Posted on 06/26/2011 10:20:22 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Boric acid being added to No.3 reactor fuel pool
Tokyo Electric Power Company has begun adding boric acid to the spent fuel storage pool of the No.3 reactor at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to prevent fuel racks from being corroded by alkaline water.
The company started the operation on Sunday morning. About 90 tons of water containing boric acid will be poured into the pool through Monday.
Concrete debris from the March hydrogen explosion of the reactor building has been detected in the fuel pool.
Last month, TEPCO found that the water in the pool had turned strongly alkaline, with its PH level reaching 11.2. The leaching of calcium hydrate from the debris is believed to be the cause. TEPCO says the condition may accelerate corrosion of aluminum racks holding spent fuel rods and may cause the rods to topple in the worst case, which could lead to re-criticality.
At the same time, TEPCO is preparing to install a circulatory cooling system at the fuel pool that will go into operation in early July.
Sunday, June 26, 2011 13:01 +0900 (JST)
P!
More not ifs but whens.
OT - who knew boric acid had so many uses. It's found in many cleaning and beauty products. I had just made note to buy some for the little crawlies on the kitchen counter.
The EPA needs to step in here as it is well known that boric acid is bad for ants.
Well, the boric acid will get rid of the roaches, but Cher will undoubtedly have yet another comeback.
Well, at least they wont have a roach problem..
Boron absorbs neutrons. That’s why boric acid (a water soluble boron compound) is used.
It was an old-time eyewash, too.
This is another desperation move of little meaning.
For background, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfP2biBMNfE
A more recent description:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkbRPJP-p4Q&feature=related
The Japanese gov’t has already admitted this as a Level 7 nuclear emergency. That is the same as Chernobyl. THERE IS NO LEVEL 8!
The melted fuel, 100 tons in each reactor, is now a very hot puddle at about 2000 C. Plus 27 tons of sea salt. Water can not cool this, for obvious reasons.
Particulates with high radiation have already reached the USA. No one knows how to stop such an event at 3 or 4 reactors (3-Mile Island was just a single one, and it took 14 years to reach a secure “cold” containment).
It can also be used in casting lead bullets. Shake some over the top of the melt and it keeps air from forming oxides with the lead/tin. It melts and forms an airtight layer.
BTW, you have to get Boric Acid from behind the counter at a pharmacy because too many people have blinded themselves using it as an eyewash. You have to convince the pharmacist that it will NOT be used as an eyewash or they won’t sell it to you. The stuff used as bug killer has too many other ingredients to be used in casting.
I wonder if Mom knew that. I didn't go blind, but I wear glasses. Maybe there's another explanation?
The other explanation is that a lot of people think that if a little bit is good, a whole lot more is better. I believe those are the ones that blinded themselves.
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