Accident in Slovenian nuclear power plant

[Urwumpe]

The European Commission just declared a Europe-wide nuclear alert because of an accident in a Slovenian nuclear power plant near Krsko. According to the limited information known, there was a coolant leak inside the primary coolant loop.

Loss of coolant (LOC) is major anomaly inside nuclear power plants and can be dangerous even when the nuclear reactor is shutdown immediately.

http://www.orf.at/ticker/291732.html
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,557768,00.html

 

[NukeET]

The European Commission just declared a Europe-wide nuclear alert because of an accident in a Slovenian nuclear power plant near Krsko. According to the limited information known, there was a coolant leak inside the primary coolant loop.

Loss of coolant (LOC) is major anomaly inside nuclear power plants and can be dangerous even when the nuclear reactor is shutdown immediately.

http://www.orf.at/ticker/291732.html
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,557768,00.html

Especially when you don't notice it like at Three Mile Island.

Does anyone have any English news sources on this?

 

[Missioncmdr]

Sounds like really bad news if all of Europe has to be on alert.

 

[Master of Blades]

Anything about it that's not german?

 

[Urwumpe]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7436671.stm

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

So apparently, the situation is under control, good news..

 

[Urwumpe]

So apparently, the situation is under control, good news..

Well, the situation also seemed to be under control in the Three Mile Island accident (which was caused by people relying too strong on the inadequate indicators), so it is a good idea to give a general warning until all really cooled down.

Just remember, that the reactor was build in 1981... it is not old, but also not the newest kind of reactor.

 

[NukeET]

Well, the situation also seemed to be under control in the Three Mile Island accident (which was caused by people relying too strong on the inadequate indicators), so it is a good idea to give a general warning until all really cooled down.

Just remember, that the reactor was build in 1981... it is not old, but also not the newest kind of reactor.

Not so much inadequate indications, as it was the operators not believing what they were seeing on them.

 

[mrspacely]

Just remember, that the reactor was build in 1981... it is not old, but also not the newest kind of reactor.

in my opinion that IS old! think of how old the space shuttles are and how much they need to be updated regularly. that plant probably hasnt been updated and probably wont be until it is shut down.

i hope someone discloses free energy before we decide energy itself is not worth the risks.

 

[Urwumpe]

Not so much inadequate indications, as it was the operators not believing what they were seeing on them.

Well, inside the reports, they only had the pressurizer water level as indication, no direct water levels of reactor or heat exchanger. That's why they did not notice the other indications...

 

[NukeET]

Well, inside the reports, they only had the pressurizer water level as indication, no direct water levels of reactor or heat exchanger. That's why they did not notice the other indications...

True...but pressurizer water level is the first major clue for a LOCA. Loose enough water and you start drawing a steam bubble inside the reactor (which is what happened at TMI)...and steam isn't a very efficient conductor of heat.

Not noticing and/or not understanding the other indications they did have was criminally stupid.

 

[Urwumpe]

True...but pressurizer water level is the first major clue for a LOCA. Loose enough water and you start drawing a steam bubble inside the reactor (which is what happened at TMI)...and steam isn't a very efficient conductor of heat.

Not noticing and/or not understanding the other indications they did have was criminally stupid.

Yeah, but the pressurizer water level was indicated as rising and close to overfill. The problem was, that the open pressure vent valve was not indicated. That the pressure was indicated as lower as normal could have been attributed wrong to the shutdown in progress.

Of course it was human failure, they should have noticed many other secondary indications and other problems as trained reactor pilots, but they failed it.

 

[Missioncmdr]

in my opinion that IS old! think of how old the space shuttles are and how much they need to be updated regularly. that plant probably hasnt been updated and probably wont be until it is shut down.

It depends. Most commercial nuclear reactors are designed and built to last decades (with regular maintenance). According to Wikipedia, the plant in Slovenia is not scheduled to be shut down until 2023. So it is getting older, but I would not say extremely old. And what do Space Shuttles have to do with nuclear reactors?

 

[Urwumpe]

And what do Space Shuttles have to do with nuclear reactors?

Both have the same power output. The Shuttle for 2 minutes, the nuclear reactor for ten years.