Global Warming Poll

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by sugarpop

And today, we learned a burst pipe has spurted out 100,000 gallons of water at the nuclear facility. We still do not know when the leak began, only that the pipe in question is buried deep underground. Not a single visual inspection of the underground pipes has taken place since operations began in 1973.

You're afraid of water?
Indian point is a Westinghouse Pressurized Water Reactor. Unlike the General Electric Boiling Water reactors, the PWR has two water loops. One loop goes through the reactor (and becomes contaminated) then passes the heat to the second loop in a heat exchanger. The second loop (uncontaminated) runs the steam turbines that turn the generators.

I personally guarantee no part of the contaminated loop is buried. I doubt it was part of the second loop either because a leak would be noticed immediately when the water (condensate) coming back to the boiler (heat exchanger) did not equal the steam sent out. They would have to make up the difference with heavily treated (expensive) water.

I'd bet the buried pipe was carrying cooling water for the condenser (actually a third loop if you will) that turns the spent steam back into condensate quickly. Cooling water is returned to it's source, usually a river or lake, as clean as it came out, and after passing through the cooling tower, just a little warmer.

Don't get excited about headlines until you know the details... or tw will bitchslap you.