Transformer Explosion Closes Nuclear Plant Unit North of NYC

Reuters reports that a transformer failure and related fire have forced the closure of a generating unit of the Indian Point nuclear plant, about 40 miles north of New York City; another generator at the same facility was unaffected. Witnesses reported seeing an explosion, as well as (according to NBC News) a "huge ball of black smoke" when the transformer exploded, which led to the shut-down of the site's Unit 3. The Reuters article says the plant "has long been controversial because of its proximity to the United States' largest city. Indian Point is one of 99 nuclear power plants licensed to operate in the United States and which generate about 20 percent of U.S. electricity use, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission website.

Comments

Non story, headline should read

[garyisabusyguy]

Normal safety measures effective, loss of transformer handled in professional manner

Instead we get vague hand waving and reference to controversies generated by people wanting to shut down all nuclear power plants

Thank you /. for supporting the luddite agenda

Re:Non story, headline should read

[ganjadude]

I live in the imediate blast zone of indian point.You are exactly right. no one around here is freaking out. we are all sitting around saying how the system worked as it was supposed to. going on with out days.

This is a non story simple as that. now lets wait for the anti nuke people to roll in and tell us how wind and solar will save us all

Re:Non story, headline should read

[ganjadude]

it would be a straw man if it wasnt already being done. The headline of this article is prime example of that.

Im pro renewables, but im pro nuke for when renewables dont cut it.

Re:Indian Point == Ticking Timb Bomb

[ganjadude]

no, indian point is in rockland county NY in southern NY. but its not a ticking time bomb, AC has no idea what hes talking about. this is a normal function of the electrical system. it worked as intended, there is no scare here.

Re:Indian Point == Ticking Timb Bomb

[epyT-R]

Are you willing to donate your property to the 10s/100s/1000s of square miles it would take to compensate the grid for the loss of the nuclear plant?

This wasn't a failure of the reactor, but a failure of a transformer. Your solar panels will still feed those.

Re:Indian Point == Ticking Timb Bomb

[Trax3001BBS]

AC has no idea what hes talking about. this is a normal function of the electrical system. it worked as intended, there is no scare here.

A transformer blew, they do do that.

There were at least two other power supplies to feed the system, one being commercial, and in reality a non event. Being a nuke plant any thing out of the ordinary must be reported and scrutinized; as quoted "These events happen occasionally. They are not unheard of and the plant responded as designed," in this case the auto sprinkler system took care of it.

Wanna bet what the people working at the plant did? My guess is whenever they could went to look at it, no cares at all just curiosity.

If it's power was being utilized at the time, it was switched so fast the computers never knew; well maybe a stretch (but they are on UPS systems).

As a general rule for Nuclear plants there are three systems for each function, one goes down another takes it's place, another goes down which is providing the same function it's time for concern (dependent only upon it's function). Fukushima used the fourth option (firetrucks).