Posted on 03/14/2011 2:11:19 AM PDT by buccaneer81
just for thought
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvCdxinulw4
Good read.
Add to this that the cooling water also acts as the neutron moderator, in order to bleed off some of the kinetic energy of the neutrons. If the neutrons are too fast, they are more likely to bounce off the U-235 nuclei rather than stick, forming U-236 to spontaneaously fission. Contaminants in the cooling water not only has the problem of neutron activation products, but also some reaction poisons (neutron absorbers). The control rods are made of reaction poisons, as well as the boric acid dump. Some fission products are also reaction poison.
Chernobyl was also a design that had low power instability problems inherent to its design (graphite moderator and water cooled). That is another topic, which was discussed here on Free Republic before the earthquake as part of another thread topic.
It is amazing the technical expertise that is assembled on this board. That is an indication that most on this board look at and research the facts, while our counterpart on the other side of the fence get wrapped up in feelings.
As a follow-up to our earlier exchange on prevailing wind direction around the nuclear plant in Japan, I noted that while it was reported the other day that the wind was coming from the South there, yesterday it was coming from the North.
That can’t be too helpful. It’s going to spread radiation in more than one direction.
Yep. My only point was that a ship commander is not going to necessarily deploy with “wind direction” as his primary concern. There seemed to be some folks questioning why the Reagan came in where it did. Winds are going to change, as they did.
Well I admit to being one of them. The crew and viability of the ship being my primary concerns, I may not have expressed the most sound reasoning on point. I do think it is of primary concern for our men and women to remain healthy, and there is very little excuse for putting them in harms way as a whole, to help out.
I am glad they are in the region to help out, so don’t get me wrong on that count.
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