Blog
Day 3
Nov. 8, 2012
The transporter moved at a good clip last night — its max speed is 25 mph, but it generally travels between 5-15 mph depending on the terrain. The steam generator traveled safely through Temecula and arrived at its predetermined destination. The transport is maintaining its safe speed and schedule and should reach Clive, Utah within three weeks.
The retired steam generator does have some low-level radiation, which is why it is being disposed of via transport to Clive, Utah, at a licensed facility. If you stood next to the steam generator for an hour straight, you would receive the same radiation dosage as you would from a dental x-ray.
The attached video is a good explainer of the steam generator transport process and shows the transport leaving the plant and getting on the I-5 South last Sunday night.
Day 2
Nov. 7, 2012
Last night the transporter carrying the 400-ton steam generator entered Riverside County (having traveled from the plant into San Diego County the first night and parking just inside the Riverside County line on Tuesday).
All went well on the third leg of the journey and that's to be expected as this transport crew, having relocated the first two retired steam generators to Clive, Utah last year, is experienced at moving such a large load. For the record, the retired steam generator is 22 feet in diameter, 50 feet in length and weighs approximately 400 tons.
You might have noticed in the above photo how the steam generator is suspended, or cradled, from the transport trailer. It was designed that way so the center of gravity would be lower - the transport trailer would be less likely to tip over that way - and being lower to the ground gives the transport the ability to go under overpasses as well as the ability to raise the load depending on the terrain.
Another interesting note is the support beams have a two-foot arc in the beam and when the steam generator is picked up, the arc is leveled, due to the weight of the steam generator (400 tons).
Day 1
Nov. 6, 2012
As Southern California Edison is moving the third of four retired lower assemblies of the steam generator from San Onofre to Clive, Utah, we thought you might like to see the process as it unfolds.
So this is the first in a series of posts that will show the transportation of this retired steam generator.
The actual transport started Sunday night when it left the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station a little bit before midnight and traveled approximately 30 miles to its first stop in Vista, Calif.
On Monday, it traveled 32 miles through San Marcos and Escondido to it's second stop of the trip in Temecula, Calif.
In an effort to minimize the impact to traffic as much as possible, it will travel at night in California.
Day or night, if you see the steam generator transport during its journey, let us know. Post your pics to Facebook or Twitter and tag us (Twitter hashtag: #SGtransport). Check back to this blog post periodically as we update its movement. We will also be updating news of the transport on Twitter at @SCE_SONGS.
