One of Europe's largest nuclear power stations, the Gravelines Nuclear Power Station (Northern France), had to be suddenly partially shut down this week. The reason was not any technical fault, but a huge swarm of jellyfish. According to a report in The New York Times, the EDF company, which operates this plant, said three of the six reactors were shut down before midnight on Sunday. The fourth reactor also had to be shut down on monday morning.
No impact on safety
According to the company, jellyfish got stuck in the filter drums of the plant's pumping stations. These parts fall in the non-nuclear part of the plant. EDF clarified that it had no impact on safety, employees or the environment. Shutting down the reactors was part of the safety system and now experts are trying to restart them safely.
Why does this problem occur?
Nuclear plants require large amounts of sea water to keep the reactors cool. Usually, screens installed in the pipes prevent debris and marine organisms from entering. But when a huge swarm of jellyfish arrives together, these screens get blocked automatically. Not only this, due to 95% water in the body of dead jellyfish, they turn into a gel-like liquid state and reach inside the system and can cause problems inside as well.
Increasing heat and increasing number of jellyfish
Gravelins Power Station is located on the shore of the North Sea. The hot water coming out from here is used to raise fish in a commercial fish farm. Experts say that with the increasing temperature of the sea, the number of jellyfish is also increasing continuously.
Jellyfish have become a global challenge
According to marine research institutes, swarms of jellyfish are now appearing more frequently and on a larger scale than before. Reasons such as overfishing, climate change and coastal development are considered responsible for this. Many nuclear plants around the world have been affected by jellyfish in the past. In 2011, nuclear plants in Israel, japan and scotland had to be shut down. In 2013, a reactor in sweden was completely paralyzed by jellyfish.
According to marine research institutes, swarms of jellyfish are now appearing more frequently and on a larger scale than before. Reasons such as overfishing, climate change and coastal development are considered responsible for this. Many nuclear plants around the world have been affected by jellyfish in the past. In 2011, nuclear plants in Israel, japan and scotland had to be shut down. In 2013, a reactor in sweden was completely paralyzed by jellyfish.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel