In reply to Alan J Fletcher's message of Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:37:55 -0700: Hi, [snip] >http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/28/utilities-tva-storms-idUSN2718319320110428 >All 3 Browns Ferry sites lost outside power and switched to diesel power.
This I don't understand. Why can't fission reactors supply electricity to their own pumps? IOW why do they automatically shut down completely when grid connection is lost? Are they so inflexible in their power output? Even if the main reactor is shut down, one would think that even the heat from decay of radioisotopes would provide more than enough power for their own pumps, perhaps even for months? In short, why do they need diesel generators to kick in straight away? Regards, Robin van Spaandonk http://rvanspaa.freehostia.com/Project.html
