Inspectors have found 16 additional cracks in Vermont Yankee’s steam dryer.
Entergy Nuclear spokesman Robert Williams says the discovery during a refueling and maintenance outage brings the total number of cracks to 63 in the metal steam dryer. The dryer removes water from the steam before it is sent from the reactor to the plant’s turbine.
Williams says the cracks were not new and had been discovered by improved technology. He says the cracks were brought on by aging.
Despite the cracking, Williams says the steam dryer as well as the reactor vessel and surrounding containment structure are to be in good shape.