Oldbury - Exploring How Nuclear Power Works

Former nuclear industry manager Peter Webster takes us on a tour through the now-closed Oldbury Nuclear Power Station, exploring the history of the station and comparing it to when it was operational.
Recorded as part of the British Library / National Life Stories project, An Oral History of The Electricity Supply Industry in the UK. For more information on the project visit www.bl.uk/nls

[@clivewinters7479]

Wonderful plant and equipment run by skilled and dedicated professionals. The UK pioneered so much in so many industrial, engineering and scientific fields. Such a pity we have let so much of this expertise go....Great to see this man’s enthusiasm

[@allancopland1768]

I didn't realise the gas circulators at the Oldbury Magnox station used steam turbines. The later AGR stations use electrically driven gas circulators.

[@brushhead]

You must be feeling quite melancholy looking around the old girl.

[@MrMichaeljlivesey]

From an ac engineer. I love the fact that there’s is that much safety involved in running a full on nuclear power plant , with safety controls and alarms for every eventuality. But you put your faith in a few wall mount ac units on the back wall , at high level , so water could potentially build up and leak over control systems . Classic go for the cheapest contractor so keep the work force quiet. Don’t worry about the outcome of having water drip onto control circuits powering a nuclear power plant. Love it. Would be surprised if the units did not leak ever in there life time.

[@marcperrett662]

in all honesty i work on panels that have a LOT more water ingress than some drips off an AC unit but cant remember a time in recent years when that was a factor in a breakdown

[@andreybushev3020]

@@soulsphere9242 I think he means at 11:15

[@BezosAutomaticEye]

I believe there is space between the rear of the cabinets and the wall where engineers can walk through for maintenance. If there was a leak it wouldn't drip onto the cabinets, but onto the floor and would have to pool and creep across the room. I suspect the mini splits were there to cool the cabinets rather than keep the operators comfortable. Is there going to be much condensate in a room with no windows and a bunch of electrical equipment?

[@simonyakan1697]

Didn't notice what you refer to. Such a change would not get approval so it wasn't as you thought. Unsurprisingly a lot of thoughtr goes into considering even trivial changes around the plant to avoid unintended consequences. (C&I Engineer with a background on a sister plant).

[@gary63693]

Think a new lick of paint is needed. Paint it pink, it will look much better

[@Jabberstax]

Nothing wrong with nuclear power.

[@mjwmontgomery]

a good example of british industrial decline.

[@mjwmontgomery]

@@soulsphere9242 I think they can run beyond 50 years.

[@m.kworldatomchannel300]

so sad

[@jackfanning7952]

How does nuclear power work? Take the money and run. Let someone else try to clean up the mess you make.

[@manofthetrees9097]

There is no waste

[@yamatovsrobloxlol2871]

ikr

[@manofthetrees9097]

YAMATO VS ROBLOX LOL
What ?? There is no waste

[@yamatovsrobloxlol2871]

@@manofthetrees9097 ...

[@manofthetrees9097]

YAMATO VS ROBLOX LOL
Yes? These reactors produce pure power and not a single piece of waste . You're obviously to thick to know this !?

[@yamatovsrobloxlol2871]

@@manofthetrees9097 oh pls i know more about reactor then you like the Chernobyl reactor and more and i know about the waste and of course like in the video like what i said theirs no waste so um ya and high power loll