Updated at 05:29 PM today
New flaw found at Shearon Harris nuclear power plant
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Inspectors at the Duke Energy Shearon Harris nuclear power plant have found a flaw in a reactor vessel for the second time this year. The vessel contains the plant's nuclear fuel.
A report filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says "ultrasonic examinations identified a flaw in a head penetration nozzle" of the vessel. The report says the problem was discovered November 18.
The reactor was not in operation at the time. It had been shut down for refueling, and the flaw was found during a routine inspection. The report says there was no leak.
Officials with the NRC told ABC11 that at some point utilities have to consider replacing the entire vessel head when cracks keep showing up.
In May, the plant was shut down after an inspection revealed early signs of corrosion and cracking in the reactor vessel. The quarter inch crack was not all the way through the reactor vessel wall and no radioactive material escaped.
The plant - which began operations in 1987 - is located in New Hill, about 20 miles southwest of Raleigh near Jordan Lake.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9340485
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Inspectors at the Duke Energy Shearon Harris nuclear power plant have found a flaw in a reactor vessel for the second time this year. The vessel contains the plant's nuclear fuel.
A report filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says "ultrasonic examinations identified a flaw in a head penetration nozzle" of the vessel. The report says the problem was discovered November 18.
The reactor was not in operation at the time. It had been shut down for refueling, and the flaw was found during a routine inspection. The report says there was no leak.
Officials with the NRC told ABC11 that at some point utilities have to consider replacing the entire vessel head when cracks keep showing up.
In May, the plant was shut down after an inspection revealed early signs of corrosion and cracking in the reactor vessel. The quarter inch crack was not all the way through the reactor vessel wall and no radioactive material escaped.
The plant - which began operations in 1987 - is located in New Hill, about 20 miles southwest of Raleigh near Jordan Lake.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9340485
