Update: Authorities say alert at San Onofre plant in Calif. is 'an ammonia leak that

[MNeagle]

<A class=external title="Go to story" href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/11/01/emergency-reported-at-san-onofre-nuclear-power-plant/">
Update: Authorities say alert at San Onofre plant in Calif. is 'an ammonia leak that is being contained' - @CBSLA (http://twitter.com/CBSLA)

[Dogman]

Ammonia leak sparks alert at San Onofre

City News Service
An ammonia leak in the steam system used to drive the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station’s turbines prompted an alert at the plant Tuesday, but Southern California Edison officials insisted there was no
threat to the public.
The alert was declared at about 3 p.m. when the leak was detected, according to SCE, the majority owner of the plant.
“As a precaution, the company evacuated employees in the area near where the leak was found,” according to a statement from Edison. “Other employees remain in other areas of the plant. There’s no immediate danger to
the public. Those units are operating normally.”
A press release from the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services said that in response the county “has activated and staffed the Operational Area Emergency Operations Center (EOC) with county agency representatives, in order that it may be prepared should the situation at the power plant deteriorate.”


http://www.lajollalight.com/2011/11/01/ammonia-leak-sparks-alert-at-san-onofre/

[SWRichmond]

http://www2.emersonprocess.com/siteadmincenter/PM%20Rosemount%20Analytical%20Documents/Liq_ADS_4900-87.pdf

"The water used in high pressure steam plants is commonly treated with small amounts of chemicals for the purpose of reducing corrosion. The treatment chemicals can be divided into two types: volatile chemicals and solids. The most common volatile treatment chemical is ammonia. When added to condensate and feedwater, ammonia elevates the pH and reduces waterside and
steamside corrosion of ferrous metals."

In other words, ammonia is a steam side (secondary side) additive to the feedwater used to control corrosion in the steam generator. No doubt it is used in very concentrated form and thus any leak would be a personnel hazard.

[BrewTech]

Meh... I ain't trippin'...