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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Condenser tube springs a leak | NewsLeak

The Oyster Creek nuclear plant in Berkeley, California, was recently powered down to 90 percent when a condenser tube sprung a leak. Crews needed to lower the functionality of the plant as they made repairs.

The Berkeley Patch reported the nuclear plant was prepared for a leak or other common malfunction, and immediately after the leak was discovered, the plant lowered its output to 90 percent. It regained full power shortly after the repairs were complete.

Leaks in condenser tubes are common at boiling water reactor plants. Neil Sheehan of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission told the source these nuclear plants use steam to generate electricity and convert the steam back into water through the condenser tube before it is recycled into steam again. These complex systems commonly leak, and most plants have a protocol they follow when a leak is found.

And the Oyster Creek plant has probably experienced many leaks throughout its history. The Asbury Park Press reported the facility is the oldest operating nuclear power plant in the United States. However, it will shut its doors in December 2019.

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