TVA says Alabama nuclear units shut for 2-3 weeks

Reuters/Yahoo ^ | 5/3/2011

[markomalley]

Tennessee Valley Authority officials said the 3,200-megawatt Browns Ferry nuclear station in Alabama will likely remain shut another two to three weeks while TVA's high-voltage transmission grid is repaired to allow power to flow from the plant to customers.

[SatinDoll]

Why is this news?

Nuclear plants, like all power generations facilities, regularly shut for maintenance, repair, and some for yearly refueling. You can’t send those ready kilowatts down the lines if they’re in need of repair, so the plant shuts down.

This is a NO BIGGY!

[lil'bit]

It's news to those of us in the south who are still affected by the horrible storms that devastated areas of several states. No biggy to you but a huge Biggie to us if one of the 266 recorded tornado's that were up to an EF-4 hit it. It helps when you read the 2 tiny paragraphs in the link.

TVA officials said maintenance work is being performed at the station which shut safely April 27 when a line of severe storms and tornadoes knocked out electrical power to the facility.

[markomalley]

No biggy to you but

Well, if you live in the eastern 3/4 of the country (with the exception of Texas), it is a major "biggie" as well. Since all of the electrical power distribution grids are interconnected...it impacts all of us.

[TheOldLady]

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Come back, Lazamataz! We miss you.

[Steely Tom]

3,200 MWe. That’s a big one.

[SatinDoll]

Nuclear plant containments are built to withstand a direct hit by a jet airplane as well as direct hits from tornadoes. I suggest you telephone TVA’s public relations and ask them; the company I used to work for would have gladly provided your with information.

The one I worked on in Oregon sustained being covered with ash following the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens, which was visible just across the Columiba River. It also survived the earthquakes associated with that eruption.

Fukushima, I believe, actually had the shut down process safely underway after the big earthquake but no one anticipated afterwards a 45 foot high surge of sea water!

The nukes at TVA do what all plants do: they follow set procedures and shut down during certain events.

One such event where I worked is when the temperature climbs so high outside that the plant cannot be safely cooled if water is used as a coolant.

[lil'bit]

I fully understand the basics of nuclear plants, shut downs and emergency protocols, as I live in a TVA Nuclear powered area.

My response was as to whether the original post was relevant to news or idle chit-chat. If news concerning citizens living in the southeast do not concern you as news that's cool. I'm out.