Turbine likely behind fire at Michigan nuclear plant

MICHIGAN - Officials at American Electric Power Co. say they know the cause of a fire that led to a shutdown of one of two reactors at the Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant in southwestern Michigan.

The utility says the fire in Unit 1 of the plant in Berrien County's Lake Township began when turbine vibrations caused a generator to leak hydrogen that ignited.

The Columbus, Ohio-based utility says fire damage is minimal but the vibrations more seriously damaged turbines, bearing supports and some steam piping.

An imbalance from the loss of turbine rotor blades probably caused the vibrations.

It will take one to three weeks to complete turbine inspections, then officials will have a better idea of when they can restart the reactor.

Related News

electric vehicle

Why subsidies for electric cars are a bad idea for Canada

TORONTO - Bad ideas sometimes look better, and sell better, than good ones. Not always, or else Canada wouldn’t be the mostly well-run place that it is. But sometimes politicians embrace a less-than-best policy – because its attractive appearance may make it more likely to win the popularity contest, right now, even though it will fail in the long run.

The most seasoned political advisers know it. Pollsters too. Voters, in contrast, don’t know what they don’t know, which is why bad policy often triumphs. At first glance, the wrong sometimes looks like it must be right, while better and…

READ MORE
empty space

Experiment Shows We Can Actually Generate Electricity From The Night Sky

READ MORE

German coalition backs electricity subsidy for industries

READ MORE

 Illinois Could Challenge New York in Utility Innovation

With New Distributed Energy Rebate, Illinois Could Challenge New York in Utility Innovation

READ MORE

wind turbines in scotland

Scottish Wind Delivers Equivalent Of 98% Of Country’s October Electricity Demand

READ MORE