Unit 2 of the Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE:PEG) (PSEG) Salem nuclear plant in New Jersey went offline unexpectedly on Aug. 31, according to a report filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Salem Unit 2 had an unplanned automatic reactor trip and automatic actuation of the auxiliary feedwater system. “The trip occurred due to the loss of the 21 reactor coolant pump [RCP] resulting in a reactor trip on low reactor coolant flow,” according to the event report filed with NRC.
The company is currently “troubleshooting the reactor coolant pump” and has no estimate on return to service, a PSEG spokesperson said.
There was no effect on Salem Unit 1, which continues to run. Unit 1 is only running at 58% but that has nothing to do with the issue at Unit 2. “We removed a steam generator feed pump from service to repair it. “With the pump out, power is limited to 58%,” the spokesperson said.
Salem Units 1 and 2 are both pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Each has a generating capacity of roughly 1,150 MW. The station is located in Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey.
