Published: August 25th, 2011 at 5:34 pm ET
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Dominion’s North Anna Power Station Restores Offsite Power, Press Release, August 23, 2011:
The company also inspected the Lake Anna Dam after the earthquake and determined it sustained no damage. Station inspections are continuing to assure no damage has resulted from the seismic event.
A Number Of Infrastructure Trouble Spots In Virginia, HuffPost’s Tom Zeller, August 23, 2011:
The American Society for Civil Engineers’ most recent “report card” on national infrastructure lists a number of trouble spots in Virginia — including 143 “high-hazard” dams, one of which sits on Lake Anna near the North Anna nuclear power plant.
“A high hazard dam is defined as a dam whose failure would cause a loss of life and significant property damage,” the group notes on its website.
h/t Beyond Nuclear
Published: August 25th, 2011 at 5:34 pm ET
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sending...
ill change to Wind energy ASAP and ill try to convince my friends. this stuff is not supposed to be.
better get rid of it as long as we can
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‘High Hazard’ is a term used by Civil Engineers NOT Nuclear Engineers.
Water levels have dropped almost 2 feet is what the other story says. Probably more by now.
Maybe the darn dam has sprung a leak?
I would ‘hazard’ a guess that the NRC will say something like this….
I am sure that it’s ‘highly unlikely’ for there to be any ‘reason for concern’ as the overall ‘risk assessment’ is quite low.
(I should work for the NRC) – lol
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Discovery News 2010: San Andreas-like fault found in Northeastern U.S.
For 30 years geologists have been puzzled by a remarkably straight magnetic line that runs between New York and Alabama along the Appalachians. A more recent aerial magnetic survey of the Alabama end of the line suggests that it’s probably a 500-million-year-old San Andreas-style fault that appears to have slipped 137 miles (220 kilometers) to the right in …
http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/discovery-news-2010-san-andreas-like-fault-found-in-northeastern-u-s/
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If the dam breaks, Washington DC is toast, and so is whatever is left of the US economy.
Personally I would say that’s rather high risk.
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Where does the reactor get its cooling water? If from the lake, the water level may affect the cooling water intake to the pumps.
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It gets it from the lake. North Anna is designed to put the cooling water back into the lake, and there was concern even before it went into operation it would raise the lake water temperature. (well, obviously)
But if they are dealing with contaminated water, they supposed to treat it before dumping it back. That might explain the water level drop.
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Now that external power has been restored, can we assume that the steam venting on the one reactor has stopped? Do any of you have a way to check?
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Unless the earthquake has put a crack in the lake and it is draining, how much lower by this afternoon ?
This is something that needs to be looked into, is that dam that is being checked have anything to do with the water level there ?
http://enenews.com/cbs-affiliate-locals-say-theyre-worried-quake-hit-virginia-nuke-plant-many-concerned-that-water-levels-in-large-lake-used-by-reactors-have-dropped-nearly-22-inches-in-a-day/comment-page-1#comment-123861
So much to watch after a major quake for it changes the landscape other then just move bricks !
http://enenews.com/cbs-affiliate-locals-say-theyre-worried-quake-hit-virginia-nuke-plant-many-concerned-that-water-levels-in-large-lake-used-by-reactors-have-dropped-nearly-22-inches-in-a-day/comment-page-1#comment-123861
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If the water keeps dropping, how would the cool the reactors and pools if no water ?
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Oh, that is when they bring in the helicopters to make a token water drop.
Seriously, though… No water, no cooling. They inspected the dam and said it was okay. I am concerned there might be damage that has not been detected. With the hurricane imminent, a lot of water could be added putting stress on the dam. But perhaps my concern is unfounded. After Fuku, I expect the worst.
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Paul Gunter on RT had some good points about the needs of water for a shutdown reactor (with cooling pipes intact) is way below the working reactor and it just has to get it through about 6 months and then it gets to a much safer decay heat.
So barring damage to the heat exchange pipes they should be able to get the plant headed for mothballs even if the lake dam does collapse.
In addition, I would bet the farm the nuclear plant industry in America will do much better with this plant being so close to Washington, DC even if Irene or earthquakes or anything makes the plant a runaway.
I bet Fukushima repair efforts would have been handled WAY differently if it had been 20 miles from Tokyo instead of 150 miles. It’s all in priorities…
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Where’s our resident ‘lake-earthquake’ expert when you need him? I think he was posting from India or thereabouts?
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Ramaswami Kumar, show up asap! Lol
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I’ve been doing a little history homework on the North Anna Nuke Plant.
Here’s what I found…
It seems that in 2000 there was a plan, no not Al Gores I have a plan, to start using MOX fuel in US
reactors.
You remember MOX fuel don’t ya? Guess who was on the list of six reactors for this dimwitted idea?
YUP, North Anna. A very interesting read here…
MOX FUEL IRRADIATION PROGRAM
FOR DISPOSITION OF SURPLUS UNITED STATES PLUTONIUM
http://www-rsicc.ornl.gov/FMDP/DCS_ANS_sum2000paper.pdf
And here is a good read on the public health exposures of MOX fuel
PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF SUBSTITUTING MIXED-OXIDE FOR URANIUM FUEL IN LIGHT-WATER REACTORS
http://www.nci.org/k-m/moxsum.htm
But in a tiny defence of Dominion and for the sake of a couple million lives of our revered
governments hallowed grounds, it seems that the deal fell through for financial reasons.
