Quake risk to reactors greater than thought

[cory777]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The risk that an earthquake would cause a severe accident at a U.S. nuclear plant is greater than previously thought, 24 times as high in one case, according to an AP analysis of preliminary government data. The nation's nuclear regulator believes a quarter of America's reactors may need modifications to make them safer.

The threat came into sharp focus last week, when shaking from the largest earthquake to hit Virginia in 117 years appeared to exceed what the North Anna nuclear power plant northwest of Richmond was built to sustain.

The two North Anna reactors are among 27 in the eastern and central U.S. that a preliminary Nuclear Regulatory Commission review has said may need upgrades. That's because those plants are more likely to get hit with an earthquake larger than the one their design was based on. Just how many nuclear power plants are more vulnerable won't be determined until all operators recalculate their own seismic risk based on new assessments by geologists, something the agency plans to request later this year. The NRC on Thursday issued a draft of that request for public comment.

The review, launched well before the East Coast quake and the Japan nuclear disaster in March, marks the first complete update to seismic risk in years for the nation's 104 existing reactors, despite research showing greater hazards.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/quake-risk-reactors-greater-thought-071301249.html

---

Breaking Activist News http://activistnews.blogspot.com/

[leveymg]

1. The reactors don't even have check valves and flexible couples on their cooling pipes, as we found

in Fukushima. You shake 'em and you break 'em. Most of the coolant leaks out of the reactor core if the rigid coolant lines fracture in an earthquake. Brilliant, just brilliant.

[defendandprotect]

5. "...coolant leaks out of the reactor core if the rigid coolant lines fracture in an earthquake" --.

Unbelievable ---

[leveymg]

8. Unbelievable. But, apparently so.

I looked at the available diagrams and photos, and there's no evidence of one-way valves at the reactor junctions or flexible couples. Just thick, rigid pipes bolting directly to the vessel.

Even a Pinto engine has rubber radiator hoses for a reason, and a gasoline pump a one-way valve in case it gets pulled off when someone mindlessly drives away with the nozzle still in their gas tank.

[No Elephants]

2. "Quake risk to nuclear reactors is greater than previously admitted"is how the headline

should read.

Notice how they're dropping the word "nuclear" these days

[defendandprotect]

6. "Notice how they're dropping the word "nuclear" these days" ....

Didn't notice until you pointed it out --

[Devil_Fish]

9. Good point. K&R just for your post. NT

[snagglepuss]

12. When the earthquake happened I heard many reports simply use the term

"power plants" avoiding any mention of reactors.

[TheMadMonk]

13. I suspect that that's just plain laziness. The only other 'reactors'...

...remotely familiar to the media and the general populace are those used to culture bacteria.

[TalkingDog]

3. Where is the - No Shit Sherlock - file?

Oh wait... the Apologist have it over there.

[defendandprotect]

4. Urgent that we continue to use nuclear power to BOIL WATER to make STEAM ... !!! Yikes!!

What absolute farce this is -- !!

It takes 6 months to properly shut down the type of nuclear reactors we have

in US -- some built on fault lines -- all near water, of course --

two on Lake Erie -- a source of drinking water!!

About two in every state -- total of 103/106 --


There is NO way to assure that any nuclear reactor can withstand an earthquake or

floods -- and Global Warming will be bringing more earthquakes -- and more severe

earthquakes --


And, then, of course, there is the W A S T E -- !!

[Demeter]

7. No Shit, Sherlock

GE designed the Japanese ones, and the ones here...and they aren't any better here than they are there....

[defendandprotect]

10. kicky

[JohnyCanuck]

11. K&R n/t