Ontario Power Generation
A Very Big Outage
Six weeks and
tasks later Pickering's ready to beat the summer heat. Thanks to our 6,000 amazing employees and contractors who’ve completed the Vacuum Building Outage at Pickering Nuclear. In just 6 weeks they powered through more than 23,000 complex tasks to complete the largest planned nuclear outage in North America this year. Another 7,000 tasks were completed in preparation for the outage. They did it safely, ahead of schedule and on budget. Now that’s what we call people power.
Update: July 5, 2010
Pickering Nuclear safely completed its Vacuum Building Outage (VBO) ahead of schedule and on budget.
This was the largest and most complex project that will be completed across Ontario Power Generation's nuclear fleet this year. It builds on the success of last year's VBO at Darlington Nuclear.
A VBO is held at Pickering Nuclear every 10 years to allow extensive inspections, testing, and any necessary maintenance of the Vacuum Building equipment and systems. It requires about two years of planning and the shut down of all six operating reactors. Over 6,000 OPG employees and temporary staff helped complete more than 23,000 tasks during the VBO. Another 7,000 tasks were completed in preparation for the outage.
This wrap-up video offers a perspective from employees on what contributed to the VBO success.
Update: May 28, 2010
The VBO is complete - safely, effectively and ahead of schedule. Watch an update video from the employees' perspectives.
April 12, 2010
Nearby residents may notice some changes at Pickering Nuclear, as OPG prepares for it’s VBO.
The VBO, which takes place every 10 years, is easily one of our largest and most complex projects for 2010. It requires the shutdown of all six reactors to allow for inspection and maintenance of the station’s vacuum building structure. (See What is a Vacuum Building? on this page) We do this to ensure its continued availability.
Some fast facts:
- In addition to station staff, more than 1,900 workers are hired, security-cleared and trained to ensure the outage is completed on time and budget
- Cranes, elevators and trailers are just a few of the pieces of equipment brought on site. A temporary 420’ elevator has been installed.
- Many permits and approvals were obtained from government agencies to ensure all regulatory requirements are met.
- More than 7,000 activities are underway and on tract for completion even before the VBO start date in April.
- Once started, 4,200 work orders - involving more than 30,000 total tasks - will be completed during the outage.
All of the work on the Pickering Nuclear VBO meets the expectations of our regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Photos from the Outage
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July 7, 2010
What is a Vacuum Building?
A critical part of Pickering Nuclear’s safety system, the vacuum building is a 51 metres tall structure made from reinforced concrete.
The interior is kept at a near perfect vacuum. In the very unlikely event of a rupture in the piping in any of Pickering’s reactors, steam from the break would be automatically sucked into the vacuum building and condensed into water –preventing any damage due to steam pressure build-up.
The vacuum buildings at Pickering and Darlington have never had to be used.
On Film
Watch short video clips on the Vacuum Building Outage.