Nuclear Event : United Kingdom - Scotland, [Torness Nuclear Power Station]

Earth Watch Report

Torness Nuclear Power Station

As viewed from a minor road near Innerwick.

Image Source  :  Geograph.org.uk

  © Copyright James T M Towill

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Nuclear Event

United Kingdom

Scotland, [Torness Nuclear Power Station]

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Nuclear Event in United Kingdom on Friday, 22 November, 2013 at 04:36 (04:36 AM) UTC.

Description

Seawater cooling system of Torness in East Lothian has become clogged with seaweed for the second time this year. A nuclear reactor near Edinburgh shut down on Thursday because its seawater cooling system became clogged with seaweed. This is the second time this year that reactors at Torness in East Lothian have been forced to close because of excessive seaweed. In 2011 it was closed by a swarm of jellyfish. Reactors need large amounts of water in order to keep them cool, and to prevent them from overheating. Seawater for cooling at Torness is filtered, but when the filters get clogged, reactors have to be shut down as a safety precaution. The station's operator, EDF Energy, has said that one of the two 640-megawatt reactors at Torness was shut down in the early hours of this morning. It is expected to remain closed for the next seven days. "We took reactor 2 offline at 02:20 this morning due to increased seaweed ingress as a result of the weather conditions in the area," said the nuclear station's director, Paul Winkle. "We are aware that at certain times of year with particular weather conditions in this part of the Forth estuary, seaweed volumes can increase and enter the station's cooling water intake system." Torness staff were trained to respond to this situation by taking reactors offline if necessary, he said. "In addition, the many-layered safety systems monitor conditions like this and the plant's inbuilt mechanisms will take the unit offline automatically."

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Seaweed shuts down Scottish nuclear reactor

Seawater cooling system of Torness in East Lothian has become clogged with seaweed for the second time this year

• Rob Edwards
• 
  
• theguardian.com, Thursday 21 November 2013 12.11 EST

Torness nuclear power plant, seen from Skateraw Bay near Dunbar in East Lothian, Scotland. Photograph: Gary Doak/Alamy

A nuclear reactor near Edinburgh shut down on Thursday because its seawater cooling system became clogged with seaweed.
This is the second time this year that reactors at Torness in East Lothian have been forced to close because of excessive seaweed. In 2011 it was closed by a swarm of jellyfish.
Reactors need large amounts of water in order to keep them cool, and to prevent them from overheating. Seawater for cooling at Torness is filtered, but when the filters get clogged, reactors have to be shut down as a safety precaution.
The station's operator, EDF Energy, has said that one of the two 640-megawatt reactors at Torness was shut down in the early hours of this morning. It is expected to remain closed for the next seven days.
"We took reactor 2 offline at 02:20 this morning due to increased seaweed ingress as a result of the weather conditions in the area," said the nuclear station's director, Paul Winkle.
"We are aware that at certain times of year with particular weather conditions in this part of the Forth estuary, seaweed volumes can increase and enter the station's cooling water intake system."
Torness staff were trained to respond to this situation by taking reactors offline if necessary, he said. "In addition, the many-layered safety systems monitor conditions like this and the plant's inbuilt mechanisms will take the unit offline automatically."

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