Last month, the Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 in Fukui Prefecture had its output reduced for inspection and repairs due to cooling water vapor leaking from a pipe, but Kansai Electric Power Co. said the cause was swollen pipes. It appeared that the welded part had broken due to contact with the scaffolding, and they announced that they would take countermeasures and return output to 100% on the 8th.
At the Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, steam was discovered last month leaking from piping connected to a pump in the turbine building that supplies cooling water, and another pump was leaking more cooling water than usual. It was confirmed that Kansai Electric Power was reducing output to 40% of normal levels and investigating the cause.
As a result, it was discovered that the welded part of the pipe was cracked, and when the construction records were examined, it was discovered that when the scaffolding above the pipe was reinstalled over 20 years ago, it had shifted from its original position. As a result, the pipes expanded due to heat and came into contact with the scaffolding, causing stress on the welded parts and causing them to crack.
Kansai Electric Power is taking measures such as changing the shape of the scaffolding, and plans to return output to 100% on the 8th.
Additionally, another pump was leaking more cooling water than usual, which appears to have been caused by temporarily changing the pressure of the water flowing inside the pump after a cooling water steam leak was discovered. Although this was done, there were no abnormalities.