Boiler Tube Explosion Kills Three in Massachusetts

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--A boiler tube in Salem Harbor Power Station's (Salem, Massachusetts) Unit 3 exploded early Tuesday, killing three workers. A fourth worker was not injured.

The tubes, which transport super-heated and high-pressure steam from the boiler to the steam turbine/generator, were apparently in good condition before the blast, according to preliminary reports from plant personnel. Nevertheless, minor leaks are quite often present and pose little danger if they are found and addressed in a timely manner. But if left untreated, these sorts of steam leaks can turn explosive in certain environments.

On Wednesday morning, the plant was still offline, with safety crews inspecting the wreckage. Many plant personnel were unable to be reached, although several who were on-site said that it might be at least a week before the plant goes back online with its remaining units. All units will be thoroughly inspected for safety and reliability, and Unit 3 will be heavily scrutinized before repairs begin.

The 805-megawatt (MW) plant, which consists of a 476-MW peak-demand, one 165-MW base-load and two 82-MW base-load units, became operational in 1952. According to its operating company, Dominion Energy (Richmond ,Virginia), the plant is capable of powering roughly 740,000 homes in the Salem area.

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