Posted on 03/16/2011 6:25:47 AM PDT by hc87
Interesting...thanks for that info!
My only question is why they did not say that in first place.....lol!
Flames at Unit 4 were reported to be the result of a pump fire, which caused a small explosion that damaged the roof of Unit 4 (See TEPCO’s press release on the most recent fire at http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/11031606-e.html) . Efforts at Units 4-6 are focused on supplying cooling water to the spent fuel storage pools. Temperatures in these pools began to rise in the days after the quake. At the time of the quake, only Unit 4’s core had been fully offloaded to the spent fuel pool for maintenance; roughly 1/3 of the cores of Units 5 and 6 had been offloaded. This explains in part why the temperature in Unit 4’s pool has risen faster than at the other reactors: it has a higher inventory, both in fuel volume and in heat load.
Source
http://mitnse.com/2011/03/16/news-updates-and-current-status-of-facilities/
I call bS on that reasoning.....really that’s what TEPCO is reporting?
They should talk with their government....and every other nuke scientist in the world that have seen the reactor building...lol
But seriously.. :) I don't think they knew. Didn't know at first what started it, didn't know for sure why it went out.
I think a lot of the lack of information can be explained simply by "they don't know for sure." I respect the Japanese sources for not saying when they don't know or saying they don't know, than I do those that say something who don't know. I put Chu and the NRC in the latter category for now.
It's a very difficult situation and they've lost a lot of their information gathering tools. Hopefully getting some power restored will help in this area as well.
Reactor 3 is the one with plutonium in it
“higher inventory, both in fuel volume and in heat load” does explain more heat.
The reactor building you see is above the pools which are deep and made of concrete lined with stainless steel. They do need to keep them covered in water which is all they need to do to buy time.
BWR plant diagram (PDF file):
http://econtent.unm.edu/cgi-bin/showfile.exe?CISOROOT=/nuceng&CISOPTR=33&filename=51.pdf
As I understand it, only Unit 4 had any fuel in the storage pool that was very active. Spent fuel in Unit 4 was still pretty “hot” because the reactor had been more recently de-fueled. That fuel was in the storage pool; an open-top pool OUTSIDE the secondary reactor containment.
Owing to the fact that these fuel rods were pretty fresh out of the reactor core, they required ongoing circulation of the storage pool water to keep them at a stable, low temperature.
When the power failed, that circulation ceased, and the rods began to heat up and boil the water in the storage pool. At about 1200 degrees Celcius, the Zircaloy cladding of the fuel rods became molten, and a highly-exothermic (heat-producing) Zirconium oxidation reaction began that created zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and liberated hydrogen gas (H2).
It wast his liberated hydrogen gas that exploded, and blew the fascia panels off of the top portion of the reactor building at Unit 4.
At no time did this explosion cause fuel rod material to be ejected from the storage pool.
The critical issue is how to replenish the water in the storage pool to cool off the stored fuel rods.
DETAILED EXPERT UPDATE WITH LONG ENSUING DISCUSSION THREAD FILLED WITH SPECIFIC INFORMATION, HERE:
http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/16/fukushima-16-march-summary/
Yeah but to blame it on a pump fire?
The first day they said it was a grease fire....then admitted it was the pool...now there back to a pump>?
Sorry, that’s just either bad translation or just flat out disinformation.
“Radiation level falls at Japan Fukushima plant: agency”
– 58 mins ago
TOKYO (Reuters) – The level of radiation detected at the Tokyo Electric Power Co Fukushima plant has fallen steadily over the past 12 hours, an official at Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said on Thursday.
A level of 752 microsieverts per hour was recorded at the plant’s main gate at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT) on Wednesday, said the official, Tetsuo Ohmura. The monitoring point was then changed to the plant’s west gate and readings were taken every 30 minutes, he said. At 5 a.m. the reading was 338 microsieverts per hour...”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110316/wl_nm/us_japan_quake_level
I’d need to see your cites on this.
Pump fits the facts. Since it went out, fits them better than fuel rods.
Fuel rod fire also wouldn’t fit the radiation levels going down. I believe they would stay up or increase.
NHK Live: Helo is currently hovering over #3 & 4, checking out conditions, monitoring radiation. Two more helos with 7.5 tons water each are on the way. Police in water cannon trucks on ground ... waiting for go signal. They’re going to douse #3 first because they can see and get to its spent fuel tank more readily. Water dumped on #3 now. 9:48
WOW
http://globaltravelerinternational.blogspot.com/2011/03/nhk-tokyo-japan-live-tv.html
Live - dropping water
Can this possibly help?
Thanks for the update.
Supposedly the U.S. will be helping monitor the situation, as well:
“The U.S. military will operate a Global Hawk unmanned high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft over a stricken nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, possibly on Thursday, to take a closer look at its troubled reactors, a Japanese government source said Wednesday.
Photographs taken by the plane equipped with infrared sensors could provide a useful clue to what is occurring inside the reactor buildings, around which high-level radiation has been detected....”
http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/78680.html
Watching the report now. Helicopters have completed run. Report says they're moving to trying using hoses. It looked to me like the water drops were not all that accurate. It may be more effective in filling the spent fuel pool. Reporter says spent rods partially exposed.
Trucks hold 4 tons of water, more accurate. I'm guessing this could be a hopeful method for refilling the spent fuel ponds. Two different accounts on whether the trucks will primarily target #3 or ponds. Not sure.
The problem, according to the reporter, for both operations is radiation levels.
The spent rod pond in #3 is empty too. They’re hitting it because it’s easier to get water to, and it’s (apparently) more radioactive.
Meanwhile - back at the ranch
Obama is heading to Rio!!!!!!!!!!!
Good for him - getting away for a bit. Much needed no doubt
TEPCO news statement just now
water level falling in number 5 now, pressure rising
Maybe he’ll get some tats and grill work while he’s gone.
NHK is shifting between live and recorded. The last live shot, they dumped water on #4. The reporter is saying 3. They’ve been confusing them all afternoon.
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