Piqua Nuclear Generating Station

Piqua Nuclear Generating Station is a decommissioned nuclear power plant located in Piqua, Ohio, United States. It was the first of its kind to be connected to a municipal power system and was operational from 1963 to 1966.

History

The Piqua Nuclear Generating Station was constructed as part of the Atoms for Peace program, an initiative by the United States Atomic Energy Commission to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The plant was designed and built by the United States Atomic Energy Commission and the City of Piqua.

The plant was a 45.5 Megawatt Organic Rankine cycle reactor, a type of nuclear power reactor that uses organic fluid in the thermodynamic cycle instead of water. This made it unique among nuclear power plants in the United States.

Operation and Decommissioning

The Piqua Nuclear Generating Station began operation in 1963. However, due to technical difficulties and the high cost of operation, the plant was shut down in 1966, after only three years of operation.

The decommissioning process began in 1967 and was completed in 1969. The site was then returned to the City of Piqua, which has since used it for various purposes, including as a coal-fired power plant.

Legacy

Despite its short operational life, the Piqua Nuclear Generating Station played a significant role in the development of nuclear power in the United States. It demonstrated the feasibility of connecting a nuclear power plant to a municipal power system, paving the way for the widespread use of nuclear power.

See also

• List of nuclear power plants in America
• Nuclear power in the United States
• Decommissioning of nuclear power stations

References

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