nuclear-news

In 2020, 56 of the nation’s 58 nuclear reactors in 21 states—including several that have issued lockdown measures—planned to undergo refueling outages. At least 31 of the 58 plants had scheduled outages between mid-February and early May. The remaining 25 planned refueling outages between late August and late October.

The average U.S. refueling outage times have shortened in recent years—decreasing from an average of 46 days in 2012 to 32 days in 2019—owing in part to improved and planning and execution practices for refueling outages over the years, NEI told POWER. Of significant note is that the 2020 season is poised to be especially busy in part because planned nuclear generation outages are generally timed to coincide with a plant’s refueling cycle, it said.

As of March 25, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 13 of the U.S.’s 96 commercial nuclear reactors were offline for refueling outages: Indian Point 3, Nine Mile Point 1, Susquehanna 2, Browns Ferry 2, Brunswick 2, McGuire 1, North Anna 2, Turkey Point 4, Vogtle 2, D.C. Cook 1, Perry 1, Point Beach 1, and Quad Cities 1. At least five others were coasting down in preparation for refueling outages: Limerick 2, Salem 1, Byron 2, Monticello, and Comanche Peak 1.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA), which compiles data from the NRC into a useful interactive map that shows the status of U.S. nuclear outages, noted that 16.9% of total U.S. nuclear capacity—about 17 GW of the total 100 GW—was offline as of March 25.

A Compounding  Crisis

The NEI said that across the nuclear fleet precautions are being taken to limit the risks of COVID-19. Among the actions are:

• Directing employees who don’t feel well to stay home, encouraging them to seek medical attention, and asking for a report on their condition;
• Excluding personnel who have recently been in countries impacted by the virus;
• Screening of employees, contractors, and any necessary visitors at the plant gate and, at some
  plants, taking their temperature;
• Disinfecting surfaces more often;
• Closing or limiting access to cafeterias and other places employees congregate; and
• • Increasing the number of hand-washing facilities.

  Because refueling outages are so critical to the safe and reliable operations of nuclear power plants, the Trump administration should consider several actions that would immediately benefit nuclear owners, operators, and vendors, Korsnick said.

  For one, she urged Brouillette to ensure that federal designation of essential workers include workers that support nuclear operations. The Trump administration’s March 19–issued initial list of “essential critical infrastructure workers” broadly includes “workers needed for safe and secure operations at nuclear eneration,” but it does not specify whether the extensive list of specialized contract workers needed for outage work are qualified.

  Korsnick also urged the administration to allow “unfettered” travel to plants for the performance of essential outage activities. Noting that the workforce is sometimes sourced abroad, she also asked it to “permit international workers who perform highly specialized functions to travel into the U.S. and establish protocols immediately to enable their safe entry.”

• To accommodate workers, she also urged the administration to keep open hotel and food services. Finally, she asked for priority for PPE, specifically asking for surgeons’ gloves, sanitized wipes, dust masks, and disposable thermometers—as well as COVID-19 testing kits, and necessary radiological and medical protective equipment and supplies for nuclear workers.
  

  A Generator’s Perspective

• At Exelon Generation—which embarked on refueling outages at Byron 1 on March 9, Nine Mile Point 2 on March 5, Calvert Cliffs 1 on Feb. 17, and LaSalle 1 on Feb. 10—work appears to continue as scheduled. “Exelon Generation’s highly trained nuclear employees and skilled contractors understand the critical role that Exelon Generation’s nuclear facilities play in powering hospitals, regional response centers and millions of homes and essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic—and they are prepared to meet the challenge,” the company told POWER on March 26.

  The work is crucial because the company’s nuclear facilities run at full power more than 95% of the time and its fixed fuel contracts allow it to operate a unit between 18 months and two years without stopping to refuel, it explained…..https://www.powermag.com/covid-19-threatens-outages-scheduled-at-97-of-u-s-nuclear-plants-in-2020/