The plant was in mode 6 - refueling. Nuclear fuel was in the reactor vessel, reactor vessel head was removed and the reactor cavity was flooded. In accordance with the Technical Specifications one train of the Residual Heat Removal System (RHR) was in operation. At 10.00 a.m. testing of one train of batteries for DC power supply started. During the test the batteries were isolated from the safety bus 125 V DC and the bus was powered through the charger from 400 V AC power supply. Simultaneously welding was in the process on the metal support of the cabinet containing breakers controlling the line fro the 400 V AC power supply and the safety bus. One of the workers by accident triggered the breaker thus disconnecting power to the 400 V AC power supply resulting in all the equipment connected to this train to loose power. Power was lost tot he pressure transmitter which protects RHR pumps against overpressure when suction is from the reactor coolant system. The loss of power released the relay in the transmitter which caused the isolation valves on the suction side of both RHR pumps to close. The RHR pumps lost the suction therefore the operators tripped them manually. RHR system was not operable for 15 minutes when power was restored to the 400 V AC power supply, the isolation valve of the RHR pump was opened manually and RHR pump was put into operation. Explanation of rating: Manual III-3.1.1 replaced by C3.1.1, within TechSpecs requirements, time available before primary system starts to boil is relatively long - about 6 hours.
An analysis by the Norwegian NGO Bellona of transborder trade operations with the customs code 840130 (irradiated fuel assemblies or fuel elements) show a more than twofold increase of import to EU countries of fresh nuclear fuel in cash terms – from 280 million Euros in 2022 to 686 million Euros in 2023. In physical […]
The French government has said it is "seriously" studying the option of building a plant to convert and enrich reprocessed uranium to cut its reliance on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. The only plant in the world that currently converts reprocessed uranium for use in nuclear power plants is in Russia. "The option of […]
Jan vd Putte quickly changed from dressing as the pied piper at the protest during the IAEA nuclear power conference to warn for the Russian nuclear power conglomerate Rosatom and its role in Ukraine.
Anke Herold, Executive Director Oeko-Institut, Freiburg (Germany), in Brussels about the claim to triple nuclear by 2050: IPCC scenarios vs forecast development of nuclear.