If it isn't radioactive, it's probably the secondary loop, which is used to cool and condense the primary loop after it exits the turbines. Fermi #2 is a Boiling Water Reactor; Pressurized Water Reactors often have three or more loops, but the turbine loop is generally non-radioactive, which has definite benefits.
I trust then that this is a coolant breach which wouldn't create a situation that over temp could cause a more serious situation?
Or is it a situation that could, but isn't an issue if taken care of in a timely fashion?
Thanks for the info my FRiend.
Yes, I hear that it was the secondary loop----just the usual MSM blowing it out of proportion.
As for the BWR vs PWR--ANY steam that goes to the turbine or ancillary machiner is not radioactive.
Or at least it isn't supposed to be ;-)
BTW, has anyone accounted for Homer Simpsons whereabouts?
In a BWR, like Fermi, there is no secondary loop. You're thinking of the condensers which cool the steam after it pases through the turbine. That happens in both PWRs and BWRs. In a BWR the steam goes directly from the reactor to the turbine. In a PWR design the steam from the reactor goes to a steam generator which flashes water on the secondary side to steam which then drives the turbine. You can have different amounts of loops with a PWR but they all go to steam generators which are the interface with the secondary side.
Even if you had a reactor coolant leak, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. The water gets pumped to the radwaste treatment system and processed. The leak at Fermi was from a support system that did not contain reactor coolant.