In Louisiana, A Nuclear Power Plant Just Had An Emergency Shutdown(SCRAM) You Won't Belive WHY

The plant in question is RiverBend, and it just had an emergency SCRAM on the 9th of this year.

It is located near the town of St. Francisvillie. Of note, 4 days ealier, on Jan.5th of this year, the plant also had a "Seconday Containment "Inoperable" Event with a Radiation Release.

What caused the SCRAM?

Lightning. That's right LIGHTNING.

Here's the info and links:

"“AUTOMATIC REACTOR SCRAM ON MAIN STEAM ISOLATION DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAULT

On 1/9/16 at 0237 [CST], River Bend Station sustained a reactor scram during a lightning storm. An electrical transient occurred resulting in a full main steam isolation [MSIV] (Group 6) and a Division II Balance of Plant isolation signal. During the scram, level 8 occurred immediately which tripped the feed pumps. A level 3 signal occurred also during the scram. Subsequent level 3 was received three times due to isolated vessel level control. The plant was stabilized and all spurious isolation signals reset, then the MSIVs were restored. The plant is now stable in Mode 3 and plant walkdowns are occurring to assess the transient.”

During the scram, all rods inserted into the core. The plant was initially cooled down using safety relief valves. Offsite power is available and the plant is in its normal shutdown electrical lineup.

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[link to www.nrc.gov]


Guess no one thought to ground the facility?

The January 5th incident:

"At [2258] CST, on January 5, 2016, with the plant operating at 100 percent power, the main control room alarm indicating high pressure in the auxiliary building actuated. Operators confirmed that the building pressure, corrected for temperature, indicated slightly positive, whereas the building pressure limit in Technical Specifications is 0.0 – 3.0 inches of water negative pressure. Secondary containment was declared inoperable, and the Division 2 standby gas system was started. This action restored building pressure to the acceptable range, and the building was declared operable at [0027 CST] on January 6.

“This condition is being reported in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) as an event that caused the secondary containment to be potentially incapable of performing its safety function. The NRC Senior Resident Inspector was notified.“.

VENTED--that means a radiation release

Noted in the NRC as"Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(C) - POT UNCNTRL RAD REL

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[link to www.nrc.gov]



Also of note--is this notification came 2 days AFTER the incident.