Leaky Nukes in Spain Too
Aug. 18th, 2008 11:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
webfarmerYoung folks may not know this but Bar's Leak radiator leak goop used to be sold in glass jars that had something like "Used on the Nautilus" on the label. This was because on the Nautilus, the first nuclear submarine, they had leaks in the system and had to go into port on the maiden voyage to fix it. How did they fix it? They sent sailors around the port town to gather up all the Bar's Leak they could find and dumped the then tar-like concoction into this highly sophisticated and expensive piece of equipment. it worked and the Nautilus went off to visit the North Pole (under the ice that they had back then) and other adventures.
So there's a long tradition of springing leaks when it comes to nuclear plants. Just like the long tradition of covering up nuke plant failures.
Spain Seeks Big Fines Over Leak at Nuclear Plant - IHT - 18 Aug 08
"Spain's nuclear watchdog agency proposed a fine of up to €22.5 million (US$33 million) over a leak at a power plant, accusing operators Monday of waiting three weeks to report it and downplaying the amount of contamination released."
I read about it back when I was a teenager in the book, "Nautilus 90 North" (1959) by William R. Anderson if someone wants a more authoritative account. More on the Bar's Leak story.
"Just a side note, back in 1956 Admiral Rickover was trying to get the Nautilus commissioned and on the street. It seems the Reactor Plant Fresh Water (RPFW) system that cools things in the reactor compartment such as the rod drive motors and the main coolant pumps, etc, these items are not assessable during reactor operation. Developed a leak they could not isolate or find.
Rather than put the ship back in the builders yard and miss some political commitments, part of crew was sent into NewLondon separately and to different auto supply houses where they each bought a considerable quantity of Bars Leak. They needed a lot as the system held around 300 gallons of water. They did not want the news media to know there was any kind of a problem.
Anyway, some Sailors have big mouths (somebody has been talking to Tom Clancey) and it was not long before Bars Leak started printing this story on the can, (this was the 50s). When I joined the Submarine Force later I verified the story. So I think the ads by Bars leak are probably pretty accurate."
So there's a long tradition of springing leaks when it comes to nuclear plants. Just like the long tradition of covering up nuke plant failures.
Spain Seeks Big Fines Over Leak at Nuclear Plant - IHT - 18 Aug 08
"Spain's nuclear watchdog agency proposed a fine of up to €22.5 million (US$33 million) over a leak at a power plant, accusing operators Monday of waiting three weeks to report it and downplaying the amount of contamination released."
I read about it back when I was a teenager in the book, "Nautilus 90 North" (1959) by William R. Anderson if someone wants a more authoritative account. More on the Bar's Leak story.
"Just a side note, back in 1956 Admiral Rickover was trying to get the Nautilus commissioned and on the street. It seems the Reactor Plant Fresh Water (RPFW) system that cools things in the reactor compartment such as the rod drive motors and the main coolant pumps, etc, these items are not assessable during reactor operation. Developed a leak they could not isolate or find.
Rather than put the ship back in the builders yard and miss some political commitments, part of crew was sent into NewLondon separately and to different auto supply houses where they each bought a considerable quantity of Bars Leak. They needed a lot as the system held around 300 gallons of water. They did not want the news media to know there was any kind of a problem.
Anyway, some Sailors have big mouths (somebody has been talking to Tom Clancey) and it was not long before Bars Leak started printing this story on the can, (this was the 50s). When I joined the Submarine Force later I verified the story. So I think the ads by Bars leak are probably pretty accurate."
