As long as it is available, offsite power is the preferred power source for the nuclear plant. However, once the electrical grid fails, the emergency diesel generator automatically starts and supplies power to safety equipment. The emergency diesel generators cannot provide enough power to operate the non-safety equipment at the plant."In other words, these plants require continuous baseline AC power from "somewhere" (currently fossil fueled) in order to operate, and diesel generators for emergency backup.
As long as it is available, offsite power is the preferred power source for the nuclear plant. However, once the electrical grid fails, the emergency diesel generator automatically starts and supplies power to safety equipment. The emergency diesel generators cannot provide enough power to operate the non-safety equipment at the plant."
Are other power plants (coal-, gas-fired) also designed in this way? Who designed this? guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
In case of a cascading powerdown, as during the large blackouts, the nature of the off-site power doesn't count. I.e., simplified, shutting down one plant shuts down the next, that the third and so on.
Are other power plants (coal-, gas-fired) also designed in this way?
Their off-site electricity needs aren't as big. (I'll try to dig up some numbers when I get home.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
The external electricity need is an essential security feature of these plants: external power runs the cooling system pumps, as fuel rods have to be cooled even after an emergency shutdown (=no own power available). The emergency diesel generators are meant to run the cooling system pumps (along with the emergency systems) in case of an external power-down, though they aren't well suited to keep the power plants running, and are often weak links (at least poor maintenance of emergency diesel generators in US plants is widespread). *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
