Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

UPDATE 4-Japan declares emergency at nuke plant, no radiation leak now
Reuters ^ | March 11, 2011 | Osamu Tsukimori and Kiyoshi Takenaka

Posted on 03/11/2011 11:27:35 AM PST by americanophile

* Problems not at critical level -local officials quoted

* U.S. Air Force delivers coolant to nuclear plant

* Thousands of residents evacuated as precautionary measure (Adds researchers' quotes, background)

TOKYO, March 11 (Reuters) - Thousands of residents were evacuated from an area around a nuclear plant in Japan after a powerful earthquake raised fears of a radiation leak, but local officials said problems with the reactor's cooling system were not at a critical level.

There were no signs of a radiation leak, but the U.S. air force delivered coolant to the nuclear plant to avert a disaster within the wider disaster of the biggest earthquake on record to hit the country.

Experts said there could be leakage if water levels in the Fukushima reactor -- some 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo -- fell and the temperature of the nuclear rods rose, but that this danger did not appear to be imminent.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: earthquake; japan; japanearthquake; jetstream; nuclear; tsunami
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-43 next last
To: Drill Thrawl
When a reactor threatens to go hypercritical, no one outside the immediate area of response matters, just available assets, logistics and competent personnel. Those who understand the situation either react in direct proper manner or run.

This will be explained in kinder garden language to the “leaders” after the fact of the necessary action. Unless everyone who tried died. That is the easy way out, as no explanations are required.

These things are reality. The men and women dealing with this situation have more balls than everyone here today combined times ten.

21 posted on 03/11/2011 12:00:47 PM PST by mmercier (the cold equation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: rsobin

The reactor in question is a BWR (boiling water reactor) and it uses standard water, not heavy water.

At this point in such an emergency, when the control rods have been completely inserted for a few hours, the reactor is sub-critical. The goal is to cool the fuel rods. Any kind of water will serve this purpose.


22 posted on 03/11/2011 12:01:06 PM PST by kidd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: aumrl

You are probably correct, boronated water for the ‘slick’ system. Not a coolant actually, a fission poison.

What I have read seems to indicate that the boronated water system is still intact though. I am guessing they don’t want to fire it off and poison the whole loop. I’m not sure that will do much anyway. If the control rods fully inserted, there shouldn’t be any fission activity. What they have is decay heat.

OTOH, if they have lost the core geometry and fission is still going on, then they aren’t saving anything and may as well fire the boron. The reactor is trashed already.

But then again, I’m no nuclear engineer (even though I did once stay at a Holiday Inn Express). If there is someone out there who actually knows the operational specifics and can educate me, I’m all ears.


23 posted on 03/11/2011 12:06:55 PM PST by SargeK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: mmercier

I get that, I was be sarcastic about Bambi unwilllingness to help any ally that is not in the SEIU.


24 posted on 03/11/2011 12:08:51 PM PST by Drill Thrawl (I don't prep for the disaster. I prepare for the rebuilding.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: The_Victor
For the record, nuclear reactor coolant is water.

Highly, highly distilled water.

25 posted on 03/11/2011 12:11:19 PM PST by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: kidd

Why would the US America have to delvier water to them. Do they not have their own water.


26 posted on 03/11/2011 12:13:31 PM PST by ichabod1 (Hail Mary Full of Grace, The Lord Is With Thee...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: BlazingArizona
It is that the device will melt and escape the containment vessel from what I last heard. I am in ipod mode now, and could care less.

It would however be interesting for the world to see on live video what vaporized concrete and steel looks like.

27 posted on 03/11/2011 12:58:28 PM PST by mmercier (mesmerized)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SargeK

Heavy water is also a good neutron absorber, just not as good as boron. Maybe adding heavy water to the water cooling system will damp the chain reaction while cooling the fuel rods.


28 posted on 03/11/2011 1:00:22 PM PST by RossA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: mmercier

As to what a melt down looks like, there have been loads of shows on the Chernobyl aftermath. Maybe you could organize a tour? (only joking).


29 posted on 03/11/2011 1:02:42 PM PST by RossA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: RossA

http://kiddofspeed.com


30 posted on 03/11/2011 1:09:16 PM PST by SargeK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: americanophile
Folks, we have to take some moments and lift those folks up in prayer today, they ain't outta the woods yet. Something BIG is going to happen and this is only the tip of the ice burg!! GOD HAVE MERCY!
31 posted on 03/11/2011 1:13:31 PM PST by RoseofTexas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SargeK
The cooling system means not a whit when the electricity that runs the pumps goes down.

When the core remains active at a temperature that melts steel without coolant... It just does its thing.

We made them. We know the potential.

This is what we do.

No problem, except that hand of God thing.

32 posted on 03/11/2011 1:23:56 PM PST by mmercier (in the face lies the disgrace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: americanophile

Errrr, I think the USAF delivered generators to keep the coolant pumps running.....


33 posted on 03/11/2011 1:38:45 PM PST by ScreamingFist (Quiet the Idiot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: americanophile

Uh huh, right, turns out there was no danger, move along folks, you’ll find out in say, 5 years whether or not this was true ... when you’re diagnosed.


34 posted on 03/11/2011 1:42:08 PM PST by Scythian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mmercier
The cooling system means not a whit when the electricity that runs the pumps goes down.

Indeed, the cooling pumps have apparently been running on battery since the SCRAM, these generators will allow the reactor to cool down. If you want to pray, pray they can keep the pumps going....

35 posted on 03/11/2011 1:50:05 PM PST by ScreamingFist (Quiet the Idiot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: RoseofTexas
Have you seen the videos? What else could possibly top that?
36 posted on 03/11/2011 1:53:55 PM PST by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Raebie

Wow..bookmarked.


37 posted on 03/11/2011 1:56:12 PM PST by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: mmercier
It would however be interesting for the world to see on live video what vaporized concrete and steel looks like.

Are you some kind of anti-nuke moron? We've already seen it at Chernobyl...most thinking humans don't want to see it again.

38 posted on 03/11/2011 1:59:58 PM PST by ScreamingFist (Quiet the Idiot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: americanophile

The Bush Administration chose the route of lying to the public in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 too.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1855815/posts
Whitman to Testify Before Congress on 9/11 Air Quality
Millennium Radio New Jersey ^ | Monday, June 25, 2007 | By: Martin Di Caro

Posted on 6/25/2007 7:49:58 AM by Calpernia


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1855886/posts
Damning questions Whitman must be made to answer (re: 9/11 first responders now sick and dying(
Ny Daily News ^ | June 25, 2007 | Juan Gonzalez

Posted on 6/25/2007 10:23:17 AM by RDTF


39 posted on 03/11/2011 2:23:33 PM PST by JerseyHighlander (p.s. The word 'bloggers' is not in the freerepublic spellcheck dictionary?!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: americanophile

JAPAN RADIATION ALERT! Thousand FLEE LEAK ZONE! It WILL follow the jet stream!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHmoEG_hEs0&feature=player_embedded


40 posted on 03/11/2011 6:20:47 PM PST by Whenifhow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-43 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson