AP1000 Nuclear Design Flaw Addressed by Chief Engineer Arnie Gundersen, to NRC Safety Committee (ACRS)

Arnold Gundersen presents a detailed critique of a major design flaw in the Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactor’s containment structure, and makes recommendations at a meeting of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Friday, June 25, 2010.

This window below synchronizes the actual ACRS audio with Mr. Gundersen's power point presentation.

Mr. Gundersen, a 38-year nuclear engineer and former industry senior vice-president, will detail the fundamental flaw he identified in April, which he says could turn the AP1000’s passive cooling system into a chimney that draws radiation directly into the atmosphere. He addresses questions from members of the ACRS subcommittee studying the reactor.

Mr. Gundersen, Chief Engineer with Fairewinds Associates, Inc., is representing the AP1000 Oversight Group, a coalition of twelve environmental organizations that released the engineer’s technical analysis about the containment problem in April.

At that time, John Runkle, an attorney for the environmental groups, formally petitioned the ACRS to investigate Gundersen’s concerns about the potential for corrosion holes in the containment. The AP1000 design is the basis for new nuclear power plants proposed by electric utilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida.