Vermont Yankee officials are baffled by cooling tower collapse

[donsu]

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070825/NEWS01/708250359/1002/NEWS01


It's been a long week at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant: A strike of unionized workers appeared imminent and Entergy Nuclear officials cut power production, and revenue, by 50 percent because of the partial collapse of a cooling tower.

Company officials Friday said they still had no idea how a three-story section of one of its giant cooling towers unexpectedly collapsed Tuesday, even though the tower was inspected earlier this year.

-snip-

Plant officials let news reporters and photographers view the damage to the cooling tower for the first time Friday, relenting after three days of turning down requests for photos or a tour.

-snip-

The plant remained at 50 percent power, which forced Vermont utilities to find replacement power on the spot market.

-snip-

Dreyfuss said the company had heard sounds coming from the cooling tower last week, but he said that sounds are not usual, since there is only 1/8-inch clearance between the giant fans and their housing. He said that section of the plant is usually reviewed twice a day.

But he said the collapse Tuesday took the company by surprise, even though the company knew something was wrong and was getting ready to reduce power and take that cooling tower off-line so it could investigate.
-long snip-
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http://btimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BT&Date=20070825&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=708250359&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&maxw

[havocmom]

1. Where are the nuclear power proponents when this stuff comes up?

:shrug:

They are always quick to pounce on threads about the good in solar and wind generated power. Will they be along shortly to reassure us all that the nuke plants (and subsequent spent fuel rods they can't seem to store in their own yards) are really the safest way to meet energy needs?

[radfringe]

2. they still had no idea how a three-story section of giant cooling towers unexpectedly collapsed

pigeon nuke-poop?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. When asked about the damage, a company rep

said something like, "I would not say it collapsed, it more of a little sag."

Just the kind of statement that makes Murray such a lovable mine owner, Vermont Yankee such a safe plant, etc. etc. etc.

[MadHound]

4. It isn't that they don't know, it is probably more that they just don't want to say

The fact that they were preparing to pull it offline is a sign that they new what was going on.

This is a thirty five year old plant, well into its maturity by nuke plant standards. Plants this age start wearing down and wearing out. Various caustic substances can build up on metal, weakening them and leading to collapse. Joints fail, materials give way, all simply due to the fact that this is an old nuke, and it has been subjected to stresses and strains that few other buildings ever have to cope with.

We're going to see more of these sorts of failures as our fleet of reactors continue to age and the corporations foolishly try to keep them going. Sadly, it will probably take a major accident to put a halt to the madness.

[bicentennial_baby]

5. Christ....My family lives about 20 minutes from there...

x(

[kestrel91316]

6. Has anybody thought to check tha banking records of the official

who performed the "inspection" earlier this year - for any unusual deposits? Just curious.

[donsu]

7. good thinking

nt

[progressoid]

8. Uh..Helloooo...

Wrath of God?!

[KoKo]

9. Do you have link to the article? The current one goes to a pic of the tower

but I can't find text. Thanks for posting this.

[donsu]

12. the link at the top of the thread goes to the text

I just tried it.

[mdmc]

10. BUT they are "sure" that it is no big deal

nothing to worry bout,,,

[KoKo]

11. kick...this is important...which I had link to article, though.