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Nuclear Plants Are Designed To Respond Safely To Electrical Grid Disturbances
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 27, 2008 As the result of a disturbance in off-site power that led to an electricity outage throughout much of Florida, the two reactors at the Turkey Point power station in south Florida safely shut down earlier today. They were among several power plants, including fossil-fired power plants, that shut down today. The Nuclear Energy Institutes executive vice president, Marvin Fertel, made the following remarks about nuclear power plant operations and design relative to this event. Nuclear power plants are designed to shut down safely in response to electrical grid disturbances. They have been required to do so on many occasions over the years, most notably during the August 2003 blackout that afflicted the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States. As required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear power plants have on-site emergency backup power supplies available that enable them to be maintained in a safe condition if sufficient off-site power is not available. Backup power typically is provided by diesel generators, and more than sufficient fuel supplies for the generators are present on-site as well. Once the electricity grid is functioning and ready to be re-energized, power plant operators will follow precise procedures designed to ensure the safe restart of the Turkey Point power stations two reactors to return electricity to the distribution grid. The start-up process typically takes approximately five hours if the power plant is in a stand-by rather than a shutdown mode. Start-up times for affected nuclear plants will vary depending on circumstances at each facility. Nuclear power plants electronic security systems also have independent back-up power to keep them functioning. Beyond that, nuclear power plants are protected by a paramilitary security force of highly trained, well-armed officers. Power plants also are protected by a combination of robust structural plant designs and redundant physical barriers. Specific questions concerning this power outage are properly addressed to the energy companies operating in Florida. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Nuclear Energy Institute Civil Nuclear Energy Science, Technology and News Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
IAEA asks high-level experts to decide agency's future
Vienna (AFP) Feb 26, 2008The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Tuesday that it had asked a group of 18 top experts to assess the future challenges facing the UN atomic watchdog as more countries pursue nuclear technology. |
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