BREAKING: Crack found in containment structure of Crystal River nuke plant in FL: no imminent danger

[ddeclue]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-crystal-river-nuclear-power-plant-crack-100809,0,7093596.story

Workers at the Progress Energy nuclear power plant north of Tampa found a gap in the thick concrete wall of the building that holds reactor and generator parts, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported today.

The plant near Crystal River has been shut down for nearly two weeks for refueling and a modification that requires cutting a large hole through the steel-reinforced building. During that procedure late last week, workers found a gap or void a 1/2-inch wide about 9 feet from the outer surface of the building's 42-inch-thick wall.

The NRC is sending additional inspectors to determine the extent, cause and safety risks of the void. The building is meant to protect the reactor as well as contain any accidental releases of radioactive materials.

A Progress spokeswoman said her company -- Central Florida's biggest provider of electricity -- does not expect the void to delay the scheduled restart of the plant shortly before Christmas.
..

[mu2driver]

1. The void is just a small area where the original concrete didn't fill in.

Every large concrete structure will have some of these...they have virtually no adverse effect on the structural integrity of the walls. :-)

[madokie]

5. I shit you not

[mu2driver]

19. A pound! Seriously, it's like they drilled into a hunk of swiss cheese and found...a hole!

It's impossible to pour a huge concrete thing like a dam (or even a slab floor for a house) without having a few bubbles. That's why they use those vibrators...they're not just for vicarious pleasure. ;-)

[armyowalgreens]

6. 1/2 inch crack in a structure designed to contained massive doses of radiation...

And violent explosions.

That's something to worry about.

This isn't just some crack in a sidewalk or driveway.

[TheWraith]

10. Actually the containment structure doesn't "contain" anything normally.

It only comes into play if A) there's a massive failure of all the other safety systems, and the reactor explodes, or B) something hits the reactor from outside, like a jetliner.

That said, a half inch gap, not exposed to the surface, in a 42 inch thick wall isn't that big a deal.

[armyowalgreens]

14. Oh, I read it as a 1/2 inch gap all the way through the wall.

My mistake.

It brings into question the integrity of the structure. But it isn't as bad as I thought.

[TheWraith]

16. I can see how you'd read it that way--they weren't clear enough in the article.

But reading the context--specifically that they discovered this while drilling through the wall--combined with the fact that a half inch gap going THROUGH the wall would be fairly obvious from the outside leads me to assume that the gap was contained inside the shell. Probably, as mu2driver suggested, derived from an air bubble or pocket during the original pouring.

[ddeclue]

17. That's troubling though because they should have found this during pre-commissioning inspections.

It makes me wonder how many other reactors (running ones) have similar voids in their containment structures. They should all be re-inspected sooner rather than later.

[armyowalgreens]

20. I'm assuming they can use sonar or something like that to measure the density of the concrete?

[mu2driver]

38. Doug, the concrete has plenty of reinforcement. If you insisted on 100% void-free concrete in every

critical pour we wouldn't have any. We calculate the distribution of voids and increase the overall dimensions to insure they do not impact the structural purpose. It isn't unusual to have a few refrigerator-sized interior holes in a typical large dam.

[daleo]

35. Safety backups are supposed to actually work, though

Air bags don't normally do anything either, but you expect them to work when the time comes. Same with reactor containment.

[monmouth]

2. Upon first read I thought "crack" as in cocaine.... Must read more slowly..lol...n/t

[ddeclue]

4. Crack had a meaning before cocaine you know...

now we know where your mind is..

:rofl:

[monmouth]

9. Haha, just trying to keep up....n/t

[madinmaryland]

8. I thought the same thing! Heh! I was concerned that the employees were

getting high on the job!

:rofl:

[Jazzgirl]

13. LOL! I thought crack cocaine too!

[JuniperLea]

15. Me too...

I guess my mind is still on the explosion at Lake Elsinore... my first thought was that it was a crack house...

[monmouth]

25. Definitely a sign of our times...n/t

[boobooday]

33. I did the same thing. n/t

[lunatica]

3. It's a crack house now?!

Jesus! Is nothing sacred?

[armyowalgreens]

7. This leaves me a little worried...

And I'm usually the one defending nuclear power on DU.

[ddeclue]

11. I'm pro nuke and an engineer - it's not cool but the reactor is down right now

so danger is minimal.

They definitely need to fix it before they turn it back up though.

[L0oniX]

12. Crack or Nuke?

[petronius]

18. Define "imminent"

Although I guess a crack doesn't matter if they're busy cutting a hole in the structure, but it does make me wonder if other facilities have cracks we don't know about...

[ddeclue]

21. Imminent means "run Forrest run"...what do you THINK it means..

:eyes:

[petronius]

27. It always amuses me how many hyper-literal people we have on this site

Here's a clue: I know what "imminent" means...

:eyes: yourself

[ddeclue]

28. If you understood "imminent" then don't be an ass by asking what it means.

:eyes:

[petronius]

32. Here's another clue - I wasn't actually asking for a definition

[ddeclue]

34. "Define imminent" isn't asking me to define imminent?

Pardon me for actually reading what you wrote as you wrote it.

If you meant something else you should have said it.

:crazy:

[petronius]

36. It is a common conversational device intended to convey disbelief

that a particular bit of news is as good as it sounds...

[ddeclue]

37. Perhaps a sarcasm smiley might have been in order then.

I can't see your face or hear your voice. I have only your words to go by.

[armyowalgreens]

22. Per Webster...

Main Entry: im·mi·nent
Pronunciation: \ˈi-mə-nənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin imminent-, imminens, present participle of imminēre to project, threaten, from in- + -minēre (akin to Latin mont-, mons mountain) — more at mount
Date: 1528
: ready to take place; especially : hanging threateningly over one's head <was in imminent danger of being run over>

[ddeclue]

24. Just as I said.. it means "run Forrest run!"

:rofl:

[zorahopkins]

23. Nuclear Crack!!

I could make a crack about nuclear crack.

But I won't.

[kestrel91316]

26. Waiting for DU's small and rabidly pro-nuke contingent to enter

this thread, frothing at the mouth about "dangerous fossil fuels" and proclaiming the glories of nuclear waste.........

[ddeclue]

30. FYI: The OP is pro nuke. Still is.

:P

[kestrel91316]

31. Perhaps, but I have not noticed you to be a part of the nasty, rude,

rabidly pro-nuke, rabidly anti-alternative crowd.

[Generic Other]

29. At least the GOOGLE ads were on target with my "interests"

Foundation Crack
Eliminate Trip Hazards - Call Now.
Slabjack NW - Serving Puget Sound.
www.1866slabjack.com