U.S. is increasing nuclear power through uprating(Pushing Equipment beyond orig specs)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: LA Times

The U.S. nuclear industry is turning up the power on old reactors, spurring quiet debate over the safety of pushing aging equipment beyond its original specifications.

The little-publicized practice, known as uprating, has expanded the country's nuclear capacity without the financial risks, public anxiety and political obstacles that have halted the construction of new plants for the last 15 years.

The power boosts come from more potent fuel rods in the reactor core and, sometimes, more highly enriched uranium. As a result, the nuclear reactions generate more heat, which boils more water into steam to drive the turbines that make electricity.

Tiny uprates have long been common. But nuclear watchdogs and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's own safety advisory panel have expressed concern over larger boosts — some by up to 20% — that the NRC began approving in 1998. Twenty of the nation's 104 reactors have undergone these "extended power uprates."



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-uprates-20110418,0,7739985.story

[AndyTiedye]

1. Hey, It Hasn't Blowed Up Yet, Crank It Up a Little Higher and See What Happens

:wtf: :nuke: :hide:

[defendandprotect]

2. Imagine that they put a nuclear plant on Lake Erie -- a source of drinking water -- !!!

[Fuddnik]

6. Not just one, but two.

On close to the opposite ends of the lake.

I guess they want to get you coming and going.

[Shallah Kali]

3. The Nation: Zombie Nuke Plants extending their lifespan 20yrs & more intended

http://www.thenation.com/article/zombie-nuke-plants

[sakabatou]

4. ...

[Throckmorton]

5. As a nuclear industry worker

I do not like the practice one little bit.

The appendix K uprates (usually less than 2%) are not too bad, but I really hate the big stretch power uprates.

[lib2DaBone]

7. ..and these plants were built before Jimmy Carter.. they are old and tired.

They should be replacing these plants with new, smaller , and technologically advanced plants.. plus re-build the electric grid. It would make millions of jobs.

No one would drive a 1972 Ford Pinto... and expect it to perform on today's highways?

Yet they do this with Nuke plants.. and then act surprised when the fail.

[WatsonT]

8. That's because we've had an effective moratorium on new plants

It wouldn't have to be this way if we were more rational.

[Shallah Kali]

9. and pay all those millions decomissioning those plants and all their high & low radioatictive parts?

I think not. No, blaming it on the new plant moratorium is just an excuse.

[jpak]

10. Nope - over 100 nuclear plants canceled because they were too costly to build and operate

they cost rate-payers over 100 billion dollars in stranded costs

there is no "moratorium"

US utilities did this

not anti-nukes

yup

[No Elephants]

11. What could possibly go wrong? "Nuclear Regulatory Commission's own safety advisory panel have

expressed concern over larger boosts — some by up to 20% — that the NRC began approving in 1998."

Another thing for which we can thank Republicons of both Parties.