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Leak of reactor coolant (Michigan Power Plant)
Michigan.gov ^

Posted on 01/24/2005 9:35:25 PM PST by ConservativeMan55

FLASH: Fermi 2 nuclear power plant in Michigan is shut down... 'We have a leak of reactor coolant into the containment structure... leak rate was about 75 gallons a minute but is reducing,' John Austerberry, spokesman... 'there is no indication of a radioactive release'... MORE...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: fermiii; leak; plant; power; radioactive
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To: ConservativeMan55
State and county safety officials were called to the Fermi II nuclear plant...

Send in the bureaucrats! They'll know what to do.

41 posted on 01/25/2005 5:58:29 AM PST by snopercod ( We as the people no longer truly believe in liberty, not as Americans did -- Dayfdd ab Hugh)
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To: Nexus

Cooling water is NOT Reactor Coolant. One more example of the idiots in the press knowing absolutely nothing.


42 posted on 01/25/2005 6:00:15 AM PST by snopercod ( We as the people no longer truly believe in liberty, not as Americans did -- Dayfdd ab Hugh)
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To: scab4faa

This happens all the time on the Simpsons, I wouldn't worry about it.


43 posted on 01/25/2005 6:01:40 AM PST by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
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To: SierraWasp; broadsword
What part of Michigan and is Homer Simpson involved?

Fermi II is on the Lake Erie coastline, north of Monroe, near the mouth of the Detroit River.

It's Islam's fault! /sarcasm

44 posted on 01/25/2005 6:02:57 AM PST by Chemist_Geek ("Drill, R&D, and conserve" should be our watchwords! Energy independence for America!)
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To: expatguy

Just put some kitty litter around it. It'll be ok.


45 posted on 01/25/2005 6:07:00 AM PST by rusty millet
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To: snopercod

Actually, reactor coolant is cooling water. It circulates through the reactor carrying away the heat. It is driven by real kick ass pumps through the reactor and forced through the inside of 12,000 steam generator tubes in a steam generator and back to the pump suction.

The secondary cooling water is on the outside of these tubes in a lower pressure system and carries away the reactor heat by flashing to steam which is usually used to run steam turbines which generate electricity by turning a generator.

The used steam from the turbine is condensed by flowing onto the outside of tubes in a condenser and turns into water which is pumped back into the steam generator, again by kick ass pumps.

The third cooling water system is the water sucked from the ocean, a river, a spray pond, a cooling tower system by really, really kick ass pumps in some cases. It goes through the inside of the tubes in the condenser and then back to the source.


46 posted on 01/25/2005 6:53:21 AM PST by montomike (Gay means happy and carefree...not an abomination against nature's check valve.)
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To: Chemist_Geek

What is this one-note-Samba you keep playing trying to make it appear as though those who are concerned about Islamic terrorism, AND THERE IS NO OTHER KIND that is a danger, are crazy or deluded?

Anyone who even casually examines the history of that religion can not escape the conclusion that it is violent and primative to the point that it threatens those of EVERY other religion and is on a collision course of its own making with the entire world.

The evidence is overwhelming yet you keep trying to hide it. WHY?


47 posted on 01/25/2005 7:02:13 AM PST by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: justshutupandtakeit
What's saddening is the one-note harpists who, at the drop of a hat, jerk their knees like those here - "Dearbornistan," "TROP," etc.

Nuke plant accident? It's Islam's fault!

NYC subway fire? It's Islam's fault!

Man beheads himself in suicide? It's Islam's fault!

Clearly, some people need to get themselves a life.

48 posted on 01/25/2005 7:46:03 AM PST by Chemist_Geek ("Drill, R&D, and conserve" should be our watchwords! Energy independence for America!)
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To: Chemist_Geek; snopercod; Dog Gone; Southack; Grampa Dave; BOBTHENAILER
"It's Islam's fault! /sarcasm"

Well... I hate to correct you, Chemist_Geek, but really, it's all FUNDAMENTALISM's fault!!!

Why do you refuse to accept the MSM's insistence that planet Earth's problems with mankind is the fungus of fundamentalism amongus! If religious, objectivist and constitutional fundamentalists were stamped out of existance, the the Beatles trite tune "Imagine" could come true and we would all become as ONE!!! (/sourchasm)

Kumbuyah, baby!!! Bwaaaaaaaaaha ha ha ha... moderation will save ya... Yeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaa

"A mind is like a parachute. It must be open to function." (It doesn't matter that the only thing in there... IS AIR!!!)

