Circuit card shuts down nuclear plant

Event Year: 2011 Reliability: Confirmed
Country: United States
Industry Type: Power and Utilities
Description:

The Watts Bar Nuclear Plant’s Unit 1 reactor shut down. A malfunction in a circuit card on a newly installed computer system that assists the operation of the plant’s turbine.  The malfunction caused the turbine to trip causing the reactor to shut down.  The cause of the trip is under investigation.

Impact:

The unplanned shutdown lasted for 3 days.