Posted on 05/07/2011 1:08:16 PM PDT by ransomnote
That's diametrically opposite of what the government officials were apparently saying on May 1, when the PM's assistant was on record saying "there will be a large amount of radioactive materials released on May 8".
No estimate or simulation of how low (or high) the level may be of the radioactive materials coming out of the Reactor 1 reactor building. No official (government) word. For the rest of us, we are supposed to take TEPCO's word and feel secure and comforted that radiation will be low.
This is the company that somehow forgot (didn't bother, I might say) to inform the plant workers of the "dry vent" (the link is in Japanese) that it did on Reactor 1 on March 12, exposing the workers on the ground to high radiation without them knowing. Only a handful operators who did the vent, and some in the operation headquarters at the plant knew about it, and not all workers had dosimeters with them at that time (dosimeters were swept away and lost in the tsunami).
(Excerpt) Read more at ex-skf.blogspot.com ...
There is also a theory that filling the drywell with water in reactor 1 is an attempt to 'wet vent' the radiation and therefore minimize the release of radiation into the air. (http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2011/05/fukushima-i-nuke-plant-may-8-release-of.html) "This journalist (link is in Japanese) says one of his friends who used to work at Fukushima I Nuke Plant as an engineer thinks the main purpose of filling the Containment Vessel with water is "wet vent". If the release of radioactive materials in large amount is expected on May 8, the reason why TEPCO is pouring more water into the Containment Vessel is to do the "wet vent" that will reduce the amount of radioactive materials coming out of the Pressure Vessel by having them go through water."
TEPCO workers face a long and difficult task. One that’s not going to be made any easier by the constant instrusion and criticism of those with little to no experience in nuclear operations.
My experience is ephemeral, amounting to perhaps a thousand or so hours in operating plants, and none at all with TEPCO’s units. From what I’ve read, I expect they’re trying to clean up containment in order to set interior control points and ventilation that will minimize uncontrolled environment discharge of radiation. Doing so may mean some short-term increases. >PS
“TEPCO workers face a long and difficult task. One that’s not going to be made any easier by the constant instrusion and criticism of those with little to no experience in nuclear operations.”
I wish there was something we could do to make worker’s task easier - but there isn’t. Likewise, I don’t believe that commentary online will make it more difficult.
I think TEPCO’s behavior brought it the level of critic and commentary that exists now.
You mean like the last time Tepco intentionally released much stronger radiation and they failed to tell any of the workers besides the handful that manipulated the valve open ?
“You mean like the last time Tepco intentionally released much stronger radiation and they failed to tell any of the workers besides the handful that manipulated the valve open ?”
Well, yes. Apparently some or all of those workers not informed of the venting of radioactive fumes were not wearing dosimeters.
“I think TEPCO’s behavior brought it the level of critic and commentary that exists now.” I suspect we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one.
My comments were meant to address the various MSM punditry’s pontifications, however. While we all may mean well and be curious, (me as much as anyone), as to what’s happening, much of this - like so much on the web - is much akin to a self-sustaining reaction. Due to the distressingly prevalent level of ignorance and illogic regarding even sinple science, most of this becomes grist for the new luddites’ mill, rather than meat for intellectual and scientific repast. (Witness the almost immediate panic-mongering press/web comparisons to Chernobyl, when none, - in theory or fact exist )
One outstanding reality regarding Fukishima does, however, exist. Its design is very similar to TMI. It suffered a serious meltdown due to operator malfunction. It was located in an even more populous area, (if one takes into account the number of cites and distances “downwind”), yet no one died !! Let me repeat. NO ONE DIED as a direct or indirect result of radiation exposure. No horrible mutations or crop failures resulted. But when reading the proclamations of the luddites at the time it was an event threatening the sterilization of the Eastrtn seaboard !
But the luddites’ rant did have one major impact. They brought to a crashing halt our nation’s early steps to energy bounty and independence. >PS
I am afraid that there is not much we can agree on here but I accept your suggestion that we agree to disagree.
Why be “afraid” ? Disputatious discourse ( conducted in harmony) means both sides benefit ! Its one of those “counterintuitive things”.....JKust like driving “co-operatively”, rather than aggressively, results in a quicker, more efficient and less stressful commute..... >PS
Why be “afraid” ? Disputatious discourse ( conducted in harmony) means both sides benefit ! Its one of those “counterintuitive things”.....JKust like driving “co-operatively”, rather than aggressively, results in a quicker, more efficient and less stressful commute..... >PS
From what I’ve read TEPCO is having problems with getting enough dosimeters due to losses from the tsunami. From my limited experience film badges are cheap, but pose the problem of time to develop the film and transmit the information contained. But they were light, low-profile and permanent.
In my era “pencil dosimeters” were the standard for high-rad areas as they provided the user ability to read total dose/exposure at will. But I’ll also note they had drawbacks, too. They were bulky/heavy and location-sensitive. Wearing them where they did the most good, (i.e. gave the best readings of exposure) meant they were vulnerable to being bumped or snagged as workers performed physical tasks. “Bumping” was particularly troublesome as they were static charged and a good “bump” would reset them or knock them off calibration. Hence workers (myself included), were prone to taping them to their backs, or into pockets which pretty much degraded the information they recorded. Wlhen working on a complex assembly the loss of a dosimeter among those performing the work pretty much meant dissassembly and inspection which increased the “dose” for everyone.....Not to mention the reports/interviews/”splanations” it entailed...... >PS
“I am afraid that there is not much we can agree on here but I accept your suggestion that we agree to disagree.”
Lest my figure of speech, meant to gently counter another’s position, cloud rather than clarify - I’ll correct it.
“There is not much we can agree on here but I accept your suggestion that we agree to disagree.”
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