NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

Entergy Nuclear VY license Renewal

Status of Review: ENVY still hasn’t resolved issue of metal fatigue.

NRC staff: NRC has worked over last few months to clarify problem. ENVY used software with unconventional methodology to predict metal fatigue. Used simplified calculations, combined six components into one component. It’s a mathematical manipulation but is not an industry standard. It was used before, but it was unknown to the NRC staff.

Method used has never been published in any professional literature.

NRC Conclusion: methodology MAY be used in some situations, but only if component not subject to sheer stress.

NRC asked ENVY to look at six locations with conventional mathematical modeling. Nozzle and pipe to pipe applications.

“WE got the last submission yesterday, so we haven’t evaluated it yet. But we think the applicant is now on the right path.”

Entergy: We made all kinds of improvements to get the 20% power boost.

Steam Dryer– cracks have been a problem,  but I won’t say the word CRACK until later. No fatigue cracking found, only intergranular cracking.

NRC- what do you do when you find cracks?

Entergy- we don’t repair them, we just enter them into our records and look at them again in 18 months.

NRC-No samples taken to determine what kind of cracking it is? Only visual inspection?

ENVY- that’s right.

Corrosion

Entergy- We did 63 inspections, and found no additional corrosion due to power boost.

NRC- Are you still monitoring the steam line?

Entergy- No

NRC You’re only monitoring the water levels?

Entergy- Yes.

NRC- does the noble metals coating cover the stream dryer?

Entergy- probably not. We’ll let you know.

Underground tanks for emergency diesel generators:

Entergy-

I’m not aware that we’ve seen any significant corrosion.

Classic non-denial denial!

Cooling Towers

ENVY- collapse was a significant event for us, that did not meet our expectations.

NRC- explain why

ENVY- Inspection was insufficient. We didn’t predict it, so we didn’t look for it. The safety related cell has a different design.

Environmentally assisted fatigue–gotta love it!

ENVY- Took our history and mixed it with history from younger, more robust reactor designs to show we’ll be good for another 20 years.

NRC-

Is this a reality?

ENVY consultant- It’s very conservative, used extensively over the life of the industry.

NRC-

I won’t go there! (laughter)

Corrosion  and stress, cont.

ENVY- The nozzles we’ve done calculations for all look great, even though the calculations don’t match up.

NRC- Did you expect the calculations to show different results?

ENVY- We’re so conservative, we expected the confirmatory calculations to be even better than the first analysis.

NRC staff- We’ll be looking into that further for the March meeting.

Dry Well and torus

ENVY- we haven’t seen any of the problems that other similar designs have found.

Sand cushion- corrosion of dry well shell has been seen elsewhere. ENVY is different-no insulating foam, it was a construction material that was removed. We’ve seen dust blowing that confirms that air is flowing, keeping air cushion dry. The sand drains are inspected daily to see if there’s any moisture.

Unasked question: Is there moisture found?

1999- found the moisture barrier degraded. Replaced (repainted?)

NRC- you have no measurements, because you didn’t think you had to?

ENVY-yes

NRC- you didn’t remove the sand to examine the metal?

ENVY-no

1998- de-sludged the torus and recoated it. No generalised corrosion, only localized. Blistering and paint failure.

NRC-why?

ENVY- poorly applied paint the last time.

NRC- not because of oxidation from underneath?

ENVY- Oh, no.

NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

Entergy Nuclear VY license Renewal

Status of Review: ENVY still hasn’t resolved issue of metal fatigue.

NRC has worked over last few months to clarify problem. ENVY used software with unconventional methodology to predict metal fatigue. Used simplified calculations, combined six components into one component. It’s a mathematical manipulation but is not an industry standard. It was used before, but it was unknown to the NRC staff.

Method used has never been published in any professional literature.

NRC Conclusion: methodology MAY be used in some situations, but only if component not subject to sheer stress.

NRC asked ENVY to look at six locations with conventional mathematical modeling. Nozzle and pipe to pipe applications.

“WE got the last submission yesterday, so we haven’t evaluated it yet. But we think the applicant is now on the right path.”

Entergy: We made all kinds of improvements to get the 20% power boost.

Steam Dryer– cracks have been a problem,  but I won’t say the word CRACK until later. No fatigue cracking found, only intergranular cracking.

NRC- what do you do when you find cracks?

Entergy- we don’t repair them, we just enter them into our records and look at them again in 18 months.

NRC-No samples taken to determine what kind of cracking it is? Only visual inspection?

ENVY- that’s right.

Corrosion

Entergy- We did 63 inspections, and found no additional corrosion due to power boost.

NRC- Are you still monitoring the steam line?

Entergy- No

NRC You’re only monitoring the water levels?

Entergy- Yes.

NRC- does the noble metals coating cover the stream dryer?

Entergy- probably not. We’ll let you know.

