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To: Errant

So the instrument tube penetration failure may be a possible pathway for release, according to this analysis. From what I know of BWR instrument tubes, those do not have a very large diameter. So we may be talking about several small holes rather than bulk failure of the pressure vessel. That could very well be the case. The point of those early vapor releases was to keep internal pressures done owing to lack of residual heat removal and subsequent coolant vaporization. We know that was the case, so they were following the guidelines in the BWR Owner’s Group specifications. Until they can get some up-close inspection of the lower vessel structure, it is somewhat of a guess.


287 posted on 03/25/2011 9:37:29 AM PDT by chimera
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To: chimera
Yes, but possibly lots of small holes. Reading additional reports located at the same site, I'm coming to the conclusion that salt water may not have been the best coolant to use (of course it's the only thing they had). The sodiumchoride (lower boiling point of 1413 °C) left behind after dry out, may act as a much more effective vehicle for radioactive particle transport than steam.

Too bad the fuel storage pools aren't better contained. This could be a problem if the radiation levels increase and the entire site has to be abandoned.

288 posted on 03/25/2011 9:58:03 AM PDT by Errant
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