The radiation leak has caused the wildlife in Michigan to turn gay
and also to partake in orgies...
The last thing we need is another disaster.
WE'RE DOOMED! DOOMED I TELL YA!
Someone break it down for this layperson. Is the coolant itself dangerous?
Leak at Fermi 2 Nuclear Plant Was From Non-Radioactive Source
Monday January 24, 11:33 pm ET
-- Company officials confirm there was no release of radioactive material
NEWPORT, Mich., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Detroit Edison officials confirmed this evening that a water leak which shut down the Fermi 2 nuclear plant Monday afternoon came from a non-radioactive cooling system, and said there was no release of radioactive water at the plant. The leak was stopped at 8:54 p.m. Monday.
Plant operators shut down the Fermi 2 reactor about 4:20 p.m. Monday after discovering that cooling water was leaking into the containment structure -- a steel and concrete structure that surrounds the steel reactor vessel. Plant personnel were able to pinpoint the source of the leak to non-radioactive water in a support cooling water system.
While there was never any indication of a radioactive release, the plant was shut down as a precautionary measure. Reactor coolant water was maintained at normal levels and plant safety systems functioned normally at all times.
There was no evacuation of plant personnel at any time. Plant personnel are investigating the cause of the leak and will develop a plan for repairing the system and returning the plant to operation.
The Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant is a 1,140-megawatt boiling water reactor owned and operated by Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving more than 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan.
Fermi 2 began commercial operation in 1988. Since that time, the plant has produced more than 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity for Detroit Edison customers. The plant employs about 900 workers and produces about 15 percent of the power generated by Detroit Edison power plants.
Detroit Edison is an investor-owned electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a subsidiary of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE - News), a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Information about DTE Energy is available at http://www.dteenergy.com.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050124/nym278_1.html
What part of Michigan and is Homer Simpson involved?
It's Dubya's fault !!!
Nothing to see here folks. The backups and failsafes funtioned as designed. Clean up will be expensive and lengthy, but no harm to the environment.
BTTT
I trust that the loss of coolant isn't an issue in itself?
Any nuclear savvy persons out there that could shed some light on this?
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.
Can't they just try Prestone?
It's the Islamics.