salem 2 at right.jpg

The Salem 2 nuclear reactor, seen at right at PSEG Nuclear's Artificial Island generating complex in Lower Alloways Creek Township, shut down late Thursday morning. (File Photo)

(Staff Photo by Britney Lillya)

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. -- An electrical problem in its main generator caused the Salem 2 nuclear reactor to shut down late Thursday morning, an official said.

The plant, one of three operated by PSEG Nuclear, automatically went off-line at 11:21 a.m., said utility spokesman Joe Delmar.

Delmar said an automatic safeguard system detected an electrical problem in the plant's main generator and caused the shutdown of the plant's turbine.

The turbine turns the generator which produces electricity.

The stopping of the turbine caused the nuclear reactor to automatically trip off-line.

"The plant responded as designed," Delmar said. He could not estimate when the plant would return to service.

The problem area is on the non-nuclear side of the plant, Delmar said.

Salem 2 had been operating for 65 consecutive days since ending a scheduled refueling outage on Dec. 1.

At the time it shut down, Salem 2 t was operating at 74 percent power at the request of the regional power grid operator because of transmission line work, according to Delmar.

The plant had been online for 65 consecutive days since ending a scheduled refueling outage on Dec. 1.

Salem 2 is one of three nuclear reactors operated by PSEG Nuclear at its Artificial Island generating complex in Lower Alloways Creek Township.

The three plants comprise the second-largest commercial nuclear complex in the United States.

Salem 1 and Hope Creek remained operating at full power Thursday afternoon, Delmar said.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.