This is a follow-up to my earthquake/missing person post of this morning, and the updates there. The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that there are problems at two Japanese nuclear power plants in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. The problem from my perspective is that there is a strong lack of good information. I will go so far as to say that some of the news coverage is flat out hysterical and more interested in hysteria (and creating same) than in getting out good information. Some coverage is honest in admitting that there isn't a lot of hard information coming out. So far, both the media and some backchannel seem to agree that there are problems; that backup power systems are not online; and, that efforts to deal with the situation are underway. Beyond that, well, there just isn't a lot of good information. I've reached out to someone I know who spent a good deal of time working on backup power systems for nuclear plants with questions and an offer of/request for a guest post. Meantime, the least hysterical info in the major media I've found is here at CNN. Some food for thought: Western reactors (unlike Chernobyl, which is an entirely different type/style of reactor) have active cooling in multiple loops, redundant backup systems, and -- most importantly -- containment vessels. What is causing the majority of the problems with these reactors is that the emergency generators used to cool when the reactor is scrammed are not working. Many plant designs have a massive amount of battery backup both to start the backup generators even as they keep controls and cooling online for an extended period of time while the generators and such come online. The questions I have right now revolve around the backup generators and the apparent lack of battery backup (or working backup). So long as the containment vessels are intact (a large question given the apparent extent of damage), then things may be bad but not too bad. It will be a mess, and a bad one, but one largely contained to the plant if the worst happens. If the backup power systems can be repaired, or the military can get emergency power systems in and operating, then things can be brought under control fairly rapidly. The key is power. If they get power restored, then they can deal with all the current confirmed problems. If not, things come down to the third-level emergency cooling systems and the containment. Only time will tell, and the one thing I am sure of is that people are working on this and working hard. May they have luck and blessing on their side, along with a heck of a lot of good solid tech. Stay tuned, and more if and as I can. LW
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/KWkTqn1qa-Y/japanese-reactors-update.html
Posted
Mar 11 2011, 09:46 AM
by
BLACKFIVE