nuclear-news

Precautions and shutdowns of nuclear reactors due to Hurricane Irene

August 29, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Hurricane Irene poses problem of electricity supply to nuclear reactors

Overall, hurricanes have prompted less cause for concern at nuclear plants than other issues, such as the NRC’s delay in assessing the risk from earthquakes near the nation’s reactors and recurring fires that could trigger a series of cataclysmic events — again, for instance, because of the loss of electricial connections or dependable switches.

Industry watchdogs concerned about power supplies – to reactors, not just homes, iWatch, 28 Aug 11, By Corbin Hiar As Hurricane Irene bore down on the East Coast, the nuclear industry assured the public that the storm wouldn’t damage the dozens of reactors in its path. The industry’s watchdogs also expressed less concern about the hurricane’s potential impact on nuclear reactors than about the vulnerability of the exposed connections between them and the rest of the world. Continue reading →

August 28, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | Leave a comment

USA nuclear plants and preparations for hurricanes

FACTBOX-U.S. nuclear plants in path of Hurricane Irene Aug 26, 2011 NEW YORK, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Nuclear power plants along the U.S. East Coast are bracing for the

impact of Hurricane Irene which is barreling toward North Carolina.
    Plant employees are securing equipment and readying extra staff for the weekend.
    Irene was located about 330 miles (530 km) south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as
a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles-per-hour (165 km/h) at 11 a.m. EDT.
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Dominion Resources Inc (D.N: Quote), after shutting down its North Anna nuclear power station because

of an earthquake on Tuesday, is taking precautions at its other plants ahead of the storm.
    "We're going through the steps that we go through in anticipation of a major storm, making sure
everything is secure, that no loose material or construction material is hanging around and
checking staff," said Dan Genest, a spokesman in Richmond, Virginia.
    The two-unit, 1,950-megawatt North Anna nuclear plant  will remain shut through the storm. The
two-unit, 1,598-MW Surry plant was designed to withstand winds of 360 miles per hour.
    Dominion is required by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to shut down one of the units in
advance of a storm with hurricane force winds (Category 1 at 74 miles per hour) with 24 hours
advanced notice, Genest said.
    If a storm is expected to continue, Dominion would be required to shut down the second unit
with 12 hours advanced notice.
STATE         OWNER         PLANT                 UNIT TYPE                 MWE 
------
Connecticut   Dominion      Millstone Unit 2      Combustion Engineering    884
Connecticut   Dominion      Millstone Unit 3      WH Four-Loop            1,227
Maryland      Constellation Calvert Cliffs Unit 1 Combustion Engineering    873
Maryland      Constellation Calvert Cliffs Unit 2 Combustion Engineering    862
Massachusetts Entergy       Pilgrim               GE-Type 3                 685
New Hampshire Entergy       Seabrook              WH Four-Loop            1,295
New Jersey    PSEG Nuclear  Salem Unit 1          WH Four-Loop            1,174
New Jersey    PSEG Nuclear  Salem Unit 2          WH Four-Loop            1,130
New Jersey    Exelon        Oyster Creek          GE Type 2                 619
New York      Entergy       Indian Point 2        WH Four-Loop            1,020
New York      Entergy       Indian Point 3        WH Four-Loop            1,025
N. Carolina   Progress      Brunswick Unit 1      GE Type 4                 938
N. Carolina   Progress      Brunswick Unit 1      GE Type 4                 937
N. Carolina   Progress      Shearon Harris Unit 1 WH Two-Loop               900
Pennsylvania  Exelon        Limerick 1            GE Type 4               1,134
Pennsylvania  Exelon        Limerick 2            GE Type 4               1,134
Virginia      Dominion      Surry Unit 1          WH Three-Loop             799
Virginia      Dominion      Surry Unit 2          WH Three-Loop             799
Virginia      Dominion      North Anna Unit 1     WH Three-Loop             980.5
Virginia      Dominion      North Anna Unit 2     WH Three-Loop             972.9
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Connecticut Dominion Millstone Unit 2 Combustion Engineering 884 Connecticut Dominion Millstone Unit 3 WH Four-Loop 1,227 Maryland Constellation Calvert Cliffs Unit 1 Combustion Engineering 873 Maryland Constellation Calvert Cliffs Unit 2 Combustion Engineering 862 Massachusetts Entergy Pilgrim GE-Type 3 685 New Hampshire Entergy Seabrook WH Four-Loop 1,295 New Jersey PSEG Nuclear Salem Unit 1 WH Four-Loop 1,174 New Jersey PSEG Nuclear Salem Unit 2 WH Four-Loop 1,130 New Jersey Exelon Oyster Creek GE Type 2 619 New York Entergy Indian Point 2 WH Four-Loop 1,020 New York Entergy Indian Point 3 WH Four-Loop 1,025 N. Carolina Progress Brunswick Unit 1 GE Type 4 938 N. Carolina Progress Brunswick Unit 1 GE Type 4 937 N. Carolina Progress Shearon Harris Unit 1 WH Two-Loop 900 Pennsylvania Exelon Limerick 1 GE Type 4 1,134 Pennsylvania Exelon Limerick 2 GE Type 4 1,134 Virginia Dominion Surry Unit 1 WH Three-Loop 799 Virginia Dominion Surry Unit 2 WH Three-Loop 799 Virginia Dominion North Anna Unit 1 WH Three-Loop 980.5 Virginia Dominion North Anna Unit 2 WH Three-Loop 972.9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Key: GE - General Electric WH - Westinghouse Source: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Reporting by Jeanine Prezioso and compiled by David Sheppard, Joshua Schneyer and Matthew Robinson in New York; Editing by Alden Bentley)

August 27, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | Leave a comment