Transportation of large equipment may cause traffic delays in Berwick area

A new steam dryer for the Unit 2 reactor at PPL’s Susquehanna nuclear plant near Berwick is scheduled to arrive Tuesday (7/15).

The steam dryer, which is located above the reactor, helps to remove more than 99 percent of the moisture in the steam that turns the turbine to generate electricity. If not removed, the moisture would damage the turbine’s blades.

The steam dryer on Unit 2 is being replaced as part of the project to increase the amount of electricity that can be generated, said Neil Gannon, PPL’s vice president of Nuclear Operations.

The new dryer will better handle the additional steam produced when power levels are increased. The steam dryer on Unit 1 was replaced during the refueling and maintenance outage completed in April.

The dryer is being shipped in two large pieces on extra-long truck trailers that require police escort for the trip Monday and Tuesday from the manufacturer near Pittsburgh.

The truck’s route will take it east along Interstate 80 to Route 11 north, which it will follow to the plant, located in Salem Township about seven miles north of Berwick. As the truck travels through Berwick, residents may experience traffic delays and possible closure of some streets.

“We expect to increase power levels on Unit 2 after the new dryer is installed and other modifications are made during the unit’s 2009 refueling outage,” Gannon said.

The Susquehanna plant is owned jointly by PPL Susquehanna LLC and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc. and is operated by PPL Susquehanna.

PPL Susquehanna is one of PPL Corporation’s generating facilities. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) controls more than 11,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to about 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom.