[gondramB]

I have not read up this case but I have a small bit of experience that may be relevent...

90 degree water can absolutely be used for cooling but there are environmental limitations on how hot the water can be when it is returned to the river - they don’t want to kill the fish etc.

So its possible this is not a safety hazard at all but a fish hazard.

Of course it will likely be framed as George Bush causing a near meltdown for letting Karl Rove cause global warming.

But then we are used to that.

[DB]

Why can’t they just reduce output instead of completely shutting down?

[EBH]

Two other units at the plant were operating, as well as towers to cool the water. But searing temperatures and a lack of cooler water in the upper part of the Tennessee River system made it too difficult to provide cool water for all three reactors. There was no safety threat posed by the shutdown.

It looks like you are correct. It is a cooling water issue and not a safety issue. The water is too hot coming into the system. They don't know when it can come back online due to the incoming water being too warm.

[Inge_CAV]

“90 degree water can absolutely be used for cooling but there are environmental limitations on how hot the water can be when it is returned to the river - they don’t want to kill the fish etc.”

I will agree with you. TVA does not want to become known for mass killing fish.

[DCPatriot]

Thanks for putting that in perspective. (fish dying)

[eyedigress]

I believe this is coinciding with lower than normal releases up-river at Ft. Loudoun Dam.