of the main primary system flows through the core, where it is heated by the nuclear fuel. The cracks possibly date back to the reactor s construction some 40 years ago by dutch rdm rotterdamse droogdok maatschappij, which is no longer in business. The shutdown of doel 4s nearly 1 gigawatt gw of electricity generating capacity as well as closures of two other reactors doel 3 and tihange 2 or months because of cracks in steel reactor. Cracks appear in the nuclear industry environment all.
This is the first time that such kind of cracks has been detected in a reactor pressure vessel rpv by using new nondestructive testing ndt equipment in service inspection. Authorities said the security of the reactor was not in question. Belgiums neighbours fret over reboot of ageing nuclear. The doel 1 reactor was rebooted wednesday, after getting shut down in february, as the country tried to cut its reliance on nuclear power. As inspectors investigate possible manufacturing shortcomings in the reactor pressure vessel of the no 3 reactor at the doel nuclear power plant in belgium which earlier this month was discovered to have cracks nuclear safety authorities in other. During the inspection a new kind of ultrasound device was used that delivers better, more detailed inspection results. Apr 20, 2016 berlinbrussels reuters germany has asked belgium to take two nuclear reactors temporarily offline while questions about their safety are cleared up, an unusual diplomatic move that underscores german concerns about the plants. Belgiums neighbours fret over reboot of ageing nuclear reactors. Aug 15, 2012 findings could be significant for other reactors.
One of doels four reactors, doel 4, was hit by an unresolved case of sabotage doel 3, was shut down for 21 months after the discovery of microcracks in the reactors pressure vessels. Doel3 in belgium reports possible pressure vessel flaw. Tihange3 shut down because radioactive water leaks the cracks in the nuclear reactor tihange3 are so massive that radioactive water leaks and the belgian nuclear agency fanc still censors the ultra sound inspection results of the tihange3 reactor. The belgian nuclear regulatory authority released clarifications regarding the detection of the flaws cracks in the doel and tihange nuclear reactor pressure vessels, on february 25, 2015. There is an inexpensive and highly effective way of repairing cracked walls called crack stitching. Unsolved problems of the material structure of the doel 3 tihange 2 reactor pressure vessels. Sometimes cracks form in walls for the most obvious reason. If you have cracks around a window or door, then these can be down to the failure of an old timber lintel or a shift in the foundations. Unsolved problems of the material structure of the doel 3. Using special ultrasound equipment, experts discovered,047 cracks in total in the belgian reactor doel 3 and 3,149 in tihange 2. Thousands of cracks in belgian nuclear reactors, probable. A containment building, in its most common usage, is a reinforced steel or lead structure enclosing a nuclear reactor.
Integrity analysis of a reactor pressure vessel with quasi laminar flaws subjected to pressurized thermal shocks. The reactor consists of a cylindrical steel vessel with a diameter of 4 m, a wall thickness. On the site there are 4 nuclear reactors pwr pressurized water reactor with a total capacity of 2,923 mw. The core tanks at the 33yearold doel 3 and tihange 2 reactors were built by dutch company rotterdamsche droogdok maatschappij, which has also built reactors in other countries. Read more at cracks appear in the nuclear industry related article.
May 08, 2018 the other working reactor on the site, number four, is 18 months behind, has five cracks and is likely to develop more. This downward movement can cause cracks to form in walls, especially near the ceiling and above doorframes. The containment is the fourth and final barrier to radioactive release part of a nuclear reactors defence. In february 2015, new analysis by electrabel still revealed more cracks than in 2012. Only one week after it was restarted in december 2015, the doel 3. A number of different companies participated in the fabrication of the doel 3 reactor pressure vessel. Cracks discovered in the walls of belgian nuclear reactors are. Update re thousands of defectscracks in belgian nuclear. Belgian authorities said that they would notify other plants around. Germany asks belgium to take two nuclear reactors offline.
Pressure vessel walls affected by hydrogen flaking. The plant consists of three second generation pressurized water reactors with a total net capacity of 3,008 mwe, slightly more than belgiums other nuclear power plant at doel. Thousands of cracks have been found in the steel reactor pressure vessels in nuclear reactors doel 3 and tihange 2 in belgium vessels contain highly radioactive nuclear fuel cores. They do not change over time and run parallel to the inner wall of the reactor vessel. Doel 3 entered commercial operation in 1982 and doel 4 in 1985. During an overhaul on doel 3 in 2012, a periodic inspection was performed on certain parts of the reactor vessel. Whether they will once again be connected to the network is, as of yet, unclear. Previously unknown micro cracks were also discovered at the doel 3 nuclear reactor near antwerp during a control check in november. In august 2012, 8000 microcracks were found in the reactor vessel 3 of the doel nuclear plant. Components of the doel 3 reactor pressure vessel and vessel head 14p20.