49 posted on 01/25/2005 8:13:21 AM PST by SierraWasp (Moderates, are just too chicken to commit to any ideal!!! They prefer sophisticated sophistry...)
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To: ConservativeMan55

There's alot of bad information floating around here. Fermi 2 is a BWR; it doesn't have steam generators. But that's irrelevant in this case. Read the following - basically an auxillary system sprang a leak (sort of like the air conditioning system for the reactor building)

Best source of info is the NRC reading room (http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/event/en.html). Here are the events that were reported to the NRC in chronological order (RCS=Reactor Coolant System):

UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO UNIDENTIFIED LEAKAGE GREATER THAN 10 GPM

The licensee reported that it had indications of unidentified reactor coolant leakage greater than 10 gpm which placed the licensee into an unusual event emergency action level (EAL). Indication of drywell sump level increase and pump out rate gave an approximate leak rate of 30 gpm. The licensee also indicated that drywell pressure was above the normal range. The unusual event declaration was made at 1610 EST.

At 1619 EST, the licensee manually scrammed the reactor. The scram was uncomplicated with all rods fully inserting and all systems functioning as required. Decay heat is being rejected to the main condenser. There has been no ECCS injection actuation and reactor water level is being maintained by feed pumps. The licensee has no significant safety related equipment out of service.

The licensee stated that there is no indication of further degradation of the leak rate and the source of the leak is still under investigation

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector along with State, Local, and other government agencies.

* * * UPDATE FROM LICENSEE (SKORBEK) TO NRC (HUFFMAN) AT 1640 EST ON 1/24/05 * * *

At 1640 EST, the licensee upgraded to an ALERT following additional leak rate calculations that indicated the leak rate was approximately 75 - 80 gpm based on drywell sump pump out rate. The licensee's EAL for an alert is RCS leakage greater than 50 gpm. The NRC entered the monitoring mode at 1653 EST. The licensee stated that there has been no increase in drywell radiation levels and that sump water chemistry analysis is in progress.

In addition to the normal government agencies notified, the NRC also notified the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Duty Officer (R. Chamberlaine).

* * * UPDATE FROM LICENSEE (VIA MANAGEMENT BRIEFING) AT 1930 EST ON 1/24/05 * * *

The licensee has indications that the leakage may not be reactor coolant leakage. Chemistry results show that the sump water radiation levels are at a level less than would be expected for RCS leakage. In addition, a secondary cooling system was found in a lineup configuration that could have masked leakage from the system. The licensee is waiting to get additional chemistry results on the presence of corrosion inhibitors in the sump water to provide additional confirmation that the leakage is not from the RCS.

* * * UPDATE FROM LICENSEE (VIA MANAGEMENT BRIEFING) AT 2200 EST ON 1/24/05 * * *

The licensee confirmed the presence of corrosion inhibitors in the drywell sump. In addition, based on manipulations of the Reactor Building Closed Cooling Water system and the Emergency Equipment Cooling Water system the licensee believes that the leakage is from the Reactor Building Closed Cooling Water system and not RCS leakage. The plant is stable and the licensee is continuing to cool down with pressure now at 180 psi and decreasing.

* * * UPDATE FROM THE LICENSEE (STROBEL) TO NRC (VIA R3 IRC BRIEFING) AT 22:30 EST ON 1/24/05 * * *

The licensee terminated its Alert and Unusual Event at 22:28 EST based on sump water chemistry, activity, and Reactor Building Closed Cooling Water System manipulations that indicate the leakage is secondary cooling water and not from the RCS. The NRC secured from the monitoring mode at 22:36 EST.


50 posted on 01/25/2005 8:26:20 AM PST by kidd
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To: montomike
Yeah, I know all that stuff, since I helped build two nuclear plants.

"Reactor Coolant" refers to the water that actually flows through the reactor. All the other systems cool other things.

51 posted on 01/25/2005 8:28:20 AM PST by snopercod ( We as the people no longer truly believe in liberty, not as Americans did -- Dayfdd ab Hugh)
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To: GOP_Proud
IP's problems were systemic and rooted in the people operating the plant. The leak I referred to was discovered in August and the plant saw no harm in letting it go until the scheduled refuel outage in November. The NRC stepped and had the plant shut down until all of their problems were fixed, including the personality related ones.
52 posted on 01/25/2005 9:14:32 AM PST by woofer
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To: Chemist_Geek

So you think posting a few examples wherein mistaken accusations against Islam are shown somehow invalidates the THOUSANDS of TRUE examples of Islam-inspired atrocities that are visited upon the world. Islam has hundreds of thousands of deaths caused explicitly IN ITS NAME every year so those mistakes are a drop of water compared to the ocean.

Given the chaos it causes throughout the world it is appropriate to first wonder when disaster strikes if Islam was behind it. In most cases that is a correct assumption.

