Unit no. 2 of Narora Atomic Power Station was operating at 215 MWe. Channel L-05 refuelling was in progress. All the four spent fuel bundles were received in the down stream refuelling machine. Due to the sluggish operation of downstream fuelling machine latch it was not possible to box up the channel. Hence, it was decided to push back the hot bundles into the channel by resorting to reverse fuelling (fuelling against the direction of flow). Insertion of spent fuel bundles and ram extension added negative reactivity and reactor power decreased to 93% full power from 98% full power. Subsequent retraction of the ram at a faster rate because of flow assisted withdrawal resulted in reactor power increasing upto 109% full power. Reactor power setback on outlet header and channel outlet temperature very high initiated and subsequently reactor tripped on primary heat transport system low pressure. The event is rated at level 0 on INES. Justification for rating: There was unplanned regional increase in radioactivity. Reactor setback on outlet header and channel outlet temperature very high worked and reactor got tripped on PHT system low pressure. All the safety functions were fully available and there was no damage to fuel bundles. So the event has been rated at level 0 on INES.
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