Where there was black smoke in the turbine building there was fire that shut down a nuclear plant Friday. It’s still down today, with no estimate on uptime. This is after Callaway was shut down most of April and May due to an electrical fault that “injured or affected” four people. It’s only been up most of 4 months out of the past 6. Not so reliable, this baseload nuclear, is it?

Margaret Gillerman wrote for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 27 July 2013, Callaway nuclear plant shut down after a small fire,

FULTON, MO. • Callaway County’s nuclear plant has been shut down since shortly before midnight Friday when a small fire broke out in the turbine building, authorities said.

No one was injured.

“No personnel were hurt, and no radioactivity was released” above normal operating limits, Barry Cox, senior director of nuclear operations at Callaway, said Saturday. Cox said the fire was in the “non-nuclear” side of the plant.

The plant — officially called the Ameren Missouri Callaway Energy Center — declared an “unusual event” at 11:49 p.m. Friday.

The fire was discovered immediately when alarms sounded in the control room. There also were reports of black smoke, Cox said.

Within minutes, the fire was extinguished, Cox said. The plant was shut down as part of established multiple safety layers and procedures.

“It was not such a large fire that we had to call for assistance from outside sources or evacuate anyone,” Cox said. No one was working in the turbine room at the time, he said.

Tim Logan wrote for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 28 July 2013, Callaway County nuclear plant remains offline after fire,

Ameren’s Callaway County nuclear plant will remain closed for several days as workers from the electric utility perform tests and repair damage after a small fire Friday night.

Cleveland Reasoner, vice president of engineering for Ameren, said crews are taking apart and checking electrical equipment in the area of the fire—which was in the “non-nuclear” power-generation side of the facility—and that the plant would remain offline until their work is through.

“We can’t discuss exact timelines but it will be several days,” Reasoner said.

And back on 2 April 2013 NRC event #48879:

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAULT IN SWITCHYARD RESULTING IN PERSONNEL INJURIES

“At 1707 CDT on 4/2/13 an arc flash occurred at the ‘B’ safeguards transformer (XMDV24) in the plant switchyard at Callaway. At the time of the flash, ground straps were being placed on the ‘B’ safeguards transformer which had been removed from service for maintenance. The event resulted in a loss of power to areas/buildings outside the power block. There was no impact to equipment and systems in the plant.

“Four workers were injured or affected by the flash. The extent of the electrical-related injuries has not been determined. However, based on reports from the scene, all of the workers were conscious and walked away from the scene. One person was transported by helicopter and two by ambulance to a local hospital. The fourth person experienced only a minor injury.

“The hazard has been isolated and investigation of the cause is in progress.

“Notifications of this event are planned to be made to OSHA and the Missouri Public Service Commission.”

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * UPDATE FROM ROB STOUGH TO VINCE KLCO AT 1955 EDT ON 4/4/2013 * * *

“Ameren Missouri issued a press release about the event described above at approximately 1507 CDT on April 4, 2013.

“The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.”

Notified the R4DO (Kellar).

Ameren press release 4 April 2013: Ameren: Mo. Nuclear Plant ‘Operating Safely’ In Wake Of Accident.

The next day Don Norfleet wrote for NewsTribune.com, Callaway Nuclear Plant to shut down next week: Output to resume after refueling,

The Callaway Energy Center owned by Ameren Missouri will shut down the nuclear reactor at the facility next week to start the plant’s normal refueling process.

Some contract workers at the plant were injured Tuesday during what Ameren Missouri is describing as an “electrical flash” in a switchyard located about 300 yards from the nuclear reactor.

The shutdown of the plant was scheduled before Tuesday’s accident. The injured workers were employed by another firm hired by Ameren working at the plant prior to the normal shutdown for refueling and maintenance.

Ameren Missouri announced Thursday a fourth person was injured in the incident while attempting to assist the three others impacted by the flash.

Sure, the shutdown had nothing to do with the electrical fault. Refueling shutdowns always take two months, right?

Whatever the cause, Ameren’s Callaway has been down two months out of the last six. That’s much closer to 66.66% reliability than 99.99%, isn’t it?

-jsq

Short Link: