Dark days for San Onofre: Excessive tube wear in newly replaced steam generators has kept SONGS 2 and 3 offline since January

摘要

Replacement power costs and difficult questions are beginning to stack up at San Onfore Generating Station (SONGS) 2 and 3, which have been out of service since January and remain so pending resolution of steam generator tube wear problems. Particularly embarrassing is that the problems have arisen in newly replaced steam generators. Steam generator reliability has been a major issue for pressurised water reactors over the years - making initial claims that they would have a service life of 40 years now look laughable. Judging by the experience at San Onofre there are still important lessons to be taken on board.