Go figure…
THE REVISED PLUTONIUM DISPOSITION STRATEGY:
DOES HOUSE OF CARDS
Edwin S. Lyman
Nuclear Control Institute
February 22, 2002
Before Dominion Resources removed its North Anna 1&2 reactors from the plutonium disposition program
in April 2000, the maximum estimated throughput for all six reactors was about 2.9 MT per year, and
13 years would required to irradiate 34 MT, beginning in 2007 and ending in 2020, according to a
2000 report.[1] Under the new program, batch delivery of fuel to reactors is scheduled to begin in
Fall 2008, and the program is slated for completion in 2019 (11 years duration). Thus at least seven
reactors — three more than the number currently under contract — would be required to dispose of
34 MT over the shorter time period. More realistically, the start of the program will be further
delayed as a result of the changes to the MOX fabrication plant design that are necessary to purify
the plutonium feedstock that was originally slated for immobilization, so completion by 2019 would
likely require yet another reactor.
http://www.nci.org/02NCI/02/pr22502-memo.htm
Local take on this…
Virginia utility abandons MOX project
By Staff Writer
A Virginia utility company has abandoned an agreement to use a controversial nuclear-reactor fuel
that would be produced at Savannah River Site.
Virginia Power decided this week to leave its contract with Duke COGEMA Stone & Webster LLC, said Jim
Norvelle, a spokesman for the utility.
Virginia Power had a contract with Duke COGEMA to use mixed-oxide, or MOX, fuel in its North Anna
nuclear power plant in Virginia.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2000/04/08/met_286548.shtml
And the complete, (incomplete?), US MOX History….
CHRONOLOGY OF WARHEAD-PLUTONIUM DISPOSITION EFFORTS
Steven Dolley
Nuclear Control Institute October 2000
http://www.nci.org/k-m/mox-chron-101900.htm
A fun site…
http://www.nci.org/index.htm
Some North Anna Info on the SFP Storage there…
NORTH ANNA
INDEPENDENT SPENT FUEL STORAGE INSTALLATION SAFETY ANALYSIS REPORT REVISION 3 INSTRUCTIONS
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0219/ML021910060.pdf
another fun site…
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs
Then the need for “mo power scotty” overcame Dominion again…
You will note that this doc is for a POWER UPRATE at PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1
AND 2.
But if you look down in the doc you will see this:
The NRC has recently issued similar MUR-PU license amendments for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant,
Units 1 & 2 on February 27,2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML080350347), Cooper Nuclear Station on June 30,
2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML081540280), Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 on June 30, 2008
(ADAMS Accession No. ML081410652), Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant on July 22, 2009 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML091820366), and North Anna Power Station on October 22, 2009 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML092260616).
And less? significant this…
The licensee indicated that the CHECWORKS models will be revised to include the changes in moisture
carryover, temperature, pressure and flowrate, as a result of the MUR-PU implementation. In addition,
it was stated that the results of the upgrade models will be factored into future surveillance and
piping repair plans, as applicable. The NRC staff finds this acceptable. The staff also reviewed the
licensee’s evaluation and confirmed that the applicable regulatory guidance was followed.
The NRC staff has also verified the calculations in the application. The licensee has demonstrated
that the FAC program is adequate for managing the potential effects on the piping components
susceptible to FAC. The staff’s acceptance of the licensee’s use of CHECWORKS can be found in
NUREG-1766, “Safety Evaluation Report Related to the License Renewal of North Anna Power Station,
Units 1 and 2, and Surry Power Station, Units 1 and 2,” December 2002. The NRC staff concludes that
the FAC program is adequate in predicting the rate of material loss.
http://www.balch.com/files/upload/10_145_PowerUprate_Prairie%20Island.pdf
Continued in next post because of link count moderation…
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HUH! I want to see ADAMS Accession No. ML092260616. A search ensued back to:
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs
Thinking I would have something, I drilled down to:
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0922/
Something wasn’t right. That document is strangely missing…
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 261695 ML092260586.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 96185 ML092260587.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 108352 ML092260588.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 164834 ML092260589.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 442017 ML092260590.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 3102146 ML092260591.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 68211 ML092260596.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 309497 ML092260599.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 3801204 ML092260601.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 88877 ML092260605.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 158941 ML092260607.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 336064 ML092260614.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 164597 ML092260618.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 78569 ML092260621.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 101878 ML092260622.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 381371 ML092260623.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 3761701 ML092260626.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 3722694 ML092260629.pdf
12/2/2010 8:07 AM 2371096 ML092260631.pdf
WTF?
Dissapointed I kept at it, Never give up, Never give in…
Works for me..
