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A nuclear plant stopped generating because the turbine froze; components were exposed to open air because Texas doesn't normally get that cold. People built to
by rodgerd 6y ago
A nuclear plant stopped generating because the turbine froze; components were exposed to open air because Texas doesn't normally get that cold.
People built to a certain set of assumptions, with an implicit risk, and the risks came due. The only way to avoid another event like this would be to make the generation more resilient to extreme cold, which will cost more.
- cbmuser 6y ago> A nuclear plant stopped generating because the turbine froze; components were exposed to open air because Texas doesn't normally get that cold. That’s not true. The plant tripped because of a false alarm. The operators said the reactor would be back online shortly after safety checks. A whole turbine doesn’t freeze. The turbines are in buildings, not outside. Edit: Apparently, South Texas has its turbines outside. But these didn’t freeze but pressure-sensing lines failed. Source: https://atomicinsights.com/south-texas-project-unit-1-tripped-at-0537-on-feb-15-2021/ https://atomicinsights.com/south-texas-project-unit-1-trippe...
- yborg 6y agoThis is wild - they built a nuclear plant that has its generator sets just sitting out in the open? This seems like a bad idea regardless of what is generating the steam.