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Re: [cdn-nucl-l] Pickering Not There

Hello all,

It is probably worth clarifying the term "backup system" that is being used in these stories too.... 

Randall's questions seem to indicate that he understands these backup systems to be backup power generation systems that can provide power to the grid - asking the question why would both be shut down at the same time?  While it is pure speculation on my part, I imagine the backup systems that are mentioned here are emergency backup systems that provide small amounts of power for the safe operation of the plant should it lose its source of off-site power - diesel generators and the like.

Paul


Brown, Morgan wrote:
0EE287F2DD9A5149A5284C7392D63F503678CE@crs12.aecl.ca" type="cite"> RE: [cdn-nucl-l] Pickering Not There

Randall

Yes, it makes sense to shut the two Pickering A units, given that a safety-related issue was evidently identified.  Nuclear operators do not shut down without justification, and the newspaper articles are too brief to explain the full story.

According to OPG http://www.opg.com/news/releases/NewsJul06_07.pdf "While the Pickering A Units had been operating well, OPG's decision-making adheres to a strict safety culture which dictated the Units remain off-line while modifications to this backup system are completed. The modifications are expected to be completed throughout the summer."

As an aside, I cycled on the waterfront trail around Pickering, last Saturday.  A really great trail, with a lovely boardwalk and "seafront" feel, with protected marshland on the land side of the trail.

cheers

Morgan Brown


-----Original Message-----
From: cdn-nucl-l-admin@mailman1.cis.McMaster.CA
[mailto:cdn-nucl-l-admin@mailman1.cis.McMaster.CA]On Behalf Of Randal
Leavitt
Sent: July 6, 2007 11:46 PM
To: Nuclear
Subject: [cdn-nucl-l] Pickering Not There


http://cp.horizon-news.com/lethherald/article_story.php?cpid=726379&ctgry=n

The story says that two units at Pickering are not running so their
backup systems can be maintained.

Does this make sense?  If you operate without a backup that means that
at least you are operating.  Shutting down when the backup is not there
makes the backup a liability, not a reliability guarantee.  If the story
is right, then the approach being followed at Pickering does not seem
very practical to me.  What is even worse, this approach is being used
on two reactors concurrently.  If they were both running without a
backup and one failed at least we would have one still running.  As it
is we have none.

--
Randal Leavitt - another Ubuntu user
http://positiveenergy.blogspot.com/
http://www.simpy.com/user/randalleavitt/links
http://tinyurl.com/hgvmg

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