Three Mile Island unit back after shutdown

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - A unit at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in central Pennsylvania has been returned to service following an automatic shutdown triggered by a malfunctioning pump.

Exelon Generation officials told The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News that the plant's Unit 1 was returned to service Saturday when operators connected the turbine generator to the regional power grid.  Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Neil Sheehan said once the reactor has cooled, workers will be able to access the containment building and try to solve the problem.

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Three Mile Island nuclear reactor shuts down unexpectedly

By NBC News and wire servicees

 

A reactor at Three Mile Island, the site of the nation’s worst nuclear accident, shut down unexpectedly on Thursday afternoon when a coolant pump tripped and steam was released, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission told NBC News.

The system tripped when "the pump stopped operating and created a power/flow imbalance," said NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan.

The plant responded as designed and is stable with no impact on public health or safety, added NRC spokeswoman Diane Screnci.

If any radiation was in the released steam, Screnci said, it would be below detectable levels.
Exelon, the plant operator, said in a statement that "during the shutdown, steam was released into the atmosphere, creating a loud noise heard by nearby residents."

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