Underground tanks for emergency diesel generators:

Entergy-

I’m not aware that we’ve seen any significant corrosion.

Classic non-denial denial!

Cooling Towers

ENVY- collapse was a significant event for us, that did not meet our expectations.

NRC- explain why

ENVY- Inspection was insufficient. We didn’t predict it, so we didn’t look for it. The safety related cell has a different design.

Environmentally assisted fatigue–gotta love it!

ENVY- Took our history and mixed it with history from younger, more robust reactor designs to show we’ll be good for another 20 years.

NRC-

Is this a reality?

ENVY consultant- It’s very conservative, used extensively over the life of the industry.

NRC-

I won’t go there! (laughter)

Reactor Water Chemistry

NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

Entergy Nuclear VY license Renewal

Status of Review: ENVY still hasn’t resolved issue of metal fatigue.

NRC has worked over last few months to clarify problem. ENVY used software with unconventional methodology to predict metal fatigue. Used simplified calculations, combined six components into one component. It’s a mathematical manipulation but is not an industry standard. It was used before, but it was unknown to the NRC staff.

Method used has never been published in any professional literature.

NRC Conclusion: methodology MAY be used in some situations, but only if component not subject to sheer stress.

NRC asked ENVY to look at six locations with conventional mathematical modeling. Nozzle and pipe to pipe applications.

“WE got the last submission yesterday, so we haven’t evaluated it yet. But we think the applicant is now on the right path.”

Entergy: We made all kinds of improvements to get the 20% power boost.

Steam Dryer- cracks have been a problem,  but I won’t say the word CRACK until later. No fatigue cracking found, only intergranular cracking.

NRC- what do you do when you find cracks?

Entergy- we don’t repair them, we just enter them into our records and look at them again in 18 months.

NRC-No samples taken to determine what kind of cracking it is? Only visual inspection?

ENVY- that’s right.

Corrosion

Entergy- We did 63 inspections, and found no additional corrosion due to power boost.

NRC- Are you still monitoring the steam line?

Entergy- No

NRC You’re only monitoring the water levels?

Entergy- Yes.

NRC- does the noble metals coating cover the stream dryer?

Entergy- probably not. We’ll let you know.

Underground tanks for emergency diesel generators:

Entergy-

I’m not aware that we’ve seen any significant corrosion.

Classic non-denial denial!

Cooling Towers

ENVY- collapse was a significant event for us, that did not meet our expectations.

NRC- explain why

ENVY- Inspection was insufficient. We didn’t predict it, so we didn’t look for it. The safety related cell has a different design.

Environmentally assisted fatigue-gotta love it!

ENVY- Took our history and mixed it with history from younger, more robust reactor designs to show we’ll be good for another 20 years.

NRC-

Is this a reality?

ENVY consultant- It’s very conservative, used extensively over the life of the industry.

NRC-

I won’t go there! (laughter)

NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

Entergy Nuclear VY license Renewal

Status of Review: ENVY still hasn’t resolved issue of metal fatigue.

NRC has worked over last few months to clarify problem. ENVY used software with unconventional methodology to predict metal fatigue. Used simplified calculations, combined six components into one component. It’s a mathematical manipulation but is not an industry standard. It was used before, but it was unknown to the NRC staff.

Method used has never been published in any professional literature.

NRC Conclusion: methodology MAY be used in some situations, but only if component not subject to sheer stress.

NRC asked ENVY to look at six locations with conventional mathematical modeling. Nozzle and pipe to pipe applications.

“WE got the last submission yesterday, so we haven’t evaluated it yet. But we think the applicant is now on the right path.”

Entergy: We made all kinds of improvements to get the 20% power boost.

Steam Dryer- cracks have been a problem,  but I won’t say the word CRACK until later. No fatigue cracking found, only intergranular cracking.

NRC- what do you do when you find cracks?

Entergy- we don’t repair them, we just enter them into our records and look at them again in 18 months.

NRC-No samples taken to determine what kind of cracking it is? Only visual inspection?

ENVY- that’s right.

Corrosion

Entergy- We did 63 inspections, and found no additional corrosion due to power boost.

NRC- Are you still monitoring the steam line?

Entergy- No

NRC You’re only monitoring the water levels?

Entergy- Yes.

NRC- does the noble metals coating cover the stream dryer?

Entergy- probably not. We’ll let you know.

Underground tanks for emergency diesel generators:

Entergy-

I’m not aware that we’ve seen any significant corrosion.

Classic non-denial denial!

Cooling Towers

ENVY- collapse was a significant event for us, that did not meet our expectations.

NRC- explain why

ENVY- Inspection was insufficient. We didn’t predict it, so we didn’t look for it. The safety related cell has a different design.

NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

Entergy Nuclear VY license Renewal

Status of Review: ENVY still hasn’t resolved issue of metal fatigue.

