The holder of the Almaraz nuclear power plant II has informed the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN ), following the statutory procedure , which has decided to proactively make an unscheduled stop the reactor to intervene pressurizer safety valve .

This event is “to increase steam flow valve that discharges into the pressurizer relief tank to a level of 70 liters per hour ( l / h ) below the 2271 l / h set in the Technical Specifications Operation ” , as confirmed by the regulator in a statement.

Those responsible for the nuclear installation and are analyzing the causes of the event and proceed to repair the valve once the plant is disconnected from the network.

All safety systems worked properly and the event had had no impact for workers, the public or the environment , temporarily classified as Level 0 on the International Nuclear Event Scale ( INES).

The Almaraz Central consists of two light water reactors under pressure, each with three cooling circuits . Both units use as fuel slightly enriched uranium oxide and its electrical output is 973.5 MW and 982.6 MW respectively. This plant is owned by Iberdrola by 53 % from 36% Endesa and Union Fenosa 11% .

Another incident in Asco II

The CSN also confirmed yesterday that the owner of Asco II nuclear power plant (Tarragona ) had reported that, for about 30 minutes, the two radiation detectors, gas extraction in the secondary circuit of the condenser had been inoperable.

When meeting the principal radiation monitor is inoperable , the Operating Technical Specifications require an additional detector as an alternative measurement system , but the detector was also inoperable due to a loss of power.

Once restored electrical connection, the monitor is back in service. This other event has not alleged risk to workers, the public or the environment , and was classified as Level 0 on the INES scale .

Source: CSN