September 26, 2013 | By
Barbara Vergetis Lundin
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has
identified flaws in how Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
(MHI) used its computer codes to design the failed steam
generators at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
(SONGS) and is issuing a "Notice of Non-Conformance"
against MHI for its flawed computer modeling in the
failed design. The NRC is also citing Southern
California Edison (SCE) for failing to ensure that MHI's
modeling and analysis were adequate.
|
San Onofre
Nuclear Generating Station. Credit:
Jelson25/Wikimedia Commons |
Specifically, the NRC reports indicate that MHI's
computer codes inaccurately predicted thermal hydraulic
conditions in the steam generators, leading to tube
vibration and wear, and a steam generator tube leak and
that MHI embedded the same computer modeling error in
the design of steam generators at four other nuclear
plants, although none developed the fluid elastic
instability that caused SONGS to shut down.
"Mitsubishi designed the system. Mitsubishi built the
system. Mitsubishi's system failed. They are the
experts. SCE was the customer," Pete Dietrich, SCE
senior vice president and chief nuclear officer, said.
"SCE is responsible for the safe operation of San Onofre
and will continue to make safety our top priority as the
plant is decommissioned. MHI is accountable for its
failure to provide properly functioning steam
generators."
During the design of the steam generators, SCE questioned MHI about its
design and use of computer models on multiple occasions
and received repeated MHI reassurance that its design
and models were correct, according to Dietrich.
For more:
- see the
Notice
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http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/nrc-issues-songs-report-citing-mhi-and-sce-failures/2013-09-26