[Rouxzy]

Pors911E, I'm not what you call an expert in the field but I know what questions to ask and who to ask. The tubes in the steam generators are actually nickel and titanium based, the temps on the intake are about 620 degrees where the output is about 580. The generators at this plant ran about 10 years until this last refueling where there were a few leaks which were fixed. From what I understand one side is radioactive the other isn't so it is important to keep separat so not to contanimate the turbine.

724doorE, there isn't any crud in there because the lines are cotinuously cleaned with a chemical that if spilled on the floor will suck the oxygen out of the air and down you go, that is the reason for a hazwaste dept. on site. Expense is not spared since the plant (which is the last built in the U.S. was suppose to cost about 900 million for two plants. During construction 3 Mile Island happened. The plant final cost was about 7 billion and only one was built. As far as backups, the backup's backups have backups. As far a safe against terroism. A refueling jet filled with fuel can crash into containment and it will not reach the reactor or fuel storage. This plant is quite impressive.

As far a fuel for theses plants go. The navy uses plutonium which is 99% pure, power plants use about 3% pure, thats why an aircraft carrier can go 20 years where a merchant plant has to refuel(some of its fuel) every 14 months. I could go on but this isn't why we are hear. Back to riding Pcars.
Tom