7 Nov (NucNet): Initial results from an inspection at British Energy’s Heysham-A1 reactor unit have identified problems related to a wire winding similar to that identified last month during a planned inspection of Hartlepool-A1, where one wire failed as a result of corrosion.
British Energy (BE) said on 6 November 2007 that it had carried out partial inspections of the wire windings of Heysham-A1. The unit was taken out of service last month following discovery of a wire-winding problem during the inspection of boiler closure units at Hartlepool-A1.
Heysham-A1 and Hartlepool-A2 were taken out of service for assessment and inspection because the Hartlepool-A1 issue “might have implications” for both units, BE said last month. Heysham-A2 was undergoing a refuelling outage at the time and BE decided its return to service should be delayed.
Heysham-A1, Heysham-A2, Hartlepool-A1 and Hartlepool-A2 remain out of service. They are all gas-cooled reactor units.
Inspections of Heysham-A2 have begun, and inspections will begin shortly at Hartlepool-A2.
The design of the boiler closure units is unique to Hartlepool and Heysham-A nuclear power plants, which each have two units. Heysham-B is not affected.
In a statement yesterday, BE called the wire-winding issue a legacy issue of the initial construction, identified during the course of baseline inspections.
The company is in the process of “developing the methodology” to secure the return to service of the units, but “a timetable for the return to service of these units can only be formed when inspections and a full assessment of the situation have been completed”.
BE said: “While this component of the plant was not originally designed to be inspected, improved technology and innovative inspection techniques have been developed which have now allowed inspection as part of the improvement programme.”
BE plans to provide a description of the wire-winding issue and the process being adopted to assess and address the situation as part of its half-year results presentation, scheduled for 13 November 2007.
