[cdn-nucl-l] Lepreau expected to be shut down for weeks

[hussein <hussein@unb.ca>]

WebPosted Mar 8 2001 7:41 AM EST www.nb.cbc.ca
 
Lepreau expected to be shut down for weeks

SAINT JOHN, N.B. - An official at NB Power says a heavy water leak at the 
Point Lepreau Nuclear plant will keep the generating station closed for 
weeks. Cost to replace electricity about $650,000 a day 
Engineers found the source of the leak Wednesday in one of the tubes leading 
from the reactor. Four years ago, a feeder tube carrying heavy water from the 
Lepreau's reactor to the boilers developed a one-centimeter crack letting 
heavy water leak out. After months of investigation engineers concluded that 
the tubes were more likely to crack than they first thought. Rod White, 
vice-president of NB Power, says since then they've been using ultrasound to 
check the tubes for any signs of cracks before they leak but he says they 
missed one. "Now does that mean that the technology can't find it today or 
does that mean that it was there and we couldn't find it? Or does the 
technology not even exist today to be able to find it at the levels we're 
looking? Until White gets a good answer as to why they didn't find the crack, 
Lepreau will stay off-line for what will very likely be weeks. In the 
meantime, White estimates the cost of replacing Lepreau's electricity to be 
about $650,000 a day. "We're in the warmer weather of winter months now," he 
says. "We normally get the water flows coming in the river sometime in April 
so it will be cheaper in those days." White says the problem won't have big 
effect on the plans to refurbish the plant. He says if the plant is 
refurbished all the tubes will be replaced.