ASN warns EdF on hydrogen pipework
The French nuclear regulator has instructed Electricité de France (EdF) to improve underground pipes carrying hydrogen at its Cruas nuclear power plant after corrosion was detected. However, it said there had been no leak or immediate danger.
The French nuclear regulator has instructed Electricité de France (EdF) to improve underground pipes carrying hydrogen at its Cruas nuclear power plant after corrosion was detected.
The Nuclear Safety Authority (Autorité De Sûreté Nucléaire, ASN) said that inspections of the plant in September and October had discovered rust on some of the piping carrying hydrogen through parts of the plant containing key safety equipment. The inspections also showed that EdF has failed to follow safety rules on pipes transporting flammable fluids by failing to inspect the piping regularly and the pipework not being properly identified.
In a statement, the ASN noted, "The presence of piping carrying fluids at nuclear installations requires the operators to consider the risk of explosions. Indeed, an explosion could cause damage to elements essential to the maintenance of security or lead to a breach of containment and therefore the dispersal of radioactive materials at the facility or to the environment. Steps must therefore be implemented by operators to protect sensitive parts."
In addition, the ASN said, inspections conducted since mid-2008 at three other EdF nuclear power plants - Blayais, Civaux and Golfech - showed that it was necessary for the company to implement a general action plan on this issue.
Charles-Antoine Louet, head of ASN's branch based in Lyon, told Reuters, "The risk we have in mind and that we have to protect against is the risk of a hydrogen leak, which would spill in those premises and trigger an explosion."
He added, "We have not detected an immediate leak or danger. However, we have found pipes which had rust on the outside, but you would need more than this for the pipe to burst."
The ASN has given EdF three months in which to bring the pipes back up to standard. The company must conduct an assessment of all piping transporting flammable products, compile a timeframe for conducting repairs, and implement a long-term surveillance programme. If EdF fails to do so, the company could be prosecuted and the plant could ultimately be shut down under a 2006 law.
EdF spokeswoman Caroline Muller told Bloomberg that it "has put in place measures" to ensure the required action is completed within three months. Some of the measures, she said, include repainting signs indicating the location of the pipes.
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