Regarding the front-page Oct. 4 article "Nuke plants come up short in EU stress tests": It is unsurprising that 10 British nuclear power plants do not have hydrogen "recombiners." Recombiners are required for plants that use water as a coolant since hydrogen, the "H" in the H₂O, can be liberated in reaction with Zirconium cladding the fuel rods. All except one of the United Kingdom's reactors are advanced gas-cooled reactors, which use CO₂ as a coolant, so the recombiners are not required.
The remaining U.K. plant, Sizewell B, is a pressurized water reactor. Its original hydrogen safety system diluted any hydrogen releases with air, but it is in the process of being fitted with a hydrogen recombiner, too.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.