Hurricanes and nuclear power

[Florida_brit]

Can someone explain to me about what are precautoins the American government take against Nuclear Powerstations being hit by a hurricane/adverse weather conditions/earthquakes?

Are there certain areas where you can and can't build them?

Are they shut down if a hurricane warning is in force?

Can they survive a strong hurricane ie 4/5?

Obviouslly there are various types of nuclear powerstations/reporcessing plants etc.

Done a search on the net and can't find much. Apart from they hold "hurricane" drills.

Thanks

[Derecho]

The central containment is impervious to a jet airliner slamming into it, much less a hurricane of any strength. talking feet of concrete in a dome shape. An F5 tornado wouldn't make a dent.

The radioactive core and central cooling loop is contained within the concrete dome.

There's no way a hurricane could cause any sort of radioactive leak or meltdown.

[logybogy]

Turkey Point Nuclear Power plant is near Homestead Florida and took a direct hit from Hurricane Andrew.

There was no damage to the containment systems, although the building structures suffered heavy damage. I think they had to tear down a 400 foot smoke stack because there was a huge crack in it.

The buildings are built to withstand winds of up to 225 mph if I recall correctly.

[Wainfleeter]

Thanks Florida_brit for asking that question. I as really curious about the nuclear stations too.

[wolffeeder]

It's true that Turkey point did withstand Andrew. It may be stretching it to say there is no way a hurricane could cause serious problems.

If a strong 'cane hit and took down the power grid the plant would have to be shut down. That takes electricity. Nuclear plants have backup diesel generators to handle this. Hopefully they actually survive and work when the time comes, along with any control systems. See http://www.tmia.com/industry/2steps.html for more on diesel generators and shutdown.

I'm not sure where the spent fuel is kept, if it's under the dome or not. They aren't too keen on answering questions about the layout of nuclear plants lately.

A nuclear plant in a hurricane would worry me a little. Still I would be more nervous if I lived next to, say, a pesticide factory, or plastic factory or something.

[southeastva]

The nuclear power plants shut down if there is a hurricane iminent within 24 hours. The buildings that hold the reactors are 4-5 ft thick steel reinforced concrete. They are perfectly able to handle a cat 5.

[stormwatcher]

Not a problem. Turkey Point (SE FL) and Brunswick (SE NC) has both had direct hits from hurricanes. Turkey Point with Andrew and Brunswick first with Diane in 1984 and then take your pick in the late 90s. Unitl the last few years once a Hurricane warning is issued a nuclear had to be in cold shutdown before hurricane force winds are felt. Now with some good live experiences plants still may need to shutdown but it is based on the type of winds that will be felt. The plants reduce power depending on the size of the storm and what will actually be felt on the site. Though Turkey Point had extensive damage to its support building the Reactor Building survived fine. Brunswick has seen wind as high as 135 mph with no damage to the nuclear facility portion of the plant. Hope this helps.