Nuclear reactor heat turned down to stop boilers cracking
Source: Telegraph
Power output at two UK nuclear plants will be curbed for up to two years in order to reduce the heat in their boilers and prevent cracks developing, EDF has announced.
The two twin-reactor plants at Heysham 1 and Hartlepool have been shut down since August amid safety fears following the discovery of cracks in one boiler structure at Heysham.
The ageing reactors are likely to be restarted in coming months at just 75pc-80pc of their usual output in order to prevent high temperatures causing further cracks, EDF said on Friday.
The move will further worsen the risk of power shortages this winter and next.
The temporary closure of the plants, which produce enough power to meet about 4pc of peak winter demand, has already forced National Grid to invoke emergency measures to bolster power supplies this winter, by paying mothballed power stations to fire up.
<snip>
Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/11169625/Nuclear-reactor-heat-turned-down-to-stop-boilers-cracking.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
if the spines failed, water might enter the reactor. They are two separate pieces of equipment. And if the spine supports the boiler, it sounds like a structural piece. If so, how does it leak. Most reactors have contaminated water on one side of the boiler and clean water on the other side. It's very important to know which is leaking. I have no doubts that the plants are having problems, but I would like to know more. 
