Pilgrim repairs completed, plant up to speed
PLYMOUTH — Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is up to nearly full power after a spate of mechanical and electrical problems that hobbled energy production at the plant for the last three weeks.
The unit was operating at just under 99 percent power by midafternoon Tuesday, on its way to peak.
One of three main pumps supplying water to the reactor had been responsible for a production drop of about 25 percent since a four-day shutdown in late August.
An electric cable was replaced initially and the problem thought to be resolved. When the pump still failed, the motor was switched out. That repair also met with failure.
The latest identified cause was electric circuitry related to the pump.
Engineers hoped the pump's problems were finally resolved and were tracking its performance closely when the plant was restarted Sunday after yet another shutdown, this time for a week because of a steam leak.
James Sinclair, a spokesman for Entergy, pronounced the pump "fully operational" Monday afternoon.
Federal nuclear energy regulators concurred.
"Plant engineers have determined that vibration levels for the main feedwater pump replacement motor are in the normal range, but they will continue to monitor its performance for at least the next few days," said Neil Sheehan, a spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"Our perspective is that the repairs were successfully completed, allowing the feedwater pump to be returned to service," Sheehan said. "We currently do not have any regulatory or nuclear safety concerns associated with the work."
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