Plane goes down with pilot shouting "Allah Akbar" a rational person could conclude Islam was hehind it. Plane blows up in mid-air same thing. Man beheaded in Baghdad, Parlement attacked in India, Moslem villages destroyed in Algeria, Christians killed in the Phillipines, Christians killed in Indonesia, woman sentenced to death in Iran, Nigeria for adultery, Jews attacked in France, moviemaker slaughtered in the Netherlands, trains blown up in Spain killing hundreds, schools attacked in Israel, buses blown up in Israel, Christians ENSLAVED by Moslems in the Sudan.

I could go on indefinitely and never repeat the atrocities which are carried out in Islam's name and NEVER REPUDIATED except in the most roundabout manner. Yet you leap to its defense EVERY TIME. And you have the nerve to tell those who are aware of the violent and vile nature of Islam to get a life?


53 posted on 01/25/2005 9:56:26 AM PST by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: Chemist_Geek; broadsword; Former Dodger; jan in Colorado; justshutupandtakeit

You really are the sensitive one, aren't you?

You seem to have developed a persecution complex in seeing muslims being blamed for everything---or at least thinking others do so. In this day and age (meaning post 9/11--the acts performed on that date you still have yet to condemn)people will take an extra look at what had usually been 'ordinary' events with a tad extra scrutiny. Of course, the facts will come out and all will be found to have been 'ordinary' events. such as:

The Fermi accident---likely a leaky pump, run of pipe or fitting. Of course, the libs like yourself will scream that Fermi is a ticking time bomb and have to be shut down right away!

Subway problem---a homeless person (turned loose by liberals like yourself) that decided to set a fire to keep warm. A fire that spread to a room containing relay for track switches. Never mind the nutjob homeless fellow could have gone to a hospital or shelter---he just did millions of dollars in damage in exercising his right to be loose on the streets.

The 'beheading' suicide did look suspicious at first, but cooler heads (pun intended) prevailed. It turns out the suicide method was, shall we say, unique.

Actually you are a 'one-note harpist' yourself----screaming "Anti-American" and "bigot" and "liar" to everyone happens to disagree with you. You have whined at least once to the Admin Moderator that one poster be kept from giving their opinion (What happened, you don't like the First Amendment?)

Your justification for such vilification of others(at least in dealing with the cult of islam) is two thousand year old scripture that no one in modern Judaism or Christianity ever pays any attention to---except you, of course. That and you seeming diagreement with everyone here except a choice few.

You just think that everyone is going to blame muslims for everything--so you can go crying to others about the "racists" that 'inhabit' Free Republic. This would be part of the DUmmies (and your?) grand plan to shut the site down, wouldn't it troll? Your plan is coming to the fore.

That said, why don't you take your racist, baiting left-wing tactics back to the Democratic Underground where they belong?


54 posted on 01/25/2005 11:34:22 AM PST by fastattacksailor (This tagline under serious consideration!)
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To: HolgerDansk

Yes, I hear that it was the secondary loop----just the usual MSM blowing it out of proportion.

As for the BWR vs PWR--ANY steam that goes to the turbine or ancillary machiner is not radioactive.

Or at least it isn't supposed to be ;-)

BTW, has anyone accounted for Homer Simpsons whereabouts?


55 posted on 01/25/2005 11:39:02 AM PST by fastattacksailor (This tagline under serious consideration!)
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To: kidd

How long did they say before they can go critical again?


FAS


56 posted on 01/25/2005 11:47:54 AM PST by fastattacksailor (This tagline under serious consideration!)
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To: Chemist_Geek; fastattacksailor
>>>>>It's Islam's fault! /sarcasm"<<<<<<<


The left blames "everything" on Bush.

Do you defend Bush as strongly as you do Islam?

Just curious.
57 posted on 01/25/2005 12:05:04 PM PST by jan in Colorado (Never Forget! Never Retreat! Never Give Up!)
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To: jan in Colorado; Chemist_Geek

Hell's bells!

He can't even condemn the 9/11 attackers, but will go off on his islamobigotry rant at the drop of a hat.


58 posted on 01/25/2005 12:11:25 PM PST by fastattacksailor (This tagline under serious consideration!)
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Comment #59 Removed by Moderator

To: kidd
Good information there. Sounds like they had a pipe break or seal failure in some equipment cooling systems, i.e., tertiary systems isolated from the NSSS. Somehow, the blowdown found it's way to the drywell sump. Hopefully, that will simply getting things back online.

My first thought was a recirc pump seal or maybe a letdown line break. Those would have been more problematic. But with a 30,000 gpm ECCS injection I doubt if 75 gpm would have led to any fuel damage.

60 posted on 01/25/2005 12:32:26 PM PST by chimera
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