Re: db photos - opinion pls

[JGinniver@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 22/11/02 04:18:50 GMT Standard Time, ncohen12@comcast.net 

writes: Opinion please.



I can only agree with other responses to this request, I have yet to discover 

any liquid that would flow both up hill and spread out as it did so.



I would comment that the images that have been released do not provide 

sufficient information to determine where this liquid came from.  It would 

have been good if we could have seen whether the staining caused by the 

liquid continued up past the curved section of the base of the reactor and on 

up the side of the reactor vessel.  I'm not sure of this design, however the 

SNUPPS designed plant at Sizewell, Suffolk UK has sufficient space between 

the biological shield and the reactor vessel.  It's not large but is wide 

enough to allow personnel access between the vessel and the biological 

shield.  I was fortunate to be involved in radiography work on this area in 

the latter stages of construction.  



Given this, and the controversy that has surrounded this additional evidence 

of primary coolant leakage/spillage, it should have been easy to establish 

where the source of the staining began.  If it did not occur due to spillover 

from around the reactor head, then the source of the leak should be evident 

on the outer surface of the reactor vessel.



I would be interested in any other views on this issue, particularly whether 

it is possible to undertake a visual survey of the external surface of the 

vessel, even if it would require a remote camera, endescope(whoops not sure 

of the spelling?)etc.



One other interesting point that has just occurred to me.  There is at 

Sizewell a sump  and associated transfer pump in the pit below the reactor 

vessel.  If there had been long term leakage there should have been evidence 

of this.  Particularly if the sump pump also contained a level alarm or 

indicator in the control system that the pump had operated.



Any thoughts?



Regards,

       Julian

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