Unbelievable Energy Costs

As many people know, I used to work in nuclear power before becoming a father to a wonderful little man.  In my previous life, I was often concerned with damaged equipment whether it be from human error or use.  One issue I was always chasing was steam leaks.

Steam leaks in power plants are problematic for many reasons.  First, they can burn you rather quickly.  They can cut up equipment and short out electrical equipment.  In a bad situation, they can fill a room and suffocate you as you try to escape.  Lastly, they are expensive.

Here’s where it gets interesting.  Many power plants require extremely pure water to generate steam.  The steam is recycled after its use through the turbines and auxiliary systems because it can easily cost $8.00 per gallon to produce in the first place.

Some systems can require 10’s of thousands of gallons a day for makeup water.  It gets expensive fast if you have leaks.

So, what’s a bad leak?  Try 1/32nd of an inch hole.  On a 350 PSI system, you could be loosing $80,000 per day to the air around you! Take a look at this chart to get an appreciation of the problem.  Remember, its $8.00 per gallon.