🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.960105222332.28206A-100000@suma3.reading.ac.uk> "Ralph J. P. Blaney" <aerblney@reading.ac.uk> writes:

>In-Reply-To: <4cjjua$4fd@daisy.pgh.wec.com> 
>Xref: stc06.ctd.ornl.gov sci.energy:41875 sci.environment:77528
>alt.energy.renewable:13819


>        In reference to some remarks made earlier today....

>> Cooling towers exist at many thermal stations because of local
>> thermal "pollution" (the fish love thermal pollution).

>        As do humans, when I was a boy I went swimming in the sea next to 
>the hot water outlet of the nuclear power station (three miles from my 
>home). However, I discontinued this activity after a freind's father, who 
>worked at the power station, told me of a number a minor radioactive leaks 
>(which occurred frequently).

I'm confused, isn't the steam loop a closed loop.  Do the British nuke plant 
operate like U.S. plants? - one pressurized water loop (which may have some 
radioactivity) to take heat off the reactor which exchanges heat with a 
water/steam second loop (which should have close to zero radioactivity) which 
goes through the turbine.  The steam is condensed back to water and reused, 
with the condensing heat exchanger swarming the Ocean or river (unless 
cooling tower is used).  You imply that contaminated water was dumped in the 
ocean?  Anyone who is informed care to explain this?  I wonder was the 
regulations are?


Big cut here

>        An Englishman's perspective.

John F. Thomas. Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Thomasjf@ornl.gov