Ep 1. Nuclear Turbine

World's Toughest Fixes is a thrilling TV show that presents viewers with seemingly impossible challenges and the technicians who solve them. In the first episode of season 1, titled "Nuclear Turbine," we're taken inside the dome of a nuclear power plant to explore the incredible technology that keeps the operation running.

The episode starts with host Sean Riley introducing us to the principles of nuclear power, explaining how neutron-absorbing rods are inserted into the core of the reactor to regulate the reaction's power. The reactor's cooling system consists of pumping water through the core, making steam to turn turbines that generate electricity. However, a critical component of this process, the turbine generator, has been damaged and needs fixing urgently.

The episode's main focus is on Kevin Gallagher, a field service engineer for General Electric (GE), who specializes in turbine generator maintenance. Kevin has been called in to repair a badly damaged generator behind the containment wall of the nuclear reactor at the Oconee Nuclear Station in South Carolina. The turbine generator has to be brought back online as soon as possible, as it's responsible for generating the vast majority of the plant's electricity.

Kevin and his team are fully aware of the danger they face while fixing a piece of equipment that is vital to the safety and operation of a nuclear power plant. They follow strict safety protocols as they access the containment wall, entering through a series of controlled airlocks. They have to wear special suits that protect them against radiation while they work in an environment where the temperature can reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

We get a closer look at how the turbine generator works during the repair process. The generator is essentially a series of spinning coils that interact with a magnetic field to create electricity. But the process generates heat that can damage the coils over time, leading to decreased efficiency and output. Kevin and his team must fix these coils, making sure they work correctly and generate the electricity needed to power homes and businesses.

We see just how complex the repair is, as Kevin and his team wear harnesses and climb into the generator to repair the dozens of copper coils that comprise it. They must use specialized tools and welders in the cramped conditions, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. And all the time, they must be focused on the task at hand because the generator core moves at incredible speeds of up to 3,600 revolutions per minute.

Throughout the episode, we also get a sense of the wider context of the repair. Nuclear power plants have distinctive regulatory requirements, and the environment for innovations and inventions into how to fix the nuclear turbine is uncommon. Those required to work on nuclear plants have to undergo rigorous training so that they are familiar with such plants' conditions, and the companies that manage the equipment follow very tight safety controls. These regulations are put in place for a reason, to ensure the workforce works with the utmost safety while keeping the power generation going.

The episode's conclusion shows Kevin and his crew finishing their repairs on the nuclear turbine. They have managed to fix all of the damaged coils, bringing the turbine back up to full capacity. With this repair, the Oconee Nuclear Station can provide electricity for almost two million residents, as the generator generates 849 megawatts of electricity when functioning properly. The full repair took six hundred and fifty-five people a total of twenty-three days to complete, and cost approximately five million dollars to fix; however, without this challenging repair, the dreaded threat of a power outage could have occurred, and it would have potentially placed the surrounding area at their mercy.

In conclusion, "Nuclear Turbine" is an eye-opening episode that takes audiences into the incendiary world of nuclear power plant maintenance. It's fascinating to see how the GE team navigates the highly regulated world of nuclear power plants and deal with a degree of danger that brings a gripping sense of drama to the program. Throughout the episode, there's a sense of the importance of this work and the technical skill that's required to get it done safely. The World's Toughest Fixes season 1 episode 1 is a truly excellent way to start the series, and one that's sure to leave viewers eager to see what other challenges this show has in store.