John Large
Encyclopedia
John H. Large is an independent nuclear engineer and analyst primarily known for his work in assessing and reporting upon nuclear safety
and nuclear related accidents and incidents
. From the mid-1960s until 1986 Large was an academic in Brunel University
's School of Engineering, where he undertook research for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
.
As a Consulting Engineer with Large & Associates http://www.largeassociates.com, Large led the nuclear risk assessment team for the raising of the damaged Russian nuclear submarine
Kursk
, which assessed the nuclear hazards and defined the limits and conditions under which the lift and recovery of the submarine in 2001 took place. Also, he advised the Government of Gibraltar on nuclear safety aspects of the repairs being undertaken to the nuclear propulsion reactor on board HMS Tireless
throughout 2000, and he investigated the adequacy of emergency planning in the event of a nuclear powered submarine radiation incident whilst berthed in the UK port of Southampton
. and update review following the retrieval of classified documents relating to the risks and hazards of nuclear powered submarines berthing at Southampton and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
Large has been critical of the nuclear power
industry, and is often commissioned by Greenpeace
to provide technical analysis on nuclear issues. In 2003 a paper Large submitted for publication to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
about the danger of a terrorist attack on UK nuclear installations was suppressed on the advice of the UK government.
In March 2011, he appeared on Al Jazeera English, Sky News, Channel 4 and BBC News and ITN giving his assessment that the Fukushima Dai-ichi reactor containment had been compromised in the hydrogen explosions, leading to a dangerous release of radiation. This contradicted information released both by the operators and by the Japanese Government. On 23 March 2011 John Large appeared at the ALDE Group Open Hearing at the European Parliament with an Intervention that strongly challenged the proposals of the European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger
to review the European Community nuclear safety requirements following the radiological incidents at Fukushima.
Large has been invited by the Chief Nuclear Inspector of UK Office for Nuclear Regulation
to join the Technical Advisory Panel working on the ONR's assessment of the implications for the UK nuclear Industry of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident, although following failure to negotiate terms and conditions for the appointment he opted out of the appointment. Instead, instructed by Greenpeace Germany and Greenpeace France, Large prepared a critical review of the preliminary report of the IAEA Fact Finding Mission undertaken to Fukushima Dai-ichi in May 2011.
Large is frequently interviewed or quoted in the media.
Nuclear safety
Nuclear safety covers the actions taken to prevent nuclear and radiation accidents or to limit their consequences. This covers nuclear power plants as well as all other nuclear facilities, the transportation of nuclear materials, and the use and storage of nuclear materials for medical, power,...
and nuclear related accidents and incidents
Nuclear and radiation accidents
A nuclear and radiation accident is defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency as "an event that has led to significant consequences to people, the environment or the facility...
. From the mid-1960s until 1986 Large was an academic in Brunel University
Brunel University
Brunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. The university is named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel....
's School of Engineering, where he undertook research for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of nuclear fusion power. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and was formerly chaired by Lady Barbara Judge CBE...
.
As a Consulting Engineer with Large & Associates http://www.largeassociates.com, Large led the nuclear risk assessment team for the raising of the damaged Russian nuclear submarine
Russian submarine Kursk explosion
On 12 August 2000, the Russian Oscar II class submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea after an explosion. The investigation showed that a leak of hydrogen peroxide in a torpedo led to explosion of its fuel, causing the submarine to hit the bottom which in turn triggered the detonation of further...
Kursk
Russian submarine K-141 Kursk
K-141 Kursk was an Oscar-II class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine of the Russian Navy, lost with all hands when it sank in the Barents Sea on August 12, 2000...
, which assessed the nuclear hazards and defined the limits and conditions under which the lift and recovery of the submarine in 2001 took place. Also, he advised the Government of Gibraltar on nuclear safety aspects of the repairs being undertaken to the nuclear propulsion reactor on board HMS Tireless
HMS Tireless (S88)
HMS Tireless is a nuclear submarine of the Royal Navy and is the third vessel of her class. She is the second submarine of the Royal Navy to bear this name...
throughout 2000, and he investigated the adequacy of emergency planning in the event of a nuclear powered submarine radiation incident whilst berthed in the UK port of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. and update review following the retrieval of classified documents relating to the risks and hazards of nuclear powered submarines berthing at Southampton and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
Large has been critical of the nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
industry, and is often commissioned by Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
to provide technical analysis on nuclear issues. In 2003 a paper Large submitted for publication to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
about the danger of a terrorist attack on UK nuclear installations was suppressed on the advice of the UK government.
In March 2011, he appeared on Al Jazeera English, Sky News, Channel 4 and BBC News and ITN giving his assessment that the Fukushima Dai-ichi reactor containment had been compromised in the hydrogen explosions, leading to a dangerous release of radiation. This contradicted information released both by the operators and by the Japanese Government. On 23 March 2011 John Large appeared at the ALDE Group Open Hearing at the European Parliament with an Intervention that strongly challenged the proposals of the European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger
Günther Oettinger
Günther Hermann Oettinger is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union . He became European Commissioner for Energy in the European Commission on 10 February 2010 and is affiliated with the European People's Party...
to review the European Community nuclear safety requirements following the radiological incidents at Fukushima.
Large has been invited by the Chief Nuclear Inspector of UK Office for Nuclear Regulation
Office for Nuclear Regulation
The Office for Nuclear Regulation is the regulator for the civil nuclear industry in the United Kingdom. Created on 1 April 2011, the ONR is formed from the merger of the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Directorate and, from 1 June 2011, the Department for Transport's...
to join the Technical Advisory Panel working on the ONR's assessment of the implications for the UK nuclear Industry of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident, although following failure to negotiate terms and conditions for the appointment he opted out of the appointment. Instead, instructed by Greenpeace Germany and Greenpeace France, Large prepared a critical review of the preliminary report of the IAEA Fact Finding Mission undertaken to Fukushima Dai-ichi in May 2011.
Large is frequently interviewed or quoted in the media.
Sources
- The Recovery of the Russian Federation Nuclear Powered Submarine Kursk, Society of Naval Architects and Marine EngineersSociety of Naval Architects and Marine EngineersThe Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers is a professional society that provides a forum for the advancement of the engineering profession as applied to the marine field...
, World Maritime Technology Conference, Sans Francisco, October 2003 - Risks and Hazards in Recovering the Nuclear Powered Submarine Kursk, Royal Institution of Naval ArchitectsRoyal Institution of Naval ArchitectsThe Royal Institution of Naval Architects is an international organisation representing naval architects. It is an international professional institution whose members are involved world-wide at all levels in the design, construction, repair and operation of ships, boats and marine...
, 23–24 June 2005 - Forensic Assessments of the Nuclear Propulsion Plants of the Submarines HMS Tireless and RF Northern Fleet Kursk, Institution of Mechanical EngineersInstitution of Mechanical EngineersThe Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
.