NRC: News Release - Region III - 2002-001 - NRC Begins Special Inspection of Pump Problem at Quad Cities Plant


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NRC NEWS
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region III
2443 Warrenville Road, Lisle, IL 60532
www.nrc.gov

No. III-02-001		January 16, 2002
CONTACT:	Jan Strasma (630) 829-9663 Pam Alloway-Mueller (630) 829-9662	E-mail: OPA3.RegionIII@nrc.gov
NRC BEGINS SPECIAL INSPECTION OF PUMP PROBLEM AT QUAD CITIES PLANT Printable Version
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has begun a special inspection at the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station to review damage to a pump which led to the shutdown of the Unit 1 reactor on January 9. The two-reactor plant, operated by Exelon Generation Co., is in Cordova, Illinois. The damaged pump was one of 20 jet pumps which are located inside the reactor vessel. Their function is to increase the flow of water through the reactor core, enabling the reactor to produce more energy. On January 9 a brace holding the jet pump in position broke, causing portions of the pump to separate. Reactor operators promptly began to shut down the reactor to investigate the problem. Reactor cooling was maintained without the need for backup or emergency cooling systems. There was no threat to public safety and no release of radioactivity associated with the incident. Exelon plans to replace the broken brace and the braces on 15 other jet pumps with an upgraded design. The braces on four jet pumps had been replaced earlier. The NRC inspection will monitor the company's investigation of the cause of the broken brace and the replacement activities. The agency is also reviewing the need for replacement of similar jet pump braces at the second Quad Cities unit and at the two reactors at the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, also operated by Exelon. The Dresden Station is located near Morris, Illinois.
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