Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station
The Fermi Station (NRC image)
Country	United States
Location	Newport, Berlin Charter Township, Monroe County, Michigan
Coordinates	41°57′46″N 83°15′27″W / 41.96278°N 83.25750°W / 41.96278; -83.25750
Status	Operational
Construction began	Unit 1: August 8, 1956 Unit 2: September 26, 1972
Commission date	Unit 1: August 7, 1966 Unit 2: January 23, 1988
Decommission date	Unit 1: November 29, 1972
Construction cost	$6.110 billion (2007 USD)
Owner(s)	DTE Energy
Operator(s)	DTE Energy
Website Fermi 2 Power Plant

The Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear power plant located in Michigan, USA. It sits on the shore of Lake Erie, near the city of Monroe. This power plant is owned and run by DTE Energy. It's about halfway between Detroit, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio. You can even see it from parts of Canada!

The plant is named after Enrico Fermi, a famous Italian nuclear physicist. He was known for helping to create the first nuclear reactor. Fermi won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1938. This was for his important work on how to create radioactivity.

On October 5, 1966, the first unit, Fermi 1, had a problem. Some of its fuel partly melted. But don't worry, no radioactive material was released into the environment. After being fixed, it was shut down permanently in 1972.

Fermi 1: The First Reactor

The first unit at the site was called Fermi 1. It was a special type of reactor called a fast breeder reactor. Construction started in 1956. It began operating on August 23, 1963.

What Happened at Fermi 1?

On October 5, 1966, Fermi 1 had a problem. A small part of its fuel melted. This happened because something blocked the flow of liquid sodium coolant. The operators didn't notice until alarms sounded. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission confirmed that no unusual radioactivity escaped.

How Fermi 1 Worked

Fermi 1 used liquid metal (sodium) to cool its core. It could produce 69 megawatts of electricity. The core had special fuel made of enriched uranium. This fuel was surrounded by other parts made of depleted uranium.

The reactor had a shield plug that could rotate. This helped move the fuel around. It also kept radiation inside. Heat from the reactor was transferred to a second sodium system. This system then made steam to spin a turbine and create electricity.

Why Fermi 1 Closed

After the fuel problem, Fermi 1 was repaired. It started up again in July 1970. It even reached its full power. However, due to a lack of money and old equipment, it was shut down for good on November 27, 1972. The site is now in a safe storage state, meaning it's being watched until it can be fully taken apart.

Several books and even a song have been written about the Fermi 1 incident. One famous book is We Almost Lost Detroit.

Fermi 2: The Current Reactor

Fermi 2 is the main reactor operating at the plant today. It's a General Electric boiling water reactor. It can produce 1,202 megawatts of electricity. Plans for Fermi 2 were announced in 1968. It started operating in July 1985 and began full commercial use on January 23, 1988.

How Fermi 2 Works

Inside the reactor, water turns into steam. This steam then goes to a large turbine generator to make electricity. After that, the steam cools down and turns back into water. This water is then reused.

Fermi 2 uses two large cooling towers. These towers are 400 feet tall! They help cool the water using natural air circulation. Only a small amount of water from Lake Erie is needed to replace what evaporates.

Power Distribution and Safety

The electricity from Fermi 2 is sent to homes and businesses through large power lines. These lines also supply power to the plant's safety equipment. The plant also has backup diesel generators. These can power safety equipment during an emergency.

Fermi 3: A Future Plan

There were original plans for a Fermi 3 unit in the 1970s, but they were cancelled.

New Plans for Fermi 3

In 2008, DTE Energy asked for permission to build a new third reactor. This new unit would be built near Fermi 2. It would be a modern Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR). This type of reactor is designed to be very safe.

Building a new reactor is a big project. It could take many years and cost billions of dollars. DTE Energy believes nuclear power can be a good long-term energy choice.

Concerns and Approval

Some groups have raised concerns about building a new plant. They worry about its effects on public health and Lake Erie.

In 2015, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the license for Fermi 3. However, DTE Energy has stated that there are no immediate plans to start construction.

Safety and Surrounding Areas

Nuclear power plants have special safety zones. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission sets these zones.

• The first zone is about 10 miles around the plant. This zone is for protecting people from breathing in any radioactive material if there was an accident.
• The second zone is about 50 miles around the plant. This zone is for protecting people from eating or drinking contaminated food or liquids.

Many people live within 50 miles of the Fermi plant. This includes people in Detroit and Toledo. People in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, also live within this distance.

Earthquake Risk

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission studies the risk of earthquakes for all US nuclear plants. For Fermi, the risk of an earthquake strong enough to damage the reactor is very low. It is considered one of the safest plants in the US in terms of earthquake risk.

Reactor Information

The Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station has one reactor working now. One unit is closed, and another is planned for the future.