Before being allowed to restart both doel 3 and tihange 2 reactors, electrabel shall first submit a safety case to the fanc in which it convincingly demonstrates that the presence of hydrogen flakes in the walls of the reactor pressure vessel rpv does not compromise its structural integrity. Following recent reports in the press, the fanc wishes to shed some light on the data currently available regarding the number and size of the flaw indications in the steel walls of the reactor pressure vessels of doel 3 and tihange 2. Heat released by the fission of uranium nuclei in the reactor is transferred to the water in the primary circuit. Apr 20, 2016 germany has asked belgium to take two nuclear reactors temporarily off the grid while questions about their safety are cleared up, an unusual diplomatic move that underscores german concerns about. Germany urges belgium to shut nuclear reactors temporarily bbc. The plant consists of three secondgeneration pressurized water reactors with a total net capacity of 3,008 mwe, slightly more than belgiums other nuclear power plant at doel. They show 3 tables indicating the increase in numbers. May 06, 2018 edf said this week that it was taking reactor 3 of hunterston b in scotland offline for half a year, after inspections found more cracks than expected in the graphite bricks at the reactors core. Electricity production doel 3 reactor restarted in january 2016. Germany urges belgium to shut nuclear reactors temporarily. Further flaws found in belgian reactor vessels world.
The doel nuclear power station kcd is located in the port of antwerp on the left bank of the scheldt near the village of doel. Thousands of cracks found in belgian nuclear power plant. Previously unknown microcracks were also discovered at the doel 3 nuclear reactor near antwerp during a control check in november. Aug 14, 2014 the shutdown of doel 4s nearly 1 gigawatt gw of electricity generating capacity as well as closures of two other reactors doel 3 and tihange 2 or months because of cracks in steel reactor. In nuclear fusion power research, the plasmafacing material or materials pfm is any material used to construct the plasmafacing components pfc, those components exposed to the plasma within which nuclear fusion occurs, and particularly the material used for the lining the first wall or divertor region of the reactor vessel plasmafacing materials for fusion reactor designs must. Aug 17, 2012 thousands of cracks were found in unit 3 of the doel nuclear power plant in belgium photo. Further investigations indicated that the defects are socalled hydrogen flakes and were introduced during the manufacturing process. It is improbable that the flaws have evolved since their formation, according to electrabel. The other working reactor on the site, number four, is 18 months behind, has five cracks and is likely to develop more. Earthworks for doel 5, a 1400 mw reactor also known as n8 8th nuclear reactor in belgium, were stopped in 1988. Small cracks in the nuclear vessels are turning out to be a bigger problem than initially thought. Description belgiums nuclear regulator has questioned the safety of the electrabeloperated doel 3 reactor due to cracks in the pressure vessels that have already forced the shutdown of a similar unit at the tihange nuclear plant. The situation has been exacerbated by belgiums recent nuclear accidents, including the simultaneous cloud of the countrys three out of seven reactors due to the microcracks in the reactor vessels.
At least 70 additional cracks were uncovered at the tihange 2 nuclear reactor during an ultrasonic inspection in april of this year, belga news agency reports. The six other advanced gascooled reactor plants in the uk are also likely to crack, including the only other working nuclear power station in scotland at torness in east lothian. The hydrogen flakes were incorrectly referred to as cracks in the media. Belgian nuclear reactors riddled with 16,000 unexplained cracks. The fracture mechanics theory mainly deals with the behaviour of a single crack under stress with. The failure of these components can cause catastrophic nuclear accidents with massive release of radiation. Doel1, a 433 mwe pressurized water reactor pwr, had been first connected to the grid on 28 august 1974, but reached commercial operationdetermining the. Doel1 in belgium closed the belgian reactor doel1 was closed on 15 february 2015. Aug 30, 2012 accidents and incidents, nuclear issues. Doel3 in belgium reports possible pressure vessel flaw ans. Hydrogen cracks in belgian nuclear reactor pressure vessels.
