[depressed in 06]

I am reminded of a Murphy Law corollary, that a device to protect a component will be protected by the component. I am not sure what Richter level the plant was designed for, but, it seems to have survived a 9.0, but, not the tsunami that came with it. The backup coolant system was a proven lower tech system that had little assumption of failure.

[stayathomemom]

I was reminded of trying to replace a hot water bottle for my mother several years ago. Her old “Made in USA” one had bit the dust. I ended up giving up getting her a new one. Every one I bought, though packaged differently, was made in China and had the same design flaw. The treads of the bottle did not match the threads of the stopper. They all leaked terribly and, although they looked good, were totally useless.

[TXnMA]

Makes me wonder if the diesel engines themselves ingested water. Diesel ignition depends on high compression of a fuel-air mix -- but water is essentially incompressible.

If those engines were running at speed and ingested water, the pistons, rods, heads, and/or cylinders may have been destroyed. That would explain why they have not been put back into operation...