Canada has a nuke event (shut down 3+ mos. - important medical work)

[ensho]

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=eng

Area: Canada, Province of Ontario, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River


Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. said Wednesday it has found the source of the leak of radioactive water at the Chalk River, Ont., nuclear reactor that produces nearly half of the world's medical isotopes, and the leak will force the reactor to stay shut down "for at least three months." AECL said Wednesday it found the leak at the base of the 37-year-old tank in a location where there is corrosion on the outside wall of the vessel. AECL said it also found additional corrosion points on the outer wall of the vessel that require more examination. AECL has not yet proposed a remedy for the leaks. Instead, it must prepare more specialized test equipment to inspect the interior of the vessel, which is filled with a complex array of tubes and pipes.
-----------------------------


37 yr. old tank

so I guess the plant itself is 37 yrs. old too

[Canuckistanian]

1. The plant is 50 years old

And nearing the planned end of it's life cycle.

The Harper government last year FIRED a Nuclear Safety director last year for shutting down the same reactor for safety reasons. Imagine that.

There's a big debate going on whether we can continue to produce medical isotopes without a new reactor. In the meantime, a whole town (Chalk River, Ontario) is being thrown out of work because of this.

This is what happens when you ignore or neglect your infrastructure for decades.

[ensho]

4. egads - wouldn't want to live anywhere near that plant

nt

[HeresyLives]

2. No, it's been there since the fifties.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalk_River_Laboratories

[EOTE]

3. I guess Canada should modernize their nuclear facilities then?

Considering that this equipment is out of date, upgrading it seems like the most rational way of dealing with an issue like this.

[Canuckistanian]

8. This is no ordinary reactor - very expensive to replace

It produces medical radioisotopes of exotic elements such as Thorium and Technetium-99m.

There are only about four reactors like it in the world.

[EOTE]

16. I was saying that kind of tongue in cheek.

The OP seems to suggest that these "nuke events" mean that nuclear power is undoubtedly unsafe and shouldn't be used. I was just suggesting that the article listed in the OP really says nothing about the safety of these facilities other than the standard operating procedures worked as they should have.

[SidDithers]

12. Don't confuse nuclear power generating facilities...

with this facility, which produces isotopes for nuclear medicine.

There are 5 facilities worldwide which produce medical isotopes. All are about the same age as Chalk River.
http://www.euronuclear.org/e-news/e-news-23/medical-isotopes.htm


AECL's update on NRU from June 10:
http://www.aecl.ca/NewsRoom/Community_Bulletins/090610.htm

So the above "event" is actually good news, in that they've identified the source of the leak, and can begin the process of repairs.

Sid

[ensho]

5. so who can handle producing the medical isotopes now?

what will it mean to have medical isotopes down by half?

[spoony]

6. Well since you are so dedicated to shutting down all reactors

maybe we can just forego all radiotherapy for patients and tell them it makes you sleep easier at night.

[ensho]

9. instead of making this subject about me why don't you give us some

suggestions or info about who will take up the slack in production?

will this make radiotherapy more expensive and scarce? waiting lists?

[spoony]

11. Replies 7, 8 have that covered.

And I'm sure you'll fearmonger about those other producers, too.

[Oregone]

7. It means a lot of people all over the globe are going to have to wait for diagnostics work

Supposedly Canada is "getting out of the isotope business". I think Harper expects the market to produce some players to fill the void.

[dorkulon]

15. I heard a radio interview on this with a Canadian scientist, he said the US would be producing

its own isotopes, that we had started the ball rolling on that.

[Canuckistanian]

10. The Netherlands has a reactor

But even they're having problems. And there's another country that has one, but I can't remember it now.

[SidDithers]

13. There are 5 reactors...

Chalk River
Petten, Netherlands
Mol, Belgium
Saclay, France,
Pelindaba, South Africa.

And 4 separation facilities
Kanata, ON
Petten
Fleures, Belgium
Pelindaba

But Chalk River is the biggest producer of the bunch.

I've also read about TRIUMF out in BC using an accelerator method of producing the Mo99, instead of using HEU, but it's apparently very energy intensive.

Sid

[ensho]

14. thanks for info - hope they can take up the slack

nt

[Canuckistanian]

17. Thanks, I looked for that info but couldn't find it

Are you in the nuclear industry?

[SidDithers]

18. No, but I did Physics at UofT...

and still have an interest. Had the chance to work for AECL, but took a different career path :)

Sid

[applegrove]

19. Canada is planning to get out of the business of making medical isotopes.