[bagman]

Xenon dead time depends on the type of plant and how long the core has been burned (at least for a Pressurized Water Reactor - a majority of the plants in the USofA are pressurized water reactors). Early in the fuel cycle, xenon dead time isn't going to happen. If the plant trips near the end of its fuel cycle (plants these days typically run an eighteen-month fuel cycle between re-fuelings), then xenon over-ride can be somewhat more difficult.

I suspect that these plants were all scrammed (rapidly shutdown). The biggest constraint on re-starting, I would guess, is going to be whether the grid is restored and stable for the individual plant and how long it will take to work through the necessary paperwork. I'll bet most of the plants are coming back on line by Friday afternoon. It will take some time, then, to reach full power.

[taxcontrol]

I suspect that these plants were all scrammed (rapidly shutdown). The biggest constraint on re-starting, I would guess, is going to be whether the grid is restored and stable for the individual plant and how long it will take to work through the necessary paperwork

---

When the grid fails like this, the effect on the Nuke plant is that all of a sudden they go from 99% load to 0%. Has a h**l of an effect on generators so you have to shut them down pronto to avoid damage. This means no more power from the turbines. But to stop the turbines, you have to redirect the flow of steam, thus the large blow off of steam.

Without the transfer of heat to the steam system, the reactor will rapidly overheat. To prevent this, the uranium is allowed to return to their graphite housing which breaks the nuclear reaction - scramed. This whole process can be completed in a few min.

The problem is bring stuff back on line. It is my understanding that after a scram, the inspection / certification / paperwork to reactivate can take WEEKS.

We could have a major problem restoring power.