During periodic testing of the diesel generators automatic load sequence, it was discovered that the 380V safety related equipments were not energized as expected. The reason for that failure is that a protection relay had an unexpected high voltage trip value that was not appropriately adjusted. The setpoint was too low so that, when the diesel generator was supplying the 380 V board, the protection tripped on high voltage de-energizing power supply to safety related equipments. At the same time, it was discovered that the low voltage setpoint was not adjusted as by the design specification and that it was not possible to reach the right value due to construction features of the protection relay. Some of these safety related 380 V boards were replaced during the last plant outage in April 2005 and all the new boards had the same problem, having the same inadequate protection relay. The consequence was that some of the safety related equipments were not available in two out of three safety related trains in case of loss of off-site power supply. The same problem was also present in one train of the second level protection systems (plant protection against external events). After identification of the problem the License immediately re-adjusted the high voltage setpoint to a higher value. The adjustment of the low voltage setpoint is under investigation.
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.
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.
