ML20041C418

Comments on Des.Helium Gas Instead of Hydrogen Should Be Used for Cooling Turbine.Helium Has Thermal Conductivity of 6.23,is Inert & Nonflammable & Would Avoid Explosive Hazards Caused by Hydrogen

ML20041C418
Person / Time
Site:	Midland
Issue date:	02/24/1982
From:	Donahue R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	Hernan R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 8203010318
Download: ML20041C418 (1)

Text

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February 24, 1982

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Ectu rmuu m 2301 Carol Ct.

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4 co Ronald W. Hernan Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

.U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.

20555

Dear Sir:

I wish to make the following recommendation related to the DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT concerning the Midland nuclear plant license.

I think that helium gas should be used for cooling the tur-bine in place of hydrogen.

The practice of using hydrogen has been due to the high thermal conductivity of the gas (7 13 as compared to air at 1).

The explosive hazard of this use is exemplified by the recent hydrogen explosion at the Consumers Power Pa111sades Nuclear Plant.

The hydrogen there was used to cool the turbine.

Helium which has a thermal conductivity of 6.23 is an inert gas and non-flammable.

Helium has long ago replaced hydrogen as the carrier gas in thermal conductivity detect-ors in gas chromatographs.

I would appreciate your considering this suggestion.

Yours truly, sj/ft h{

Y tty Raymond M. Donahue is ivi sas.s t as

%' V RAYMOND M. DONAHUE

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