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As a professional engineer, it sounds like the pumps were damaged. It seems to me not enough redundacy was built in.

There was a Japanese engineer on Fox around 5:00. He said there were three problems. The earthquake scrammed the reactor. A fire in the switching plant cut off the plant from outside power. The tsunami caused saltwater contamination to the diesel backup. Now what they meant by "saltwater contamination" wasn't explained. It might be some sea water got into the fuel tanks, or that the entire power house is under 30 feet of water. All i have is that one sentence.

84 posted on 03/11/2011 6:24:38 PM PST by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world and they are all out to get me.)

My guess is the tsunami filled the APU engine cylinders and crankcase with water. If they were running at the time, they may well be non salvageable due to hydro-lock.

113 posted on 03/11/2011 7:36:21 PM PST by Clay Moore (The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2)