PSEG shut N.J. Salem 2 nuke due power failure
May 24, 2004 - Reuters Power News
Author(s): Reuters

 

(Adds company comments) NEW YORK, May 24 (Reuters) - Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. said Monday it shut the 1,150 megawatt Salem 2 nuclear unit in New Jersey on May 21 due to the failure of a 230-volt transformer. Chic Cannon, a spokesman for PSEG Nuclear, which operates the station, told Reuters the company would replace the transformer. The transformer, which is about half the size of a pickup truck bed, feeds electricity from the switchyard back into the plant to power some of the unit's equipment. "We have the new transformer in place but are waiting until we determine what failed with the old transformer," Cannon said, adding he could not say how long the unit would likely remain shut. Electricity traders guessed the unit would likely remain shut for about a week. Earlier Friday, the unit was operating at full power. Meanwhile, the adjacent 1,150 MW Salem 1 unit remained shut for a refueling outage.

Cannon, the PSEG Nuclear spokesman, said in addition to the normal refueling activities, the company was replacing the unit's three low-pressure turbines and one high-pressure turbine. Citing company policy, Cannon said again he could not project when unit 1 would return to service. Some power traders guessed the unit would likely return to service over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Some of those same traders, however, previously guessed the unit would have come back last weekend. The last time the unit, which is on an 18-month cycle, shut for refueling was Oct. 10-Nov. 7, 2002. The Salem station is located in Salem, New Jersey, about 18 miles south of Wilmington, Delaware.

PSEG Nuclear, a unit of PSEG of Newark, New Jersey, operates Salem for its owners: PSEG (57 percent) and Exelon Corp. of Chicago (43 percent).

 

 

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