More Main Condenser Problems At Pilgrim

Update: May 26:

The loss of condenser vacuum was caused by three separate issues: two condenser waterboxes had been isolated (taken out of service), a condensate pump minimum flow valve was stuck open and the plant's Augmented Off-Gas System was out of service. All three issues were rectified over the weekend, according to Sheehan.

1) We don't know why the waterboxes were taken out of service.

2) Now its a "condensate pump" minimum flow valve problem ( not "condenser pump")...this has nothing to do with the condenser vacuum. This is part of the Feed and Condensate system...the condensate pumps boost pressure from hotwell to the inlet of the feedwater pump so it has enough pressure to feed the vessel.

3) What took out the augment off gas system- the AOG sucks non condensable radioactive gas out of the main condenser and this provides a delay times so less radioactive gas gets released to the environment.

UPdate: May 25

Once again, problems plague restart of Pilgrim 

By Christine Legereclegere@capecodonline.com
Posted May. 25, 2015 at 1:02 PMUpdated at 3:54 PM PLYMOUTH — After its shutdown for reactor refueling last month, the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is in the process of cautiously powering back up under the watchful eyes of federal inspectors, following a failed attempt at getting the plant back on line last Friday. Workers had been in the process of powering up Friday morning and reached about 15 percent of capacity, when they were forced to manually force shutdown due to problems with the main condenser that uses bay water to cool steam generated by the reactor and convert it back into water.

According to Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Neil Sheehan, the loss of proper condenser function was caused by “several aggravating circumstances,” based on a preliminary report submitted by Entergy, the Plymouth plant’s owner-operator.

Two water boxes, used in cooling the condenser, had been taken out of service, which had resulted in reduced heat removal capability Friday, Sheehan wrote in an email. A condenser pump flow valve was stuck open and caused hot water to be recirculated to a part of the condenser with no cooling flow. And an off-gas system that helps create a vacuum needed for condenser efficiency was also out of service. 

Sheehan said the condenser water boxes have been restored and are operating satisfactorily; the flow valve was fixed and the off-gas system is back in service. The operators were allowed to restart the reactor Sunday and are currently powering back up. 

Entergy spokeswoman Lauren Burm confirmed Monday the plant continues to power back up but would not say when it would be at 100 percent power because the information is “business sensitive.” 

The company had spent $70 million on upgrades, maintenance, inspections and repairs during this latest refueling outage, bringing in nearly 1,200 workers to help the 600 staffers at the plant, according to Burm.
Sheehan said Friday's failed start “will count as a hit” on the number of unplanned forced shutdowns at Pilgrim, and therefore affect its performance category at the federal level. 

The Plymouth plant is currently among the poorest performers in the country, based on federal standards. It is in a “degraded” performance category that requires heightened oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

NRC spokeswoman Diane Screnci said Friday’s failure at the plant posed no danger to the public.

— Follow Christine Legere on Twitter: @ChrisLegereCCT.

Let me get this right, they just spent $70 million dollars on the outage, basically in two consecutive start-ups and within 3 months of each other, the start-up was delayed or gone back into a shutdown to repair the main condenser.

Hmmm, they recognized main condenser problems at about the same power level(15%, 20%)?  

May 18: Entergy's Business Philosophy Beating The Hell Out Of Pilgrim...  

May 11, 2015: PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION – NRC INSPECTION REPORT 05000293/2015001 AND INDEPENDENT SPENT FUELS TORAGE INSTALLATION (ISFSI) REPORT 07201044/2015001

• "On February 14, 2015, the operators performed a controlled shutdown and proceeded to cold shutdown based on procedural requirements during blizzard conditions. Operators performed a reactor startup on February 17, 2015. On February 18, 2015, after achieving 20 percent power, troubleshooting of the main"

We’ll never know how many down power and shutdown there will be in the future with a degraded condenser. Remember all those down powers and shutdowns over Fitzpatrick's leaking main condenser tubes until they replace them all. I think for reliability of the NE grid Pilgrim needs a new main condenser or extra glue.

• “condenser was performed due to condenser tube leaks. Following repair of the condenser tube leaks, operators proceeded with power ascension on February 19, 2015. Operators returned the unit to 100 percent power on February 20, 2015”

I predicted more main condenser problems just recently.

Is there a connection between Indian Point's transformer troubles and Pilgrim's Main condenser problems... 

It sound like more leaking main condenser tubes or the main condenser boot. The boot is like a rubber seal between the turbine and the main condenser. 

Issue with condenser halts restart of Pilgrim nuclear plant 

By Jessica Trufant The Patriot Ledger
Follow @@JTrufant_Ledger
Posted May. 24, 2015 at 7:17 PM Updated at 7:21 PM 

PLYMOUTH – The restarting of Pilgrim nuclear power plant came to a halt Friday morning when crews putting the plant back online found an issue with the condenser.
The station has been disconnected from the grid since April, when operators began a routine refueling process that takes place every two years.

A status report from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission showed the plant was operating at 15 percent capacity Friday morning, suggesting it was coming back online after its 20th refueling and maintenance outage. 

But Lauren Burm, a spokeswoman for plant operator Entergy, said crews identified an issue with the condenser, which converts steam from the turbine into water, during the startup of the turbine generator. 

“Rather than proceeding with the startup, operators conservatively lowered power to 5 percent and shut down the plant manually,” Burm said in an email. “The plant is currently stable and safe, and all systems worked as designed.”...