Sky-High Radiation Found in Fukushima Fish

[PamW]

17. It may be true!

bvar22 states:
My favorites were:
"Relax. They are just venting a little steam.
I know science, and there is nothing to worry about."


bvar22,

Depending on the circumstances; the above statement may very well be TRUE.

For example, if the power plant in question is a PWR; then there are are separate loops for the water that is the reactor coolant, and the water that is the working fluid of the Rankine steam cycle. The water that is the reactor coolant is slightly radioactive due mostly to the activation of contaminants in the water.

The water that is the working fluid of the Rankine steam cycle NEVER goes through the reactor in a PWR; and is hence as safe as the water that is the working fluid in a fossil-fuel fired plant. PWRs and fossil fuel fired plants both have the ability for atmospheric dump or venting of steam. This would be used if the turbine needed to be stopped for a short time to correct a malfunction. Rather than cooling down the whole system, steam is vented to the atmosphere instead of going through the turbine, and it can be stopped to adjust or repair. If repairs will be extensive; then the plant is shutdown and cooled down. However, if what is needed is a minor repair that takes a short amount of time, this venting obviates the need to cool down the whole system in order to stop the turbine.

If this procedure is done in a PWR; the discharge is monitored for radioactivity, as are all discharges from any nuclear power plant. It is conceivable, though unlikely; that the Rankine working fluid water could be contaminated with radioactivity by a leak or malfunction. Therefore, the monitors are there so that if there is a leak or malfunction, the atmospheric dump won't be done, or aborted if one is in process when the malfunction occurs.

Although Man has never created a machine that is 100.000% fail safe; that doesn't stop us from using such devices. Cars, airliners, bridges, you name it are never 100% fail safe; but we still use them.

Nuclear power plants come as close to 100% fail safe as we have gotten.

PamW