The Flamanville EPR (Manche) experienced an “automatic shutdown” on Wednesday the day after its start-up, twelve years behind schedule, EDF announced. The teams are carrying out technical checks and analyses before being able to restart “the divergence of the reactor”, i.e. the nuclear reaction, the electricity supplier continued.
“This morning, the reactor shut down automatically,” a spokeswoman for the group told AFP. “The teams are carrying out the necessary technical checks and analyses, following the usual procedures, and then they will restart the reactor divergence,” she added, stressing that “start-up is a long and complex process (which) requires many tests, trials, and this can lead to shutdowns of this type.”
“This proves that the security system is working well,” she added. “We know that this can lead to shutdowns of this type.”
“Improper installation configuration”
According to Nicolas Goldberg, energy expert at Colombus Consulting, “we have to expect this type of hazard. It is a very complex industrial process start-up and it is therefore common to encounter hazards.”
The expert emphasizes to AFP that “on the Finnish EPR, there were several setbacks, notably with hydraulic pumps that were defective and had to be replaced.” “This does not call into question the start-up. We just have to be patient,” he notes.
“According to the initial elements of the technical diagnosis, this shutdown could be linked to an inappropriate configuration of the installation,” said the EDF spokesperson. The latter “would have led to the automatic shutdown of the reactor in accordance with the device provided for in the design,” she added.
Twelve years late
The EPR had experienced its “first nuclear reaction” on Tuesday, a crucial step in the start-up of this new-generation nuclear reactor, the group announced the day after the green light was given by the nuclear regulator, the ASN, to launch this operation. “This first nuclear reaction marks the beginning of the ramp-up, in successive stages, of the Flamanville EPR”, which must still reach 25% power to be connected to the electricity grid “by the end of autumn”, explained EDF.
The operation was 12 years behind schedule due to numerous technical setbacks and mishaps that caused the bill to explode, now estimated at 13.2 billion euros by EDF, four times the initial estimate of 3.3 billion. In a press release, Greenpeace denounced “a false start or rather a political start”.
The EPR, a new-generation pressurized water reactor, is the 4th of this type installed in the world, the 57th reactor in the French nuclear fleet, and the most powerful in the country (1,600 MW). Ultimately, it should supply electricity to around 3 million homes.