Another Alarm at Ooi Nuke Plant, But Power Generation Continues Uninterrupted

I doubt that anything will ever interrupt the operation of any nuclear power plant in Japan at this point, short of what has happened in Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.

From NHK News (link to a backup site, part; 7/25/2012):

大飯原発では、今月９日の３号機に続き、４号機で、２５日午前１時、中央制御室で牧野経済産業副大臣らが立ち会うなか、「フル稼働」に達したことが確認されました。

At Ooi Nuclear Power Plant, following Reactor 3 on July 9, Reactor 4 reached the full operation at 1AM on July 25 with officials including Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Makino attending in the central control room.

４号機では、その後、２５日朝５時半ごろ、原子炉内の１次冷却水の温度を監視する温度計の１つで警報が作動しました。

In Reactor 4 however, an alarm was triggered at 5:30AM on July 25. It was one of the thermometers that triggered the alarm which are used to monitor the temperature of the primary coolant inside the reactor.

この温度計は、１次冷却水の温度が上昇しすぎていないかを監視するため、３３６度に達すると警報が鳴る設定になっていて、２５日朝は瞬間的にこの値を超えたということです。

This thermometer monitors the temperature of the primary coolant, and if the temperature reaches 336 degrees Celsius it sets off an alarm. In the morning of July 25, this temperature was momentarily exceeded [according to KEPCO].

１次冷却水を監視しているほかの温度計は通常の値を示し、原子炉の圧力などのデータに異常がないことから、関西電力は、温度計の警報は、水の流れなどの影響で温度が一時的に上がったためとみて、一次冷却水を下げるなどの対応はとらずに、監視を続けるとしています。

The other thermometers monitoring the primary coolant show normal temperatures, and there is no abnormal data such as the pressure of the reactor. KEPCO believes the alarm at the thermometer was due to a temporary rise in temperature due to water flow, and says the company continues to monitor the situation but without lowering the output.

関西電力の原発で最も出力の大きい、大飯原発の３号機と４号機がフル稼働したことを受けて、政府は、北陸電力や中部電力、それに中国電力の管内の節電の数値目標を解除する方針です。

With Reactors 3 and 4 at Ooi Nuclear Power Plant, which have the largest output capacities among the reactors operated by KEPCO, in full operation, the national government will remove the numerical targets for power saving in the areas served by Hokuriku Electric, Chubu Electric, and Chugoku Electric [who were required to deliver power to KEPCO in case of power shortage in KEPCO area].

Ooi's Reactors 3 and 4 are pressurized-water reactors.

By the way, the organizers who have been organizing the Friday protest at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo says they are not doing it this week in order to focus their effort on the big July 29 event to surround the National Diet Building. They don't seem particularly worried about Ooi Nuke Plant any more, and one of the organizers continues to trash "the old left" who either come to the protest with labor union flags or argue with the police.

(I heard rumors that people are doing the "Kantei (PM Official Residence) demo" on Friday anyway. That would be interesting...)

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