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