Indian Point Seals Replaced, Reactor 3 Returned to Service

CORTLANDT, NY — Indian Point’s Unit 3 nuclear power plant returned to service Thursday, generating electricity. Control room operators had removed the plant from service on June 12 to replace two water seals that sit between the lid of the reactor and the reactor vessel. The seals were replaced prior to returning the plant to service.

The two water seals sit between the lid of the reactor and the reactor vessel, according to Entergy officials. ]

According to the NRC, O-rings are flexible gaskets that create a leak-proof sealed connection. They are usually made of flexible synthetic materials because of their elasticity and durability, but some are comprised of metal. In order to perform their function, they are compressed between parts to form a seal.

The leaks were seen after Unit 3 returned to service on May 18 from its refueling and maintenance outage. Operators monitored the situation for a few weeks and as there was no threat to public or worker health or safety, the operation was scheduled.

Entergy said it was acting conservatively and proactively to replace the seals out of an abundance of caution.

Indian Point Unit 2 continues to operate at full power and has been online for 351 continuous days.