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Safety flaws in planned new nuclear reactors

Study finds flaws in nuclear reactors planned for South Florida> Sun Sentinel  by Julie Patel on April 21, 2010 A study commissioned by 12 groups that oppose nuclear power found flaws in the design of new nuclear reactors planned for South Florida.The study, released today by groups that include Citizens Allied for Safe Energy, Green Party of Florida and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, is of Westinghouse’s AP1000 design. FPL plans to use the design for two new nuclear generators planned at its Turkey Point plant near Miami. The plants are estimated to cost $12 billion to $18 billion and produce 2,200 to 3,040 megawatts of electricity.Arnold Gundersen, of Fairewinds Associates in Burlington, said his study found aspects of the design that make it more likely to get rusty, especially in coastal areas such as Florida. That could lead to holes or cracks.Gunderson found that dozens of generators had steel containment walls — similar to that of the AP1000 — that are thinning. Eight have rusted through entirely and have holes in them…………Last year, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission flagged another problem with the design: regulators indicated the shell would not be able withstand forceful winds from hurricanes.

Study finds flaws in nuclear reactors planned for South Florida

April 22, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | technology, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, reactor