Vermont Yankee robot is stuck in leaking pipe

[bananas]

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100310/NEWS01/3100336/1002/NEWS01

Vermont Yankee robot is stuck in leaking pipe
By SUSAN SMALLHEER Rutland Herald Staff - Published: March 10, 2010

VERNON — A small robot that was exploring the underground pipe tunnel believed to be the source of the radioactive tritium leak at the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor has fallen victim to one of the contributing factors of the leak – radioactive "mud" from deteriorating concrete and radioactive water.

The robot, which its Entergy Nuclear handlers have dubbed Rover, is about the size of a remote-controlled toy car, said Larry Smith, spokesman for Entergy Nuclear.

The robot became mired in the sludge at the bottom of the tunnel, which was also partially responsible for the leak. The sludge plugged a drain in the tunnel, which was supposed to drain off the radioactive liquid to be treated later.

Instead, in a scenario supported by both Entergy Nuclear and the Department of Health, both steam trap drain lines associated with the advanced off-gas system developed leaks, and the drain, which was designed to trap and collect any leakage, was plugged. At least one of the leaks was estimated at 100 gallons a day, the health department said.

Those steam trap drain lines carry not just tritium, but radioisotopes cobalt-60, manganese-54 and zinc-65, Smith said.

<snip>

[Ian David]

1. No disassemble! Number five is ALIVE! n/t

[Berry Cool]

2. Grovelbot sends his sincerest sympathies. n/t