Seems that there was a request to up the working pressure at North Anna from 1495 to 2425 psia
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI)
VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANYNORTH ANNA POWER STATION UNITS
1 AND 2, DOCKET No. 50-338 AND 50-339
1. WCAP-15025PA, DOM-NAF-2
Table 4-1 of WCAP-15025PA indicates that the applicable range of pressure for WRB-2M is 1495 to
2425 psia, and Table 1 of Safety Evaluation for Appendix C to DOM-NAF-2 indicate that the
applicable range of pressure for WRB-2M is 1405 to 2425 psia. Please make sure that the correct
pressure range for applicability of WRB-2M correlation is 1495 to 2425 psia.
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1100/ML110040003.pdf
What? Why?
Well if you drop down in the doc below to:
Virginia Electric and Power Company, Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339, North Anna Power Station, Unit 1
and 2, Louisa County, Virginia
Approval of the proposed changes will allow Dominion to use the VIPRE [Versatile Internals and
Components Program for Reactors—EPRI]-DIWRB-2M and VIPRE-DIW-3 code/correlation pairs to perform
licensing calculations of Westinghouse RFA-2 fuel in North Anna Cores, using the DDLs [deterministic
design limits] documented in Appendix C of the DOM-NAF-2-A Fleet Report and the SDL [statistical
design limit] documented herein. Neither the code/correlation pair nor the Statistical Departure from
Nucleate Boiling Ratio (DNBR) Evaluation Methodology affect accident initiators and thus cannot
increase the probability of any accident. Further, since both the deterministic and statistical DNBR
limits meet the required design basis of avoiding Departure from Nucleate Boiling (DNB) with 95%
probability at a 95% confidence level, the use of the new code/correlation and Statistical DNBR
Evaluation Methodology do not increase the potential consequences of any accident. Finally, the full
core DNB design limit provides increased assurance that the consequences of a postulated accident
which includes radioactive release would be minimized because the overall number of rods in DNB would
not exceed the 0.1% level. The pertinent evaluations to be performed as part of the cycle specific
reload safety analysis to confirm that the existing safety analyses remain applicable have been
performed and determined to be acceptable. The use of a different code/correlation pair will not
increase the probability of an accident because plant systems will not be operated in a different
manner, and system interfaces will not change. The use of the VIPRE-DIWRB-2M and VIPRE-DIW-3
code/correlation pairs to perform licensing calculations of Westinghouse RFA-2 fuel in North Anna
cores will not result in a measurable impact on normal operating plant releases and will not increase
the predicted radiological consequences of accidents postulated in the UFSAR [Updated Final Safety
Analysis Report].
You will see that they want to use a new fuel. Kind of a minor change in fuels, right?
After all newer is better, Right?
Doesn’t explain the pressure change request above though…
http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/07/26/2011-18525/biweekly-notice-applications-and-amendm
ents-to-facility-operating-licenses-involving-no-significant#p-68
Well, there must be an explanation somewhere…
Maybe here is!
Seems they went to a higher enrichment of fuel in 2001 after dropping out of the MOX project.
Virginia Electric and Power Company; North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Environmental Assessment Back to Top
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would increase the limit on the fuel enrichment from the current limit of 4.3
weight percent U 235 to a maximum of 4.6 weight percent U 235, establish boron concentration and fuel
storage restrictions for the Spent Fuel Pool (SFP), and eliminate the value of uncertainties in the
calculation for K eff in the SFP criticality calculation. The proposed action is in accordance with
the licensee’s application for amendments dated September 27, 2000, as supplemented November 21 and
December 18, 2000, and February 2, and March 2, 2001.
http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2001/04/25/01-10242/virginia-electric-and-power-company-north
-anna-power-station-units-1-and-2-environmental-assessment
What does this mean?
We may not ever know unless someone can come up with the last fuel cycle document, and
ML092260616.pdf, which is the pressure increase doc.
North Anna’s next fuel cycle, assuming it’s still there then, is in 2012 for unit 1 and 2013 for
unit 2.
My observation as to what all this means is that, they are dealing with at least one uranium enriched
souped up high pressure reactor after the earthquake and it is going to take a lot of Lake Anna to
get this monster cooled down.
Cheers!
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Corrected link from above, damn wordwrap!
http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/07/26/2011-18525/biweekly-notice-applications-and-amendments-to-facility-operating-licenses-involving-no-significant#p-68
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And another correction…
http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2001/04/25/01-10242/virginia-electric-and-power-company-north-anna-power-station-units-1-and-2-environmental-assessment
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Jebus, big thanks for all that,
re “Dissapointed I kept at it, Never give up, Never give in… Works for me..”
- is worth remembering, folks, when you hit a cold trail -
Great piece of work Jebus, thanks once again.
M.
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I wonder if the earth has opened up and the water is draining into a fissure?
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What it is like inside the control room when a earthquake hits !
VIDEO: Inside North Anna Nuclear Station
Aug 25, 2011
CNN did a piece on the North Anna nuclear station yesterday. According to the plant manager’s statements the earthquake did not trip the reactors. The plant …
http://houseoffoust.com/group/?p=2374
Looking closely at the footage, you can see a crack across a sidewalk and at first and end, can see it going across the grassy area also ! There too looking at this shot of the plant in last footage one can see the bank of the lake that is near the reactor building, it appears that this are may have been built on fill !!!!
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