Outstanding post, Thanks for putting this up. Best explanation of what’s going on that I have read yet.
There is no doubt that there are serious problems over there with these particular reactors, and the fact they are still relatively intact despite surviving both a magnitude 9.1 earthquake and the resultant tsunami is testament to the sound engineering that went into them in the first place.
It sound to me like some of the measures being taken, such as seawater injection for cooling, will probably destroy the internal workings of these reactors and likely require extensive replacement of a lot of expensive components. While it isn’t over yet, this accident is not anywhere near out of control and there still has not been a major radiation release; (and I mean something on the scale of a Chernobyl).
Hopefully this will help calm some of the chicken-little mentality....
“will probably destroy the internal workings of these reactors and likely require extensive replacement of a lot of expensive components”
From what I understand is that these are very old reactors that were due to be decommissioned rather soon anyways. Either way Japanese firms are extremely nationalistic and will almost always put country ahead of profit so I’m positive every decision is being made with safety solely in mind.