Thousands form human chain to protest against belgiums. In december, the doel 3 reactor on the dutch border had to be turned off just one week after it was switched back on, following repairs that lasted 21 months, due to a water leaking on a non. The two reactors, both with about a gigawatt of capacity, were closed in 2012 and again in 2014 after a brief restart, after inspections unveiled tiny cracks in their. Widespread power blackouts was one of the main reason behind the extension. Doel 3 and tihange 2 reactor vessels engie electrabel. The doel nuclear power station is one of two nuclear power plants in belgium. Cracks found at doel 3 nuclear engineering international. Some 300 new flaws have also allegedly been discovered at the doel 3 reactor tank during a check last november, according to. Apr 20, 2016 the core tanks at the 33yearold doel 3 and tihange 2 reactors were built by dutch company rotterdamsche droogdok maatschappij, which has also built reactors in other countries.
Hunterston cracks are death knell for other nuclear reactors. Safety checks on reactor vessels world nuclear news. Reactor vessel cracks revealed in belgium earlier this month spark international inspections. Daily open source infrastructure report 23 august 2012. Integrity analysis of a reactor pressure vessel with quasi. A new ultrasound measuring technique was used for the first time in june 2012 over the whole surface of the doel 3 reactor vessel, rather than just around the weld zones. The increased number of defects found are said to be due to increased precision in measurement, rather than increased numbers. The absence of a consolidated theory for material with a high density of cracks. In summer 2012, belgian authorities found small cracks in the pressure vessel of doel 3 during a scheduled outage and safety check, opting to keep it offline until more tests were conducted. Will nuclear reactors doel 3 and tihange 2 ever get restarted. The inspector said the cracks are parallel to the surface of the walls and. Belgian legislation requires the permanent shutdown of nuclear reactors after 40 years of operation. After a large number of flaw indications was discovered in the walls of the reactor pressure vessels rpvs of doel 3 and tihange 2 during a scheduled maintenance in the summer of 2012, the belgian nuclear safety authorities fanc and bel v decided that electrabel had to submit a safety case to justify the restart of both reactors. It is designed, in any emergency, to contain the escape of radioactive steam or gas to a maximum pressure in the range of 275 to 550 kpa 40 to 80 psi citation needed.
Five years after their discovery an updatein junejuly 2012 thousands of fissures were discovered in the reactor pressure vessel rpv of the belgian nuclear reactor doel 3 during an ultrasonic inspection ust. The reactor vessel of the doel 3 nuclear power station was built in the early. Fanc said that the defects found in the doel rpv are usually associated with manufacturing and are not due to ageing. Environment minister barbara hendricks said on wednesday that she asked.
Belgian nuclear plants reactor shuts down days after. Feb 02, 2016 in december, the doel 3 reactor on the dutch border had to be turned off just one week after it was switched back on, following repairs that lasted 21 months, due to a water leaking on a non. Belgian nuclear plants reactor shuts down days after reboot. The station is operated and majorityowned by verticallyintegrated french energy corporation engie sa through its 100%owned. Will nuclear reactors doel 3 and tihange 2 ever get. Critical reflections about the integrity of the reactor vessels of. And in neighboring belgium, cracks have formed in the walls of the pressure vessels at several plants, raising alarm about their safety. Belgian doel3 and tihange2 back in the news ans nuclear cafe. Nuclear event in belgium on friday, 17 august, 2012 at 08. Description belgiums nuclear regulator has questioned the safety of the electrabeloperated doel 3 reactor due to cracks in the pressure vessels that have already forced the. Reactor number 3 at doel nuclear power plant, near antwerp, has not just one but probably thousands of cracks and cannot be restored. Doel 1, 2 and 4 were constructed by the acecowen aceccockerillwestinghouse consortium. There are fears that many more reactors could be affected. Berlinbrussels reuters germany has asked belgium to take two nuclear reactors temporarily offline while questions about their safety are cleared up, an unusual diplomatic move that underscores german concerns about the plants.
Fissures in the reactor vessel of the doel 3 reactor in belgium were discovered using ultrasound during inspections in june and july. Border tensions rumble over ageing belgian nuclear reactors. Vise, belgium reuters thousands of protesters formed a human chain on sunday june 25 to demand the closure of two belgian nuclear reactors, tihange and doel. In nuclear fusion power research, the plasmafacing material or materials pfm is any material used to construct the plasmafacing components pfc, those components exposed to the plasma within which nuclear fusion occurs, and particularly the material used for the lining the first wall or divertor region of the reactor vessel. This showed indications that could be assimilated to potential cracks.
1275 710 1516 1109 420 169 1019 705 1327 454 939 716 1418 677 167 44 909 1417 677 518 115 1249 344 1044 541 401 109 559 557 628 1035 379