More reactor trouble: Fukushima No. 5 loses coolant

jpak

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Mar-15-11 09:14 PM
Original message

More reactor trouble: Fukushima No. 5 loses coolant

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/03/more-reactor-trouble-fukushima-no-5-loses-coolant/1

Adding to the crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, the cooling level has fallen in the No. 5 reactor, Japan's nuclear safety agency says.

The reactor stopped safely for inspection after Friday's magnitude-9.0 quake, but the tsunami damaged a diesel generator that circulated the coolant, NHK writes. Pressure built up, so a relief valve was opened, thereby reducing the coolant.

To compensate, workers are using the diesel generator for reactor No. 6 to pump water to cool both reactors.

<not much more>

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Lone_Star_Dem

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Mar-15-11 09:19 PM
Response to Original message

1. A bit more from NHK

At the time of the quake, nuclear fuel rods were already in the reactor and workers had to circulate water to cool them down.

But the tsunami damaged a diesel generator for circulating the coolant, allowing the pressure in the reactor to rise.

Workers opened a valve to reduce the pressure.
But the procedure allowed water to evaporate from the valve.

As of 9 PM on Tuesday, the water level was 2 meters above the fuel rods. That was 40 centimeters lower than 5 hours earlier.
More at link: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/16_09.html

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Botany

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Mar-15-11 09:20 PM
Response to Original message

2. get another generator there now

n/t

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

jpak

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Mar-15-11 09:47 PM
Response to Original message

3. There is no one there now to maintain this reactor's coolant system

Edited on Tue Mar-15-11 09:48 PM by jpak

n/t

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

kristopher

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Mar-16-11 01:05 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. They've doubled the allowable amount of exposure allowed for the workers.

At what point does it become a suicide mission to avoid subjecting an unexposed worker to danger? I realize that doubling the allowable amount isn't an extreme like that, but the dilemma is lurking in the circumstances and the command staff is probably grappling with it.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

slay

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Mar-16-11 01:25 AM
Response to Reply #4

5. I think many people

Edited on Wed Mar-16-11 01:26 AM by slay

know this is very likely a suicide mission. nobody wants to talk about it though. i don't blame them. it's all very sad. :( :cry:

*on edit - how very brave though - regardless of the outcome.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

kristopher

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Mar-16-11 02:40 AM
Response to Reply #5

6. Yeah...

To some of us that means more than they will ever know.

:cry:

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

FBaggins

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Mar-16-11 05:13 AM
Response to Reply #4

7. You've asked a good question. Can you answer it?

What's the allowable dose and what are the statistical consequences of doubling it?

Is it roughly the same as "those poor guys are all already dead"? Twice that much? Half?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Tue Apr 30th 2024, 07:40 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.