8.8 Magnitude Earthquake hit Japan

[mstng86]

Pumping salt water in them destroyed any chance of them ever working again, if that is what you are asking.

Also, more bad news is coming in with the announcement that the pool of water covering the spent fuel rods has evaporated and radiation is spreading. This shit is only going to get worse.

Stevo

Right, I know the salt water ruined them forever, but they still have to keep the rods cooled down for years, from what I understand.

[stevo]

Right, I know the salt water ruined them forever, but they still have to keep the rods cooled down for years, from what I understand.

From what I understand is that they are running a new power cable in to attempt to power up the pumps, but that might be a moot point if the equipment is damaged beyond repair. I know I'd hate to be the person that has to attempt to repair the equipment.

Stevo

[Sean88gt]

Why don't they just poor ice on them?

[stevo]

Why don't they just poor ice on them?

I think that might be the current plan, let the snow cool them off.

Stevo

[mstng86]

Liquid nitrogen?

[Sgt Beavis]

From what I understand is that they are running a new power cable in to attempt to power up the pumps, but that might be a moot point if the equipment is damaged beyond repair. I know I'd hate to be the person that has to attempt to repair the equipment.

Stevo

The part damaged beyond repair is the core itself. However it is believed that the main cooling system is fine, it just has no power. It is reported that restoring power "should" finally calm the situation.

Of course they then have a huge mess to deal with...

[ceyko]

Are the Japanese that are getting out of the country right now going to be accepted back. I mean, yes there status will still be the same, but socially how are people going to look at these people that ran away from this whole situation when they return?

I don't know their culture, but if they can't help what's wrong with getting out of dodge? In my experience with highly stressful events - it's best to stay out of the way unless you know what you're doing and can really assist OR are asked to assist.

[mstng86]

I don't know their culture, but if they can't help what's wrong with getting out of dodge? In my experience with highly stressful events - it's best to stay out of the way unless you know what you're doing and can really assist OR are asked to assist.

Their culture is built on honor. I don't think they are going to see much honor in someone running away and not helping anyway they can. But, I am just going on my perception.

[Sean88gt]

I think that might be the current plan, let the snow cool them off.

Stevo

I think a bunch of people handing buckets of sonic ice to one another can put an end to this situation.

[Strychnine]

I think that might be the current plan, let the snow cool them off.

Stevo

Snow does not cool. Water does (water has a 25x better heat transfer rate than air). At 1000*+, that snow will be water LONG before it gets there.

At BEST, the snow to water ratio (dependant on ambient temp) is 10:1. It would take an ENORMOUS amount of snow... and there's an ocean right there next to them. They needs pumps. Big, giant pumps.

There are two US firerucks there (manned by Japanese crews), a "water cannon" from the US, 10 GE gas-turbine generators and other equip on the way.

And they aren't trying to cool the whole place. They need to get the spent fuel in the SFP completely submerged so the snow would have to fall direclty in there, and they need to flow coolant through the core, which is not open to the atmosphere.

[ceyko]

Their culture is built on honor. I don't think they are going to see much honor in someone running away and not helping anyway they can. But, I am just going on my perception.

Honor is a matter of perspective, I think their culture is built on some tradition. However after stories I've read and heard from WWII - honor by my definition is not necessarily the case.

However that was war, and things are different during those times. I think some of those workers are probably just fodder at this stage though. Some honor and courage in that. Just not sure what they'd expect everyone else to do.

[Trip McNeely]

I heard somewhere that a mixture of sand and concrete can be used to encase the reactor.

[stevo]

Snow does not cool. Water does (water has a 25x better heat transfer rate than air). At 1000*+, that snow will be water LONG before it gets there.

At BEST, the snow to water ratio (dependant on ambient temp) is 10:1. It would take an ENORMOUS amount of snow... and there's an ocean right there next to them. They needs pumps. Big, giant pumps.

There are two US firerucks there (manned by Japanese crews), a "water cannon" from the US, 10 GE gas-turbine generators and other equip on the way.

And they aren't trying to cool the whole place. They need to get the spent fuel in the SFP completely submerged so the snow would have to fall direclty in there, and they need to flow coolant through the core, which is not open to the atmosphere.

I was being sarcastic.

Stevo

[ceyko]

http://www.educatedearth.net/nuclearjapan.php

// 5:03 PM - March 16 2011
US officials have concluded that the warnings of the Japanese government have been insufficient and, deliberately or not, they are understating the potential threat at the crippled nuclear facility.

[stevo]

The part damaged beyond repair is the core itself. However it is believed that the main cooling system is fine, it just has no power. It is reported that restoring power "should" finally calm the situation.

Of course they then have a huge mess to deal with...

I was referring to the idea that the explosions and fires might have damaged the pumping equipment and the lines that supply the water to the cores themselves. And to the reports that two of the reactor containment cores are reportedly cracked and damaged, and would not hold water when they tried to fill them a few days ago.

Who knows what the real situation is there though at the moment, there is so much conflicting information coming from different sources.

Stevo