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I have added information from the Rutland Herald after the jump in addition to the original diary.BP
Well Entergy’s Vermont Yankee continues what could well become a series of 40th anniversary celebratory repair events, including a hopefully festive epoxy removal from the malfunctioning condenser unit. What do you get a nuclear power plant for its 40th anniversary? Perhaps a traditional gift such as a Ruby or Garnett? Maybe something useful, a new condenser or dry casks might be a safe bet.
Susan Smallheer at the Rutland Herald is doing a great job of keeping this story alive but got to kick the rest of Vermont media in the knees. Only six days ago the big demonstration at the plant was big all over Vermont news now the media seems to have moved on.
original diary starts: As of this morning, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee is operating at only 31% of capacity, while attempts are made to clean up the mess they’ve made of their condenser.
Susan Smallheer in the Rutland Herald has the details as of Monday, hidden behind a paywall.
Key quote:
The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is again operating at reduced power, and has been ever since its 40th anniversary last week, because of continuing problems with its condenser, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
In its continuing effort to defer needed maintenance and postpone spending, ENVY wants to wait till 2016 to replace the condenser. Replacement is projected to cost between $150 million and $200 million.
Last Fall, Entergy coated the condenser tubes with epoxy in an effort to continue operating with worn out equipment. In what seems to have come as a surprise to ENVY, coating the tubes reduced their heat transfer ability to such a degree that the reactor has been forced to cut power repeatedly.
Now ENVY has begun the laborious process of removing the recently applied epoxy.
ENVY: NOT Clean, NOT Safe, NOT Reliable
Additional bits from the Rutland Herald.
The plant was at 94 percent power Monday morning and records on file with the NRC show that ever since last Wednesday, the plant has slowly been reducing power after a short period at 100 percent.
And this comment about the plant’s condenser issue from spokes-flack-person Larry Smith is deserving of more explanation:
Entergy Nuclear spokesman Larry Smith declined to comment about the most recent problem with the condenser, and said he could talk about the issue today. He said the delay was for “proprietary reasons” but declined to elaborate.
And more to follow in the coming weeks as things warm up:
On Monday, Sheehan said that as the temperatures warm up, and the temperature of the Connecticut River increases, Yankee will have to reduce power.
Arnie Gundersen [a nuclear engineer and consultant with Fairewinds Associates of Burlington] said that now is the time for Entergy to remove the epoxy, since Entergy would lose even more revenue in the summer at reduced power.
But he warned that removing the epoxy is much more difficult than putting it on.
VY’s 40th is off to a special start.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/a…