The problem with Reactor number three.

formercia

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Thu Mar-17-11 04:11 PM
Original message

The problem with Reactor number three.

It uses a mixture of Uranium and Plutonium Oxides. Put aside for a moment, the fact that Plutonium is very toxic. It has one nasty feature that may cause serious problems.
Once the fuel assemblies have been breached, and Water comes in contact with the Plutonium Oxide, a reaction begins whereby the Plutonium begins to dissolve in the Water. It can reach a concentration where a Chain Reaction occurs. This would completely rupture the pressure vessel and release the Reactor Core and spent fuel to the Atmosphere in a massive explosion.

This is a worst-case scenario, but a possible one, none the less. IMHO

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aquart

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Thu Mar-17-11 04:20 PM
Response to Original message

1. So far, worst case scenarios are all we've had happening here.

But I'm sure this time will be different.

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FBaggins

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Thu Mar-17-11 05:06 PM
Response to Original message

2. All of the reactors have plutonium in them

But you're not going to get a chain reaction from just the plutonium in any if them (and it's unlikely from any of the rest of the fuel too)

Even if any of this were true, keep in mind that any water in the reactor is filled with "reactor poison"... So even if dissolved plutonium could get to critical concentrations, it still wouldn't work.

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eggplant

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Fri Mar-25-11 10:44 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. I believe you are mistaken

Only reactor #3 is a MOX reactor (uranium + plutonium). The other 5 are all uranium-only reactors.

And the water in the reactor isn't the poison water, it's seawater they are pumping in. If there was water in the reactor, we wouldn't be having these problems.

Or at least that's how I understand what I've read.

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caraher

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Sun Mar-27-11 02:34 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. No, he's right

Only #3 is a MOX reactor, but every uranium fission reactor produces plutonium (even if Pu isn't present originally as a fuel).

That's because you have a lot of U-238 in the reactor. Neutron capture results in U-239, which quickly undergoes a beta decay to yield Np-239. The neptunium also decays, this time to Pu-239 (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium-239#Manufacturing">Wikipedia)

I'm not sure how great the quantities are, though.

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autorank

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Fri Mar-25-11 10:22 PM
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3. That's enough to keep me up at nights

Thanks. Too bad our masters don't tell us this.

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formercia

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Sat Mar-26-11 08:27 AM
Response to Reply #3

5. Salt Water makes it even worse

The salts make the Plutonium dissolve even faster.

Not to worry, Plutonium has an affinity for Iron, it will precipitate out on the surface as a Hydroxide. Makes it fun to handle.

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katnapped

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Sun Mar-27-11 02:59 PM
Response to Reply #3

7. Not to worry

ALL IS FINE...keep shopping

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