Japan quakes

[Postmodum]

For what i read, they are releasing steam from the reactor ...
Jeez ... :x

This really sucks ... what i really can't understand is how they didn't prevent this kind of situations to create some kind of redundancy for the backup generators ... :x

[nameless?]

Yea I also noticed that but I wonder if they'd concider shutting it down earlier now, I mean it's just 10 days until that and with the problems it's got currently it seems like very logical decision to me at least but yea I don't know of the exact consequences that would have ofc but would be interesting to get more info about it.

Given that there is a good chance that the fuel bundle has now at least partially melted and they've been dumping sea water and boron into the reactor to cool it and slow the reaction, there is no way that the thing will ever operate again.

[El Mano]

What are they doing with the sea water that leaves the reactor? I mean, they just can't keep injecting water. In order to cool the reactor, hot water has to leave it.
Where are they depositing this hot, radioactive water?

[Postmodum]

El Maño... that's why they made 20km security perimeter ... steam must go out ... :x

[anubis]

If the water is being dumped into Pacific... :S :S

This is global.

[dctokyo]

The core of a nuclear reactor damaged by Friday’s massive earthquake has partially melted, Japan’s nuclear safety agency said, and the company that runs the plant is pouring seawater into the reactor in an attempt to cool it and prevent it from going critical.

[RPGWiZaRD]

This really sucks ... what i really can't understand is how they didn't prevent this kind of situations to create some kind of redundancy for the backup generators ... :x

Yea this is probably something they will discuss about if there's need to make a backup system for the backup generators or something and at least some improvements/changes. In an area prone to earthquakes this strong it may possibly not be a bad thing in the long run even if it'll ofc lead to extra costs but perhaps most other plants have a more safe backup system as this one's very old now.

[El Mano]

El Maño... that's why they made 20km security perimeter ... steam must go out ... :x

Do you really mean that they are simply allowing into the atmosphere water that has been in direct contact with a melting nuclear reactor???
God bless us all if you are correct man.

I thought that the steam they vented belongs to the secondary loop, not to the primary one dedicated to cool the reactor.

[Postmodum]

RPG, yes ... but in an area of high seismic activity with high probabilities of tsunami's ... ( well, even the word was created by the japanese ) ... with nuclear plants installed in the coast line ... i mean ...
what i read is that the backup generators were damaged by the tsunami ... not the earthquake itself ...

[RPGWiZaRD]

RPG, yes ... but in an area of high seismic activity with high probabilities of tsunami's ... ( well, even the word was created by the japanese ) ... with nuclear plants installed in the coast line ... i mean ...
what i read is that the backup generators were damaged by the tsunami ... not the earthquake itself ...

I'm sure the positioning of the plants play a huge role. Yes at the coast but you would probably not want it to stay at "sea-level" though.

[Postmodum]

... at least, economically speaking

[SKYMTL]

The sea water does NOT make direct contact with the highly radioactive fuel rods. Hence why they have stated that the steam and sea water are only mildly radioactive.

[anubis]

The secondary loop has failed, so whatever they vent has been in direct contact with core. Correct me if im wrong



edit: 13/16 loop (the cooling loop/clean loop) isnt working and they have to introduce seawater directly to 1 (the container/core), i really cant see a way this is good

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_Water_Reactor

[Postmodum]

If i read it correctly the steam had be in contact with fuel rods since it was a result of the vaporization of the cold water cooling the fuel rods ... and now basically the blue loop disappeared ... and that steam must go out or it will just blow do to pressure .... or am i wrong?

[dctokyo]

Do you really mean that they are simply allowing into the atmosphere water that has been in direct contact with a melting nuclear reactor???
God bless us all if you are correct man.

I thought that the steam they vented belongs to the secondary loop, not to the primary one dedicated to cool the reactor.

When steam pressure builds up in the reactor vessel, it stops some of the emergency cooling systems working, and so some of the steam is released into the containment vessel.

However, according to World Nuclear News, an industry newsletter, this caused pressure in the containment vessel to rise to twice the intended operating level, so the decision was taken to vent some of this into the atmosphere.

[Hornet331]

The secondary loop has failed, so whatever they vent has been in direct contact with core. Correct me if im wrong



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_Water_Reactor

No they only fill the era surrding the pressure container (which contains the fule rods), no direct contact with the highly radioactive primary coolant is made.

[anubis]

No they only fill the era surrding the pressure container (which contains the fule rods), no direct contact with the highly radioactive primary coolant is made.

This cant really help much, its an isolated container - so cooling it from the outside wont help at all? Unless it has already been breached..

edit : And the talk about the venting - what did they vent then but the contents of the container? Which is highly radioactive if im not mistaken.

[dctokyo]

another "Big aftershock right now. Screen shaking as I type."

[Halo_003]

another "Big aftershock right now. Screen shaking as I type."

How bad is it compared to the big one on Friday? Hope you're doing okay.

[anubis]

Be strong, Japan.

[dctokyo]

How bad is it compared to the big one on Friday? Hope you're doing okay.

Not as bad, this one was very short 20 seconds, the one on Friday lasted over 5 minutes

[Postmodum]

BREAKING NEWS: Radiation surpasses legal limit in Fukushima No. 1 plant premises: TEPCO

Meh, not looking good

[anubis]

http://www.infowars.com/tsunami-warn...-quake-to-9-1/

So, it was a 9.1....

[[200]]

Not as bad, this one was very short 20 seconds, the one on Friday lasted over 4 minutes

Japan is getting quite a lot of aftershocks by the looks of things!

[alucasa]

Japan believes that a meltdown has occurred. What's worse is that a second meltdown may occur.

From CNN.