Red Alert now issued for Japan
- Thread starter LEAPup
- Start date
The Japanese nuclear reactors are GE boiling water design so if they melt, at least it's into the ground. The Chernobyl reactors were of a type that resulted in a fire and explosion.
A meltdown would be bad, but nothing like a Chernobyl disaster. More like a Three Mile Island event.
A meltdown would be bad, but nothing like a Chernobyl disaster. More like a Three Mile Island event.
Reactor overview:
Press releases from TEPCO (company owning he reactor plant):
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/index-e.html
Sea water used for cooling down the reactor
The Tokyo Electric Power Company is using sea water as an emergency coolant in its quake-damaged reactor at Fukushima Number One Power Plant.
The massive earthquake on Friday caused a breakdown of cooling systems that could cause temperatures in the reactor to rise to uncontrollable levels.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano disclosed on Saturday that the company is pouring sea water into the containment vessel of the reactor. Sea water is readily available as the plant is close to the sea.
Edano said the company is mixing boric acid with the water to help absorb neutrons to slow nuclear fission.
Edano added that government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has endorsed the procedure.
Self-Defense Force troops, who are actually in charge of the cooling process, are using pump trucks and other methods to inject the sea water. They say the work started on Saturday evening will be completed on early Sunday.
Sunday, March 13, 2011 01:03 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/13_01.html
Press releases from TEPCO (company owning he reactor plant):
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/index-e.html
Sea water used for cooling down the reactor
The Tokyo Electric Power Company is using sea water as an emergency coolant in its quake-damaged reactor at Fukushima Number One Power Plant.
The massive earthquake on Friday caused a breakdown of cooling systems that could cause temperatures in the reactor to rise to uncontrollable levels.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano disclosed on Saturday that the company is pouring sea water into the containment vessel of the reactor. Sea water is readily available as the plant is close to the sea.
Edano said the company is mixing boric acid with the water to help absorb neutrons to slow nuclear fission.
Edano added that government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has endorsed the procedure.
Self-Defense Force troops, who are actually in charge of the cooling process, are using pump trucks and other methods to inject the sea water. They say the work started on Saturday evening will be completed on early Sunday.
Sunday, March 13, 2011 01:03 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/13_01.html
And once The One gets done banning coal plants, we're going to be in a world of hurt. We'll be hoping on an exercise bike/generator for an hour every morning to heat up some water for a shower.
There *are* newer inherently safe reactor designs that absolutely can't overheat like boiling water reactors. Unfortunately the only "proven" designs are these 40 year old boiling water types.
Unfortunately there's no national will to push nuclear technology beyond the 60's.
Unfortunately there's no national will to push nuclear technology beyond the 60's.