Posted on 03/14/2011 1:45:20 PM PDT by americanophile
Japan has asked the US for help to stop a quake-damaged nuclear reactor plunging into uncontrollable meltdown. The plea comes after a second hydrogen explosion occurred at a nuclear plant where officials warned that three nuclear rods in a cooling-starved reactor appeared to be melting.
Plumes of grey smoke billowed into the air after the blast at the Fukushima Daiichi plant's number 3 unit, injuring 11 people.
Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano confirmed the fear of rods melting inside all three of the site's most troubled reactors.
"Although we cannot directly check it, it's highly likely happening," he said.
Officials insist the inner reactor's container remains intact - but concern was raised when number 2 unit's fuel rods were left fully exposed by a falling cooling water level.
Workers managed to raise water levels after a second drop on Monday night, but they began falling for a third time, according to nuclear agency official Naoki Kumagai.
Specialists are now considering spraying water directly on the hermetically-sealed container in an attempt to cool it.
The former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told Sky News that the status of the faulty reactor may deteriorate even more.
"I think the situation is still very, very grim - we are by far not over the worst," Olli Heinonen said.
Harvard-based Mr Heinonen said it is now important for US expertise to be employed to minimise the risk of a catastrophic failure.
"They are the best people to know their (reactors') behaviour, particularly when you go into this phase and assess the consequences."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...
Guess you missed the memo, for the Japanese the sky fell on to of them this past Friday followed by the Pacific Ocean...
Obama is as eager to help as the rest of his Islamic brethren. He is waiting until the Saudi and Iranian rescue ships show up. All of those "foundation of civilization" people are the best to deal with a world in crisis.
I heading to Antarctica....you in? I’ll pick you up on my way through Texas, plenty of room in my VW.
It's pretty obvious by what you've been posting over the last couple of days, that you're bound and determined to remain as ignorant as possible about the technologies related to this incident.
That remark was condescending, and an insult to those responsible Freepers who have done a heroic job of informing us, and demystifying the processes involved with this tragedy.
If you insist upon having your own personal meltdown over this incident, go right ahead, but keep it to yourself.
On many levels!
Entombment. Sand and concrete. Gotta get on it now before you lose the containments.
if it melts into the earth, it’s “our” fault
whether we send technical help or not
That is the spin that’s being developed
Bambi doesnt care either way
If it melts he can go to the UN and demand a nuclear-free world and burnish his messiah halo even more
Not a problem. I collect medieval weapons and artifacts. I’ve studied the cultures and lifestyles of those ages.
If we went back to the year 1450 I’d do just fine.
I am thinking it might be possible to bomb the reactor, or use a cruise missile, or even previously placed explosive package that would in essence blow out the reaction by scattering the fuel to a point whereby a reaction couldn't continue.
It would be messy around the general location, but would prevent large area (nationwide/worldwide) contamination and allow the possibile of future cleanup using remotely operate robots.
If they do this, they'd have to take out every reactor that isn't able to be safety shut down for an extended period.
I would rather see Homer Simpson take charge. At least he worked at a nuclear power plant.
If I had to guess, it might be expert manpower. The nuclear technicians and engineers there have been operating in an unimaginably intense crisis mode for going on 72 hours. They've lost, I think, about a dozen+ of their crew due to injuries. They're probably short-handed, and running on adrenaline and little sleep, at a time many (if not all) of them are worried about the whereabouts and well-being of their own families and loved ones.
Do we (the US) have very many engineers who are trained/certified in BWR technology and crisis management? If we have, they'd have to volunteer to go and help, because you sure couldn't order them to. How many, if called, would be willing to volunteer for this? I wonder.
I suspect the Japanese understand Baraq is out of the loop.
Any call they make is likely to some contact in industry or the military who can actually understand what they want.
I agree. But I also guarantee that they'll get good help and practical expertise from both the military and from the nuclear industry itself. There are a number of very intelligent people in the nuclear industry, many of whom could possibly lend assistance. Especially if they are very familiar with nuclear generation of the same type and vintage as the units that are in trouble at Fukushima.
President “present.”
bump
The only set of responses The O and his satraps will be able to offer:
1) The EPA will generate a dynamic series of regulations decreeing an immediate end to the event.
2) A High Level Taskforce will meet to provide a laser focus on the situation and issue a position paper including input from Crisis Management Experts, Grief Counselors and Multi-discipline Media consultants.
3) If the above two options have no effect, take two aspirin and call when YOU have the situation under control so that The O can call a presser and claim credit for the triumph. (If there is no success to report, don’t call at all.)
Since the reactor was built in 1970/71, it's safe to say every one of the experts who remains among the living has long since retired.
you get a sky crane and fly in generators to provide the ac power they need; you fly in back up pumps or new pumps to keep the water flowing; you provide filtration equipment to make sure you can keep clean water flowing to the reactors; you provide emergency power distribution towers if necessary; etc., etc. You don’t go golfing!
Agreed, It's never been clear to me why the necessary gensets and pumps couldn't be airlifted in unless it's a matter of the reactor vessel having a 6 inch inlet pipe but the vessel is leaking the equivalent of a 6 inch pipe.
>>Guess you missed the memo, for the Japanese the sky fell on to of them this past Friday followed by the Pacific Ocean...
Actually, the Earth rose up against them and then the seas engulfed them. The sky did not fall..yet.
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