nuclear-news

Finnish Fault at Olkiluoto: Seawater leaks into nuclear condenser

http://yle.fi/uutiset/fault_at_olkiluoto_seawater_leaks_into_nuclear_condenser/7189387?origin=rss

14.4.2014

Seawater has been leaking into the nuclear condenser at the Olkiluoto 1 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, western Finland. The plant’s output is limited as Voima undergoes fault identification and repair.

Energy production at Eurajoki’s Olkiluoto 1 reactor has fallen due to small volumes of seawater leaking into the nuclear condenser. The plant’s owner, Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO), says that it is working to locate the fault.

The task of locating the leak and initiating subsequent troubleshooting and repair means that the plant’s output is limited to 300 megawatts. The plant is estimated to return to full production by Tuesday morning.
Not a safety risk

The leakage was found when the nuclear reactor’s electrical conductivity was measured. The leaky condenser block has already been separated from the production process. The leak is said to be quite small, letting in a trickle of some two litres per hour.

The role of the condenser is to cool the steam generated in the nuclear reactor, a process which involves the use of seawater.

It’s expected to take around 8 hours to repair the fault. According to TVO the leak does not pose a safety risk.

April 14, 2014 - Posted by arclight2011part2 | Uncategorized