USA: Fort St. Vrain nuclear operations to end

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry

OSTI ID:104799

On December 5, following a decade of troubled operations and numerous shutdowns, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSC) announced plans to close its Fort St. Vrain nuclear power plant by mid-1990, and to subsequently defuel and decommission the reactor. PSC officials continue to investigate the feasibility of converting the plant to use fossil fuels, and expect to make a decision this year. Located 35 miles north of Denver, the 330-MWe high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) has been besieged by numerous problems since entering commercial operation in 1979. The major problem has been moisture in the core, as a result of using water-lubricated bearings in the helium circulator units. Recurring moisture ingresses the helium circulator units. Recurring moisture ingreasses have been responsible for almost half of the plant`s downtime. PSC last shut down Fort St. Vrain in July of last year, but it was taken critical on January 5, 1989.

• OSTI ID: 104799
• Journal Information: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry, Journal Name: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry Journal Issue: 245; ISSN 0742-4582; ISSN NUEXD3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
DECOMMISSIONING
OPERATING COST
OPERATION
SHUTDOWN
VRAIN REACTOR