[tony549]

I used to work in the US nuclear power industry 30+ years ago before it went belly up. I’m more familiar with PWR’s, not the BWR’s used in Fukushima. Within the containment structures of PWR’s, hydrogen recombiners are installed in the upper chamber of the containment. I assume that these hydrogen recombiners were installed in the secondary containment at Fukushima. However, recombiners require an electric power supply to operate the fans to draw in the hydrogen/steam mix. In my opinion, with no power at Fukushima, the hydrogen just accumulated until an explosive concentration was achieved.

[Steely Tom]

...hydrogen recombiners are installed in the upper chamber of the containment.

There ya go. As I said, if it'd work, someone's already thought of it.

I guess, if you lose power in a power plant, you're screwed nineteen ways from Sunday. That's pretty much all there is to it.

[GOPJ]

I assume that these hydrogen recombiners were installed in the secondary containment at Fukushima. However, recombiners require an electric power supply to operate the fans to draw in the hydrogen/steam mix. In my opinion, with no power at Fukushima, the hydrogen just accumulated until an explosive concentration was achieved.

Would this system - the recombiners - have backups?