A moisture separator problem tripped the Hope Creek reactor in New Jersey for the second time in less than a week Thursday.
During both shutdowns, a high moisture separator level automatically tripped the turbine, which then caused the reactor to shut down. The unit was at 76 percent power when it shut down at 3:25 a.m., Thursday, according to a report filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. About an hour and a half later during cool down, bypass valves opened during an attempt to start a recirculation pump, according to the NRC, causing a reactor level swell and shrink that triggered the reactor protection system. Levels recovered, and safety systems performed as expected.
PSEG operates the plant at the Artificial Island complex southeast of Wilmington, Del. Hope Creek is a General Electric Type 4 boiling water reactor that generates 1,219 megawatts. It exited a refueling outage on Nov. 10.