Ill. nuclear reactor loses power, venting steam
(01-30) 15:20 PST Byron, Ill. (AP) --
A nuclear reactor at a northern Illinois plant shut down Monday after losing power, and steam was being vented to reduce pressure, according to officials from Exelon Nuclear and federal regulators.
Unit 2 at Byron Generating Station shut down around 10:18 a.m., after losing power from an off-site source, Exelon officials said. Diesel generators began supplying power to the plant equipment and operators began releasing steam from the non-nuclear side of the plant to help cool the reactor, officials said.
Even though the turbine is not turning to produce electricity, "you still need to cool the equipment." said U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokeswoman Viktoria Mitlyng. Releasing steam helps "take away some of that energy still being produced by nuclear reaction but that doesn't have anywhere to go now."
The steam contains low levels of radioactive tritium, but the levels are safe for workers and the public, federal and plant officials said.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/30/national/a123655S86.DTL
stonecutter357
(12,697 posts)krispos42
(49,445 posts)It's not the Dresden plant. I have relatives that live not too far from there.
murielm99
(30,745 posts)When I look out my front windows, I can see the Byron plant in the distance, to the northeast.
I am always aware of the steam coming from the plant. I think it is about thirty miles from me.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)It's safe! Oh wait..........
AndyTiedye
(23,500 posts)midnight
(26,624 posts)tavalon
(27,985 posts)Might be truth but I'm so used to being lied to by people running those infernal things, I just don't believe them. It's kind of like how you know a Republican is lying - if the mouth is moving, the lie is too.
truebrit71
(20,805 posts)...