The unit is being closed as data from the extensive vibration monitoring equipment installed on the turbine identified potential small cracks on few turbine blades.
PPL Corporation senior vice president and chief nuclear officer Timothy Rausch said the company has been closely monitoring turbine performance for the last several years, and continue to work with the manufacturer to address conditions that are associated with cracks developing.
"We continue to take appropriate actions based on the monitoring data we are collecting to ensure long-term safety and reliability," Rausch added.
"That’s why we decided to shut down Unit 2 now to inspect blades and replace any that are found to have developed cracks."
During a refueling outage last month, the Unit 1 turbine was modernized with newly designed blades to reduce vibration, which is believed to be a primary contributor to blade crack growth.
Full analysis of the Unit 1 turbine performance will be conducted over the course of the year.
PPL Susquehanna is planning to install the Unit 2 turbine with newly designed blades during its next scheduled refueling outage planned in spring of 2015.
Located in Luzerne County about seven miles north of Berwick, the Susquehanna plant operated by PPL Susquehanna and is owned jointly by PPL Susquehanna and Allegheny Electric.
