Fukushima nuclear plant explosion

[mashman]

According to the news they're having a similar coolant system issue with another one of the Fukushima reactors. They also mentioned that the inner reactor structure was intact, hence the low levels of radiation

[Mike Troutman]

Pressurised water reactors are not all so bad even in the condition this one is in. It has a negative temperature co-efficiant of reactivity meaning the hotter the core gets the less reactive the fuel. Also means the fuel requires water to sustain a super critical reaction. btw 'critical' means a stable reaction. when a nuclear reactor is generating power it's actually in a super critical state.

[Ocean1]

it's actually in a super critical state.

Like my ex wife?

She never made much steam, though...

[mashman]

Pressurised water reactors are not all so bad even in the condition this one is in. It has a negative temperature co-efficiant of reactivity meaning the hotter the core gets the less reactive the fuel. Also means the fuel requires water to sustain a super critical reaction. btw 'critical' means a stable reaction. when a nuclear reactor is generating power it's actually in a super critical state.

Stupid question time. I read they are bringing in diesel generators and batteries to get the coolant pumps up and running again. As they have steam pressure, is there any reason they couldn't use a steam engine to power the pumps (other than availability)? or is there any reason that they couldn't use the plant turbine generation system to power the coolant pumps (given that they are venting steam anyway)? I'm just curious and my ignorance knows no bounds .

[Winston001]

....is there any reason they couldn't use a steam engine to power the pumps (other than availability)? or is there any reason that they couldn't use the plant turbine generation system to power the coolant pumps (given that they are venting steam anyway)? .

Well, they tried that at Chernobyl. That's why it blew up. The engineers were running a test using the generator's run-down speed to power emergency cooling.

Good idea but needed work...

In other words, no.

The steam being vented is abnormal and an emergency release. It could never be used to run pumps. Just as the release cap on your car radiator isn't used to spin the alternator.

[mashman]

Well, they tried that at Chernobyl. That's why it blew up. The engineers were running a test using the generator's run-down speed to power emergency cooling.

Good idea but needed work...

In other words, no.

The steam being vented is abnormal and an emergency release. It could never be used to run pumps. Just as the release cap on your car radiator isn't used to spin the alternator.

Ta...

@radiator cap powered alternator...

I know i'll regret this , what is abnormal steam?

[Blackflagged]

0426: Japanese government spokesman Yukio Edano says radioactive meltdowns may have occurred in two reactors at the plant - AFP (From BBC)

[rainman]

Unbelievable to even utter the word Karma in this situation.

Pedantic mode on...

Karma does not mean what you seem to think it does. It does not mean "due deserts", or "direct punishment/reward for past actions". It just means "action" as the root of the cycle of cause and effect (samsara - birth, life, death, rebirth). Essentially saying that most worldly things (notably suffering, or dukkha) aren't caused by the will of a god or the gods, but arise dependently upon actions. (There is no god, most of the shit that happens is either our doing, or is just random shit, part of the human condition).

If these actions are "skillful", then there tend to be skillful (think good, or positive) results. If they are not (informed by greed, aversion and delusion) , there tend to be unskillful outcomes.

This is an essential part of understanding buddhism (or any similar world view - the concept of karma predates Gautama, I think). It's the key to the first two noble truths:
1. Suffering exists
2. Suffering arises dependent on (unskillful) action

The dependent arising of suffering from actions is called pratītyasamutpāda, which has to be one of the coolest words ever. When people talk about Karma, they usually mean something like Pratītyasamutpāda. But karma is easier to pronounce, I'll admit.

Expressed differently, it's basically "Actions have consequences, and if you act stoopid, you're likely to get unpleasant consequences (but life's complex and you might be lucky/unlucky)". A sentiment that I suspect many here would wholeheartedly support.

Here endeth the lesson.

[zeocen]

Your incredibly nerd-tastic correction just propelled 72.6 females into space due to how much that explanation shifted their attraction towards you.

[Winston001]

I know i'll regret this , what is abnormal steam?

Radioactive steam. From the water surrounding the reactor core. This is a sealed system and the water/steam doesn't get out. Except for emergency venting to reduce pressure.

The vented steam goes into a pool inside the reactor containment building so its still controlled. However too much steam and heat can lead to H2O dissociating into H and O and then exploding violently.

The blast from Fukushima 1 is the reactor containment building itself and looks like a hydrogen explosion.

NB: we are not talking about the reactor containment vessel which appears to be doing its job holding the core in.

[Brian d marge]

Pedantic mode on...

Karma does not mean what you seem to think it does. It does not mean "due deserts", or "direct punishment/reward for past actions". It just means "action" as the root of the cycle of cause and effect (samsara - birth, life, death, rebirth). Essentially saying that most worldly things (notably suffering, or dukkha) aren't caused by the will of a god or the gods, but arise dependently upon actions. (There is no god, most of the shit that happens is either our doing, or is just random shit, part of the human condition).

If these actions are "skillful", then there tend to be skillful (think good, or positive) results. If they are not (informed by greed, aversion and delusion) , there tend to be unskillful outcomes.

This is an essential part of understanding buddhism (or any similar world view - the concept of karma predates Gautama, I think). It's the key to the first two noble truths:
1. Suffering exists
2. Suffering arises dependent on (unskillful) action

The dependent arising of suffering from actions is called pratītyasamutpāda, which has to be one of the coolest words ever. When people talk about Karma, they usually mean something like Pratītyasamutpāda. But karma is easier to pronounce, I'll admit.

Expressed differently, it's basically "Actions have consequences, and if you act stoopid, you're likely to get unpleasant consequences (but life's complex and you might be lucky/unlucky)". A sentiment that I suspect many here would wholeheartedly support.

Here endeth the lesson.

And a good lesson it was

Japan has Wa which means obedient , bowing bending , and is a concept of group harmony which most westerners get wrong

Even down to the personal pronoun Watashi ( my) which the Japanese omit because its not good for the group

When I try and think about it ,, my head explodes

and Pratītyasamutpāda hard , real hard, to be skillful at

Stephen

[Brian d marge]

I've often wondered just how much lubricating effect that deep seated oil fields may provide for the movement of the earth's crust.

Certainly food for thought.

Synthetic or Castrol R ????

Stephen

[pete376403]

The winds from Japan blows over to the USA(There a name for it i can`t remember), they sent bombs on balloons during the war some made it.

Breaking News or Bullshit? - http://www.realnewsreporter.com/?p=891

The incendiary balloons didn't blow all the way from japan, they were released from submarines quite close to the US west coast.

[pete376403]

Synthetic or Castrol R ????

Stephen

Pleased to see that in spite of everything going down over there you still retain a sense of humour.

[Blackflagged]

The incendiary balloons didn't blow all the way from japan, they were released from submarines quite close to the US west coast.

Well that was from memory - but on checking, first goggle hit seems to agree.
http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/balloon.html

But really was about the wind current , Jet stream.