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RICHARD RAEKEProgress Energy will take its Crystal River nuclear reactor offline Saturday to replace fuel rods and install a new reactor head.
CRYSTAL RIVER - Progress Energy has begun preparing for a scheduled outage at its nuclear reactor.
The outage, scheduled to begin early Saturday, will bring hundreds of workers to the area. Outages are scheduled about every two years.
The plant has scaled back the power production from the reactor, now running at 80 percent of capacity, Progress Energy spokesman Mac Harris said.
Late Friday night, workers will begin taking the reactor off the power grid.
During the outage, Progress Energy will replace the nuclear fuel rods. This year, it also will install a new head for the reactor at a cost of $20-million.
The head, made of carbon steel and weighing 80,000 pounds, was forged in Japan and milled in France. Last month it was delivered to the plant via a Russian cargo plane.
The old head had cracked and had leaked small amounts of boric acid, causing corrosion. Rather than try to weld the crack every few years, the company decided it would be cheaper to replace the head.
Harris said that, despite the additional work, the outage would last roughly four weeks. Workers will also be cleaning the nuclear reactor's condenser tubes, which help cool the steam coming from the plant.
To make up for the loss of power, Progress Energy will rely on coal- and oil-burning units or possibly buy power on the open market.
The company chooses early fall or spring to have outages because the demand for electricity is typically lower, Harris said.
Area businesses anticipate the outages as temporary workers fill local hotels, restaurants and barrooms.
In 2009, Progress Energy plans to replace the adjoining steam generators at a cost of $200-million.
After that, the company will apply for a 20-year license extension in 2016.
- Richard Raeke can be reached at 564-3623 or rraeke@sptimes.com