Who is Frank von Hippel (1 of 3) (Mary Claire Birdsong)

Who is Frank Von Hippel, and What Does He Know About Nuclear Safety? (Part 1 of 3) Submitted by Mary Claire Birdsong on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 1:09pm Most Go Nuclear! followers realize this energy website is managed and created by the youngest non-scientists, non-experts on the world-wide-web. But, what readers may have overlooked are the wonderful Go Nuclear! mentors. Go Nuclear! contributors’ experience includes scientists and experts with decades of real world experience in nuclear energy and nuclear medicine.

Interesting mix? We think so. Impressive? Absolutely.

Recently, Go Nuclear! mentor, Dr. Ted Rockwell (TR), forwarded an interview with Princeton physicist Dr. Frank von Hippel (FVH). Von Hippel, co-founder of Princeton’s Program on Science and Global Security, expresses his nuclear energy concerns in an interview with Princeton Alumni Weekly (PAW). Rockwell brings six decades of experience in nuclear power as technical director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. His biography is available on our website.

Dr. Von Hippel’s position is clearly anti-nuclear energy, or in his words, “anti-pro-nuclear.” But, truth seekers need to dig a little deeper. I hoped to discern if Von Hippel’s position was reasonable, based on sound fact. As a nuclear energy opponent, Von Hippel’s answers to questions on nuclear reactor safety took a different trajectory than those of experts I follow.

Young readers, make a note. Find out which experts you can trust. Discover just where science fact and science fiction diverge. I interposed portions of the original PAW article, Dr. Rockwell’s response, and my comments, together, for the benefit of a target audience: new young readers.

The Von Hippel interview was held in context of the March 11, 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake and massive tsunami which devastated northeastern Japan, damaging the 40-year-old Fukushima nuclear-power reactors and creating the most publicized nuclear scare since Chernobyl. We are focused today on the segments on safety and nuclear proliferation.

PAW: (Re Fukushima) With these low-probability, catastrophic events, it seems impossible to guarantee safety.

FVH: These reactors were not designed for inherent safety. These are the descendants of submarine-propulsion reactors, where safety has been an add-on. (emphasis added) TR: Over a period of two human generations (50-plus years), our nuclear navy has driven 526 nuclear-reactor cores 150 million miles without a single radiological incident. The commercial nuclear-power program based on that technology has safely and reliably generated 20 percent of America’s electricity.

MCB: I re-read Von Hippel’s “where safety has been an add-on” phrase. Are the implications of this remark that the US Navy pursued nuclear submarine technology with safety as a secondary concern? It is unclear whether Von Hippel has experience with the US Navy. He is familiar with the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, but does he know of the USS Woodrow Wilson? Where did he learn about the nuclear navy? My father began his military career as a US Navy submariner. For three years, he served on the USS Woodrow Wilson, a Lafayette class ballistic missile submarine. His training and experience parallel Tim Eliassen’s comments, (Princeton alum ’65). Eliassen took offense at von Hippel’s off-the-cuff remark that submarine reactors were designed with “safety as an add-on.” Eliassen retorts, “I can assure you that everyone involved in the design and operation of the Navy’s reactors viewed safety as THE most important objective, every hour of every day. This culture was part of the program from the very beginning. In fact, Ted Rockwell, who was one of a small handful of very smart, very devoted individuals responsible for getting the Navy’s nuclear program started, gets a lot of credit for this culture of safety-first, and ultimately for the safety record of Navy and civilian reactors he cites in his letter.”

Sources: http://paw.princeton.edu/issues/2011/04/27/a-moment-with/ http://paw.princeton.edu/issues/2011/06/01/sections/letters/9159/index.xml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_N._von_Hippel