China nuclear plant operators release gas in bid to fix issue

AFP ^ | 6/14//21 | Helen Roxburgh

[untenured]

Gas was deliberately released from a nuclear power plant in southern China as operators work to fix an issue at the facility, its French part-owner said Monday following a US media report of a potential leak.

CNN said the US government is assessing a report of a leak at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in populous Guangdong province after Framatome, a French firm that partly owns it, warned of an "imminent radiological threat".

EDF, the majority owner of Framatome, said the plant's number one reactor experienced a build-up of noble gases in its primary circuit, which is part of the cooling system.

The gas leaked after the coating on some fuel rods had deteriorated, said an EDF spokesman, who asked not to be named.

Noble gases are elements which have low chemical reactivity -- in this case it was xenon and krypton.

The gases were collected and treated as part of a process to remove any radiocativity before their release, which was normal and "in accordance with regulations", the spokesman said.

[untenured]

I saw a CNN report on FR about this earlier today. This report has a bit more detail about what the French contractor claims is known. I’m in no position to judge what the likely causes are based on what is known. I hope some Freepers with the requisite science/engineering knowledge can shed some light. In particular, are there other more alarming explanations of these facts, given this problems has been out there for roughly two weeks?

[frank ballenger]

Rep. Jerrold Nadler tried the same in US House.

[Red Badger]

It always works for me......................

[tet68]

Chernobyl, Wuhan,...it’s always nothing to begin with.
Bet there is more to the story.

[gr8eman]

Xho Bhi Dehn to sign nucular agreement selling US nuke plants to the chinks in 3...2...1...

[BenLurkin]

[Red Badger]

Chinese rednecks?....................

[srmanuel]

I don’t think he just released toxic gas, he suffered a full meltdown and had to close down for repairs...

[PGR88]

Rep. Jerrold Nadler tried the same in US House.

he releases more than just radioactive gas

[redcatcherb412]

Purposeful release, radiation or virus, what’s the difference? They want to fix an issue. Apparently a Hong Kong issue concerning the anti-commies there.

[Seruzawa]

[srmanuel]

I watched the CNN report and according to them, which is sometimes difficult to do, the French Partner in the plant has reported Chinese Officials have raised the radioactive level considered safe for the area beyond what French Officials say is safe......nothing to see here, just raise them if anything happens...and who cares about the people living in the area....

[ameribbean expat]

Operation SWALWELL.

[Uncle Miltie]

Radioactive farts, courtesy PooBearXi!

[ßuddaßudd]

rut roh,, here we go again..

[meatloaf]

The zirconium cladding on the fuel rods was damaged.

[Political Junkie Too]

Maybe the Chinese will claim it was just COVID-19 disinfectant.

-PJ

[untenured]

Is that something that happens often enough as to not necessarily be a harbinger of a disaster?

[blueunicorn6]

You could launch a satellite with that.

[BobL]

One would HOPE that the French could figure out not to get in bed with China. First they build the Wuhan Level 4 Bio Facility, and now Nuclear Reactors. What’s France’s record in both of these areas? PERFECT, no significant accidents that I know of in France - they know how to build safely and then operate safely.

...but then they send it off to China - first Wuhan, now this. Hey France - try using your BRAINS when dealing with other countries, particularly Communist ones.