Fukushima nuclear plant explosion

[awayatc]

Apparently reactor 4 is now on fire. Its incomprehensible.

Incomprhensible?

it is manmade isn't it?

that means it WILL fail one day....

Only thing that may be incomprhensible is that that 1 day is 2day....?

we are people....we fuck things up....

[Mike Troutman]

elevated levels of radiation are due to them using seawater as a coolant. reactor coolant is generally VERY pure water. Unfortunatly there are so many contaminants in seawater a drastic increase in rdiation levels are inevitable. Still, it could be much much worse.

[spacemonkey]

Still, it could be much much worse.

At the rate the news keeps getting worse and worse, "Much much worse" is looking more likely by the freaking day man.

The poor japs must be running out of new stuff to go wrong over there by now surely???

[Crasherfromwayback]

Still, it could be much much worse.

Something tells me it's going to be before it gets much much better...

[davebullet]

What DR systems were in place?
Why does it appear to be built so close to the water?

Sorry if these questions have been covered elsewhere, but it seems the level of fault tolerance on a nuclear plant should be able to withstand a tsunami (or not be near one to be affected) - given the consequences of not being able to handle a loss of coolant / power.

[Ronin]

What DR systems were in place?
Why does it appear to be built so close to the water?

Sorry if these questions have been covered elsewhere, but it seems the level of fault tolerance on a nuclear plant should be able to withstand a tsunami (or not be near one to be affected) - given the consequences of not being able to handle a loss of coolant / power.

Main AC Power, Backup generators, back up backup generators and 3 independent cooling systems all failed. Even then, they had 8 hours of emergency batteries. The reactors are all now shut down and it it is latent heat that is the problem. If you research the reactor then there are about 4 more levels of safety to go. That being said, things are not good.

This http://mitnse.com/ describes it very well.

[Crasherfromwayback]

but I still found it funny...

[Brian d marge]

The whiskey isn't working as good , I think I might have to start shitting bricks

Stephen

low levels of radiation ,,,in Tokyo

Bollox

its ok I need a few more Micro verts .... Six to seven million microsieverts will kill you.

[Crasherfromwayback]

The whiskey isn't working as good , I think I might have to start shitting bricks

Stephen

low levels of radiation ,,,in Tokyo

Bollox

its ok I need a few more Micro verts .... Six to seven million microsieverts will kill you.

Definately not a cool situation for anyone over there.

[Brian d marge]

Definitely not a cool situation for anyone over there.

once you lose your verts , its all over

Drinking , even ice skating can all make lose ya verts

and with only seven million of them , I must have done at least half

Stephen

[marie_speeds]

So, w don't know the real reason "but it musta been those damn hippies"? Your prejudices are showing.

I'm not prejuicing that sort of carry on is not allowed at my work...

[mashman]

The whiskey isn't working as good , I think I might have to start shitting bricks

Stephen

low levels of radiation ,,,in Tokyo

Bollox

its ok I need a few more Micro verts .... Six to seven million microsieverts will kill you.

If i was in your situation, and i'm very glad i'm not, i'd be getting off the bottle and on to a plane ... keep that hat nice and shiny fulla

[scissorhands]

I'm not prejuicing that sort of carry on is not allowed at my work...

you can prejuice over here if you like, I dont mind

Looks like the survival kit needs a small radiation contamination testing device, that takes AAA from the solar/bicycle charger.

[Mike Troutman]

What DR systems were in place?
Why does it appear to be built so close to the water?

Sorry if these questions have been covered elsewhere, but it seems the level of fault tolerance on a nuclear plant should be able to withstand a tsunami (or not be near one to be affected) - given the consequences of not being able to handle a loss of coolant / power.

It's built close to the water because the water is required for power generation and auxilliary cooling. Not to mention for last ditch reactor cooling efforts you want as massive a water source as you can get.

To note is the fact that even though the media has been a bunch of nuclear fear mongers (probably because oil and coal companies pay thier bills), radiation levels are falling. Radioactive steam is radioactive, but the half life is extremely short. Short of the fuel rods burning in open air, things aren't going to be that horrible.

But, be happy and take note in knowing then it wont be half as bad as many of the nuclear incidents the US has had. Still wont be good....
Research past nuclear incidents and you'll be suprised at the number that were never mentioned by the media despite being rather exceptionally bad.
And the latest AP article I saw I'd recommend sticking to the comments made by the nuclear pysicist, not the reporter.

[Mike Troutman]

you can prejuice over here if you like, I dont mind

Looks like the survival kit needs a small radiation contamination testing device, that takes AAA from the solar/bicycle charger.

not really worthwhile actually. 3 types of radioactive particles to worry about here: Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Gamma is easiest to detect and travels the farthest. Beta requires a slightly different device to detect and doesnt travel as far as gamma. Then there's alpha's, don't bother trying.

Now as to contamination by the different types think of them like three kinds of cookies.

Gamma cookie: Eat this cookie. Nothing you can do to avoid it. you're going to get it anyhow. takes a lot of lead to stop these guys.

Alpha Cookie: Put it in your pocket. your clothing will stop them. don't eat anything that's been contaminated and wash your hands with soap and water. Which they'll mess you up badly if you do eat them, so don't.

Beta cookie: Toss this one over your shoulder, you really don't want to deal with it.

The good thing is the radiation that is present is from Gamma particles. Least dangerous but hardest to stop.

If you lived near the reactor within thier evacuation zone, I wouldn't eat anything that was left out.