Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Cooling tower at defunct Ore. plant razed
Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | Sunday, May 21, 2006 | SARAH SKIDMORE

Posted on 05/21/2006 12:51:39 PM PDT by skeptoid

RAINIER, Ore. -- Demolition crews on Sunday destroyed the 499-foot cooling tower at a defunct commercial nuclear power plant.

With a rumble, the tower leaned to the side and collapsed upon itself - leaving a cloud of dust and multi-ton pile of rubble. It took less than 10 seconds and roughly 2,800 pounds of explosives to complete.

Portland General Electric ordered the implosion at Trojan Nuclear Power Plant, about 40 miles north of Portland, as part of its decommissioning.

Trojan closed in 1993 for financial and safety reasons, and the facility has been decommissioned in stages since then. It was Oregon's first and only nuclear power plant.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: coolingtower; demolition; energy; nuclear; nuclearplant; oregon; powerplant

It was the largest cooling tower in the nation.
Seems like a waste. What were the 'safety reasons' that closed it in '93?

1 posted on 05/21/2006 12:51:40 PM PDT by skeptoid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: skeptoid

http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/OR3142/


2 posted on 05/21/2006 12:55:35 PM PDT by GW and Twins Pawpaw (Sheepdog for Five [My grandkids are way more important than any lefty's feelings!])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: skeptoid
The new Dark Ages at work...

How will they feel when they are freezing in the dark?
And the flags of islam are flying outside the city walls?

3 posted on 05/21/2006 12:58:24 PM PDT by Publius6961 (Multiculturalism is the white flag of a dying country)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: skeptoid
It probably was a waste. I remember reading about a plan to spray water through nozzles located at the top inside a very tall tower. The resulting evaporation would cool the air, causing a strong downdraft which would drive large turbines at the base. These turbines would be connected to electrical generators.

I believe that the main impediment to implementing the project was the cost of building the tower. In this case the "powers that be" probably decided that the monstrous symbol of hated nuclear power must be destroyed to regain peace with Mother Gaia. (sarcasm off)
4 posted on 05/21/2006 1:01:07 PM PDT by BwanaNdege ("Actions have consequences.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: skeptoid

As I recall, the true "safety reasons" were the general anti-nuke hysteria. There were some structural issues, but nothing that couldn't be put right easily enough. The financial issues were only the usual issues about construction and maintenance expenses.

The only thing that really killed this plant was anti-nuke eco-hysteria. After the plant was shut down, the utilities involved made major investments in wind farms in Idaho, which have been a total disastor.


5 posted on 05/21/2006 1:01:08 PM PDT by jimtorr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege
I believe that the main impediment to implementing the project was the cost of building the tower.

I think that is what they were going to do with this tower. No cost to build at all. However, the eco-freaks called it an eyesore, and complained that it ruined the view.

Well, if you've ever been by that stretch of the Columbia River, you would know that there is no view to ruin. I think you've got it, that the tower was a monstrous symbol of the hated nukes.

6 posted on 05/21/2006 1:05:21 PM PDT by jimtorr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: skeptoid
Portland General Electric ordered the implosion at Trojan Nuclear Power Plant, about 40 miles north of Portland, as part of its decommissioning.  It was Oregon's first and only nuclear power plant.

Uh.  "40 miles north of Portland" is 39 miles inside Washington State, making it a Washington Nuclear Plant that Oregon was using.

I'll miss that tower.  It was freaking huge.

7 posted on 05/21/2006 1:06:31 PM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (ISLAM: The Other Psychosis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: skeptoid
This reactor had a long history of problems. It was screwed up from the beginning. I have no problem with nuclear power but this one was scary.
8 posted on 05/21/2006 1:09:58 PM PDT by BruceysMom (.I'm hot & not in a good way, menopause ain't for sissies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GW and Twins Pawpaw
The plant went on line in 1976, and was said to have been built on an Indian burial ground.

Well, that explains everything!

9 posted on 05/21/2006 1:10:41 PM PDT by operation clinton cleanup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege
It probably was a waste. I remember reading about a plan to spray water through nozzles located at the top inside a very tall tower. The resulting evaporation would cool the air, causing a strong downdraft which would drive large turbines at the base. These turbines would be connected to electrical generators.

The water is sprayed farther down, nearer to the bottom. This is a standard design in natural draft, modern cooling towers. Any time you see at tower at a power plant with this design:

That is exactly what is happening inside. It is a tried and true design, decades old. It is used at nuclear, coal and other fuel fired boiler plants


10 posted on 05/21/2006 1:14:35 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: skeptoid


11 posted on 05/21/2006 1:22:35 PM PDT by XR7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: skeptoid
Cool videos of the implosion here: http://www.kgw.com/video/trojanimplosion.html

Enjoy!

12 posted on 05/21/2006 1:28:44 PM PDT by XR7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: skeptoid
"Seems like a waste. What were the 'safety reasons' that closed it in '93?"

There were leaks in the steam generators of radioactive water. It would have cost many hundreds of millions of dollars to repair. The consortium of utilities owning Trojan just couldn't justify it.

The design of the steam generators used stainless tubing for the primary loop, not the best material for resisting corrosion in this particular application.

The "spent" fuel is still on-site, however. It will have to be dealt with sooner or later.

13 posted on 05/21/2006 1:40:45 PM PDT by nightdriver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BruceysMom
'This reactor had a long history of problems. It was screwed up from the beginning. I have no problem with nuclear power but this one was scary.'

Wikipedia says it had problems, but lists lots of political strife, too. That was a huge, expensive structure to demolish. They've got another demolition pic (expandable at the site).

14 posted on 05/21/2006 1:43:27 PM PDT by skeptoid (still skeptical AND paranoid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: XR7
O-o-o-o-o, I just got broadband!!

Thanks

15 posted on 05/21/2006 2:00:02 PM PDT by skeptoid (still skeptical AND paranoid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson