Nuclear generator returns to full power
Operators at Exelon Nuclear’s Limerick Generating Station returned Unit 2 to full power Sunday, ending a brief maintenance outage that began Wednesday, June 1. Before returning the unit to service, technicians repaired and tested an electrical component that impacted the unit’s recirculating water pumps. Unit 1 remained at full power throughout the Unit 2 outage.
Officials stated Wednesday they were in the process of investigating the cause of the outage at Unit 2.
“Technicians will determine the cause of the malfunction and repair and fully test the system before returning the unit to service,” according to the statement issued by Dana Melia, plant com- munications director, at the time.
All plant safety systems responded as designed during the shutdown and there were no complications, Neil Sheehan, a spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said Wednesday.
NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to Limerick on a full-time basis responded to the event and monitored control room operators’ actions in re- sponse to the shutdown.
“No immediate issues were identified. The resident inspectors will continue to monitor any repairs, the company’s restart decision-making and activities related to a restart of the reactor,” Sheehan wrote.