Posted on 09/20/2012 5:36:47 PM PDT by JerseyanExile
A reactor at Three Mile Island, the site of the nation’s worst nuclear accident, shut down unexpectedly on Thursday afternoon when a coolant pump tripped and steam was released, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission told NBC News.
The system tripped when "the pump stopped operating and created a power/flow imbalance," said NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan.
The plant responded as designed and is stable with no impact on public health or safety, added NRC spokeswoman Diane Screnci.
If any radiation was in the released steam, Screnci said, it would be below detectable levels.
Exelon, the plant operator, said in a statement that "during the shutdown, steam was released into the atmosphere, creating a loud noise heard by nearby residents."
Plant operators were not yet sure what caused the problem.
"Once the reactor is sufficiently cooled down, plant personnel will be able to access the containment building and troubleshoot the problem," Sheehan added.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.nbcnews.com ...
Oops, guess I’m getting a little long in the tooth!
Next . . .
“If you’re near a PWR when the main steam relief valves lift, I guarantee you will be startled. You feel it through the ground too.”
That’s what the old hands told me!
“Experience is the best teacher, but if you can accept it second hand, the tuition is less.” Moishe Rosen
“Give me feed-water, Barney”
The greatest harm resulting from the Three Mile Island accident was the psychic angst generated in the worrying class by overwrought press accounts. Remember that this event occured during the Cold War, when a great deal of effort was being devoted to advancing the principle that American nuclear energy in any form was evil while the Soviet Union’s atomic bombs were okey dokey.
I would argue that SL-1 with three dead was the nation’s worst accident.
Interesting argument - SL-1 vs TMI-2. More dead from SL-1, greater economic loss from TMI-2. Certainly, TMI-2 had a greater impact on the nuclear industry than SL-1 (SL-1 accident lessons - know your shutdown margin and practice good reactivity management). The lessons from TMI-2 were much farther ranging.
also, another major lesson learned from SL-1 is do not have the ability to (easily) physically man handle your control rods (don’t jerk a stuck rod out of the core) :)
Actually it was a large take out 7-UP
Allah must be mad at me.
And even that’s not true.
Can’t be 7-UP, it’s an uncola.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.