I have blogged recently about the problems that the British are having with their project to build two nuclear reactors for the Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station in Somerset. They have contracted for the construction of French Areva reactors based on the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) design. The French intend the EPR design to be their entry into the competition for the next generation of commercial nuclear power reactors. Aside from union and financing problems, one of the things slowing down the British project is a concern over the safety of the design of the French reactors.
The French are also constructing a reactor based on the EPR design in Flamanville, France. Recently, the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) found "serious" problems with the steel housing that contains the reactor core. Chemical and mechanical tests found a high level of carbon in the steel of the pressure vessel. This level of carbon will reduce the mechanical strength of the pressure vessel which has to be able to withstand the enormous heat and pressure of the cooling water circulating through the reactor. The pressure vessel is forty two feet tall and is designed to cope with great mechanical and thermal shocks. The ASN says that the steel in the vessel is far below the required strength by perhaps as much as fifty percent of what is needed.
ASN are demanding that Areva conduct destructive testing on the one hundred and sixteen ton pressure vessel lid that was intended for installation at the Hinkley Point C power plant. EDF, the French utility that is in charge of both the Hinkley Point C project and the construction of the EPR in France have assured the ASN that they will carry out all necessary tests to prove the safety of their design.
This "flagship" project of Areva and the EDF utility is way behind schedule with the expected completion date moving from 2012 to 2017. It is also way over budget as the cost has risen from three and a half billion dollars to over nine billion dollars. The ASN has stated that if Areva and EDF cannot satisfy safety specifications, then ASN will consider stopping the construction of the reactor in France. If the construction on the Flamanville reactor is halted due to the carbon in the steel, then it might be necessary for Areva to build a new base and a new lid for the pressure vessel. This would delay completion even more and would also result in a huge increase in cost.
The British Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is working closely with the ASN in France. They say that they will assume that whatever the ASN concludes with respect to the safety of the EPR at Flamanville will also be assumed to apply to the reactors to be constructed at the Hinkley Point C power plant. If the ASN stops the Flamanville reactor construction on the grounds of safety, the ONR will stop the Hinkley Point project before construction of the reactors even begins. The financing of the Hinkley Point C project has not been worked out yet and EDF says that there is plenty of time to apply lessons learned at Flamanville to the construction of components for use at Hinkley Point C.
Two EPRs are under construction at Taishan, China. The pressure vessels were cast in the same forge where the Flamanville pressure vessel was made. ASN staff are going to China to discuss safety issues with Chinese authorities.
Flamenville reactor construction:
