French regulatory agency the Nuclear Security Authority (ASN) has revealed that it has concerns that 18 reactors operated by EDF could have similar anomalies to that discovered at the Flamanville reactor in Normandy. A statement on the ASN’s website said that analyses carried out by EDF since 2015 concluded that the steel making up some steam generators could have higher carbon concentrations than expected, which “may lead to lower mechanical properties than expected”. The investigation was conducted at the request of ASN to check if any other EDF plants had anomalies similar to that found in the containment vessel of the EPR third-generation pressurised water reactor at Flamanville. An excess of carbon could lead to weaknesses in parts of the reactor that have to withstand high pressures.
Global Construction Review 4th July 2016 read more »