NRC has worked over last few months to clarify problem. ENVY used software with unconventional methodology to predict metal fatigue. Used simplified calculations, combined six components into one component. It’s a mathematical manipulation but is not an industry standard. It was used before, but it was unknown to the NRC staff.

Method used has never been published in any professional literature.

NRC Conclusion: methodology MAY be used in some situations, but only if component not subject to sheer stress.

NRC asked ENVY to look at six locations with conventional mathematical modeling. Nozzle and pipe to pipe applications.

“WE got the last submission yesterday, so we haven’t evaluated it yet. But we think the applicant is now on the right path.”

Entergy: We made all kinds of improvements to get the 20% power boost.

Steam Dryer- cracks have been a problem,  but I won’t say the word CRACK until later. No fatigue cracking found, only intergranular cracking.

NRC- what do you do when you find cracks?

Entergy- we don’t repair them, we just enter them into our records and look at them again in 18 months.

NRC-No samples taken to determine what kind of cracking it is? Only visual inspection?

ENVY- that’s right.

Corrosion

Entergy- We did 63 inspections, and found no additional corrosion due to power boost.

NRC- Are you still monitoring the steam line?

Entergy- No

NRC You’re only monitoring the water levels?

Entergy- Yes.

NRC- does the noble metals coating cover the stream dryer?

Entergy- probably not. We’ll let you know.

NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

Entergy Nuclear VY license Renewal

Status of Review: ENVY still hasn’t resolved issue of metal fatigue.

NRC has worked over last few months to clarify problem. ENVY used software with unconventional methodology to predict metal fatigue. Used simplified calculations, combined six components into one component. It’s a mathematical manipulation but is not an industry standard. It was used before, but it was unknown to the NRC staff.

Method used has never been published in any professional literature.

NRC Conclusion: methodology MAY be used in some situations, but only if component not subject to sheer stress.

NRC asked ENVY to look at six locations with conventional mathematical modeling. Nozzle and pipe to pipe applications.

“WE got the last submission yesterday, so we haven’t evaluated it yet. But we think the applicant is now on the right path.”

I remember saying a couple years ago that I really miss the days when Republicans were just the “screw the poor and the minorities” party.  At least then, there was some perspective left in the party.  Don’t get me wrong: they were still evil but, as Mr. Smithers would put it, at some point they moved from everyday villainy to over the top super-villainy.

But, in case anyone’s concerned that they’ve forgotten their roots, there’s good news on that front.  The Republicans have, in fact, blocked the economic stimulus package.

Now, mind you, there are lots of reasons to oppose this package: it’s a waste of money.  It won’t come nearly quickly enough to benefit the economy.  It serves as a substitution for other measures that would do a lot more good.

But that’s not why the Republicans are opposing it.

They’re opposing it because the Senate version helps poor people.  Per the AP, as published in Vermont’s Rutland Herald :

The fate of $600-$1,200 rebate checks for more than 100 million Americans is in limbo after Senate Republicans blocked a bid by Democrats to add $44 billion in help for the elderly, disabled veterans, the unemployed and businesses to the House-passed economic aid package.

That’s right.  Screw the unemployed.  Screw the elderly.  Screw the veterans.

And you thought the old GOP you knew and loved was lost forever…

Cross posted from Rational Resistance

Okay, let’s take a minute to assess where things stand. Yesterday was Super Duper Tuesday, and Clinton and Obama are essentially dead even in delegate count, 580-571, out of 2,025 needed for the nomination (I’m not counting the super delegates, since they are not committed).

They have basically hit half the states and have half to go.

And now today, we have two news stories that it’s hard not to connect.

Clinton lent $5 million to her campaign before Super Tuesday

Obama Campaign Has Raised Over $4 Million — Since Polls Closed Yesterday!

Coming out of Super Tuesday, every campaign wants to spin the day as a win. Still, if Clinton’s campaign is running on fumes and Obama is taking money to the bank in bushel baskets, it’s at least suggestive that the winds are turning Obama’s way.

Yee-Ha, Whoopee…  The big day has passed, Super Tuesday.  The so called closest thing to a national primary.  Where did it get us?  Clinton and Obama are still neck and neck, and we’re from a clear winner.  

Just think of the money being spent in these campaigns.  Where does it all come from, and could it be spent a little more wisely?  Show me a candidate who donates their war chest to relieve the national debt, or builds jobs for the U.S. and that’s the person I’ll vote for.

At this point we still haven’t heard a good plan to pull us out of the toilet.  All it’s been is I’m not Obama, and I’m not Hillary.  They talk, give speeches, and debate.  I just really don’t have a good feel for what they’re gonna do other than not be another Bush.  Not that that’s not a good direction, but it’d be nice to know what we’re getting into.

I’m still waiting for change, I don’t know what form it will take.