OMG Junk Plant Salem Unit 1 Shutdown: Couldn't Even Get Out Of The Start-Up (0 power) Power Range Before Needing to Shutdown

8/2

Unit 1 at 59%.
Unit 2 at 12%.

So now its the transformer, not the turbine generator. They must get some kind of beny keeping the plant up at low power. Maybe a tax break or something?

Neighboring Salem 2 remains offline following a series of shutdowns related to an electrical issue on the non-nuclear side of the plant. Troubleshooting over the weekend identified a broken wire inside one of the station's three main power transformers and repairs are underway, according to Delmar.

Update 8/1 

Unit 1 is at 45% power and unit 2 is still at 12% something. 

This whole USA's second largest nuclear three plant facility is so unprofessional. They are a embarrassment to the industry and nation. They are a laughing stock to everyone. Just waiting for Hope Creek to make a hard plant trip. The NRC got to get control of this facility quickly before events more snowball...   

Power Reactor	Event Number: 52129
Facility: SALEM Region: 1 State: NJ Unit: [1] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: ERIC POWELL HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ	Notification Date: 07/28/2016 Notification Time: 09:25 [ET] Event Date: 07/28/2016 Event Time: 05:41 [EDT] Last Update Date: 07/28/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(2)(i) - PLANT S/D REQD BY TS 50.72(b)(3)(v)(A) - POT UNABLE TO SAFE SD	Person (Organization): BLAKE WELLING (R1DO)

Unit	SCRAM Code	RX CRIT	Initial PWR	Initial RX Mode	Current PWR	Current RX Mode
1	N	N	0	Startup	0	Hot Standby

Event Text

SOURCE RANGE INSTRUMENTS READING IMPROPERLY DURING A REACTOR STARTUP "This four and eight hour notification is being made to report that at 0541 [EDT] on 7/28/16, Salem Unit 1 initiated a shutdown to comply with Technical Specifications due to the inoperability of both source range nuclear instruments. During a reactor startup, with Unit 1 in Mode 2, both source range instruments were reading approximately one decade lower than expected compared to intermediate range and Gamma-Metric instruments and due to the proximity to the estimated critical condition. The condition could also have prevented the fulfilment of the source range instruments safety function to trip the reactor when required.

A failure for the start-up instrumentation protection function would be a really ugly accident. The might burst open the vessel and widely disperse fuel everywhere as the worst case. Slight core damage with no offsite releases would be a industry show stopper. You wouldn't get a nuclear detonation from this.

It very troublesome have two components failing at the same time: the SR instrumentation and containment rad monitor. The before start-up testing and inspection were terrible flawed.   

"Salem Unit 1 is currently stable in Mode 3. Reactor Coolant system pressure is 2235 psig and reactor coolant system temperature is 547 F with decay heat removal via the main steam dump and auxiliary feedwater systems. Unit 1 has one active shutdown tech spec action statement in effect due to the inoperability of the containment radiation monitor 1R11A. The inoperability of this radiation monitor had no effect on the event. All control rods were manually inserted to place Unit 1 in Hot Standby (Mode 3). No ECCS [emergency core cooling system] or ESF [emergency safety features] systems were required to function during this event. "No major secondary equipment was tagged for maintenance prior to this event. No personnel were injured during this event." The reactor was manually shut down and a shutdown margin calculation verified sufficient margin. The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and the local township.