Another Japan News Thread | 310 comments (310 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Aren't most of the fuel rods in the pools spent fuel? So the risk of criticality is much lower?

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Thu Mar 17th, 2011 at 12:13:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Euan Mearns, summarising: (none / 0)

The Oil Drum | Fukushima Dai-ichi status and potential outcomes

We have had much debate about whether or not it is possible for the fission chain reaction to re-start in a pile of reactor rubble. The consensus is that this is unlikely though possible.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Mar 17th, 2011 at 12:26:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Zirconium (none / 0)

Not just criticality, but there should be a difference in the rate of self-heating.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Mar 17th, 2011 at 12:43:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Zirconium (none / 1)

I think spent fuel might heat up faster given that a lot of the fission products are a lot more radioactive than fissile Uranium-235.

So, in what may be my last act of "advising", I'll advise you to cut the jargon. -- My old PhD advisor, to me, 26/2/11

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Mar 17th, 2011 at 12:46:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Zirconium (none / 0)

Got any idea of the non-linear affect?

My intuition, and it's only that, is the players in this are thinking they are in Landscape A when the thing has undergone a Thom Catastrophe.

but I know diddly about the science and engineering involved.

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Thu Mar 17th, 2011 at 01:41:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Zirconium (none / 0)

ATinNM:

the players in this are thinking they are in Landscape A when the thing has undergone a Thom Catastrophe

I'm wondering about the Prime Minister's physics background. I wonder who's actually in charge - presumably some TEPCO engineers since the management has been out of its depth since Saturday's explosion - and what ability the government has to provide them with resources.

So, in what may be my last act of "advising", I'll advise you to cut the jargon. -- My old PhD advisor, to me, 26/2/11

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Mar 17th, 2011 at 02:23:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Zirconium (none / 0)

It's clear everybody is operating outside existing emergency protocols. They are making decisions on the fly with unknown follow-on affects and effects.

Example: pumping sea water through pumps and lines not designed for sea water. Did they screen the sea water? If not, what else have they introduced to the system? Clams? Miscellaneous fish parts?

(And etc. & etc.)

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Thu Mar 17th, 2011 at 02:59:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Another Japan News Thread | 310 comments (310 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Top Diaries

The Really Hard Work Starts Now

More Status Quo please - for now

Energy (and Other) Events Monthly - 2024

The Irish general election draws near

Basic Electricity for the Bottom Billion

Recent Diaries

More Back-Stabbing in the New Middle East

#WeAreNATO v Rest of the World

The Really Hard Work Starts Now

US Syrian Quagmire - A Second Life

More Status Quo please - for now

The Arab States Are Faced with Virulent Zionism in Israel

December 2024

Next Step An Integrated, Sovereign Europe

Making the Europe and BreXit Trump Proof ...

Energy (and Other) Events Monthly - 2024

Not A Permanent Ceasefire Lebanon-Israel

Clash of Empires - Crossroads @ Middle East

City Agriculture - November 26, 2024

Harry Truman: 'The Buck Stops Here'

German Election False Promises, Lack of Vision

EU Patriots, Hudson, VDL: ICC Arrest Warrants

Wilderism Hate Mongering, Now ICC Troublemaker

P3+1 Threaten Iran After Ditching JCPOA Deal

Israel's Hasbara: Equates Protest to Hamas Support

The Irish general election draws near

Occasional Series