Fukushima upgraded to Cat 7 TEPCO: Radiation leak may have topped Chernobyl release

[davmat787]

We always have erred on the side of caution.

That is why less than 1000 people have died in 60 years.

More people die in car accidents PER DAY than each DECADE of nuclear power.

Will have to remember that stat for the kneejerkers, thanks.

 

[frostedflakes]

We always have erred on the side of caution.

That is why less than 1000 people have died in 60 years.

More people die in car accidents PER DAY than each DECADE of nuclear power.

This, nuclear power really has a pretty good track record for safety. And the only major nuclear disaster (Chernobyl) was a colossal failure not only in operation but also plant design. It's a perfect example of Soviet arrogance, they were so confident in their design that they didn't even see the need to build a thick, concrete containment structure and it came back to bite them in the ass when the core melted down.

Subsequent disasters have been prevented by multiple levels of containment (this is important). The containment structure at TMI prevented widespread contamination during a partial meltdown and containment seems to be holding up fine at the Fukushima plants as well. The concrete containment structure has been subjected to the largest earthquake and tsunami Japan has seen in hundreds of years as well as a hydrogen explosion and partial core meltdown and yet AFAIK the structure is still in tact and has not been breached. I think if anything this is a testament to the safety of a well-designed nuclear power facility. These things are tough as hell, keep in mind they are build to withstand all kinds of abuse, crashes from jet airliners and stuff like that as well.

 

[Jaskalas]

I wish them luck at keeping those cores contained given the meltdown and loss of the outer layer due to hydrogen explosions. Only the containment vessle stands between them and the atmosphere, right?

edit:
US aircraft carrier passes through radiation cloud...

How bad is it I wonder?

 

[CitizenKain]

I wish them luck at keeping those cores contained given the meltdown and loss of the outer layer due to hydrogen explosions. Only the containment vessle stands between them and the atmosphere, right?

edit:
US aircraft carrier passes through radiation cloud...

How bad is it I wonder?

Probably less radiation then you get going through airport security.

 

[wuliheron]

We always have erred on the side of caution.

That is why less than 1000 people have died in 60 years.

More people die in car accidents PER DAY than each DECADE of nuclear power.

Cool! Can I have a nuclear cruise missile then? I've always wanted one and I promise I'll be good and take real good care of it and be extra careful. You know more people have died in car accidents then from atomic bombs too!

 

[Acanthus]

Cool! Can I have a nuclear cruise missile then? I've always wanted one and I promise I'll be good and take real good care of it and be extra careful. You know more people have died in car accidents then from atomic bombs too!

There is no legitimate commercial use for a nuclear cruise missile. Your attempt at humor isn't even a relevant analogy.

 

[JSt0rm]

There is no legitimate commercial use for a nuclear cruise missile. Your attempt at humor isn't even a relevant analogy.

How about a nuclear cruise? I always wanted to go on a cruise.

 

[Acanthus]

How about a nuclear cruise? I always wanted to go on a cruise.

I bet Japanese cruise lines are cheap right now

Honestly though the radiation levels aren't significantly higher than background right now. I think they'll be fine.

 

[wuliheron]

There is no legitimate commercial use for a nuclear cruise missile. Your attempt at humor isn't even a relevant analogy.

Are you kidding? Do you know how much people would pay just to get a good look at a nuclear cruise missile? I could charge extra just for allowing them to touch it. I'm sure someone would pay me a lot just to point it at the White House. We make the laws, so we decide what is legitimate including what corners to cut on cheap reactors and what risks to take with peoples' lives.

 

[The-Noid]

Are you kidding? Do you know how much people would pay just to get a good look at a nuclear cruise missile? I could charge extra just for allowing them to touch it. I'm sure someone would pay me a lot just to point it at the White House. We make the laws, so we decide what is legitimate including what corners to cut on cheap reactors and what risks to take with peoples' lives.

The cruise missle is completely irrelevant and also in bad taste to those affected by the tragedy.

Also, you are no expert in nuclear power corner cutting, if any corners were cut I can guarantee there will be numerous fines, law suits and the already assumed changes in designs.

Simply put history is on the side of the industry and if it takes a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami to possibly create a problem, odds are fairly good for the industry.

 

[Anneka]

To make a morbid joke Japan already knows from the two nuclear bombs how high radiation feels. Although i think this time the level is very low and there is nothing to worry about.

 

[wuliheron]

The cruise missle is completely irrelevant and also in bad taste to those affected by the tragedy.

Also, you are no expert in nuclear power corner cutting, if any corners were cut I can guarantee there will be numerous fines, law suits and the already assumed changes in designs.

Simply put history is on the side of the industry and if it takes a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami to possibly create a problem, odds are fairly good for the industry.

They knew how to make a more failsafe plant and choose not to and then sold one to an island nation that just happens to have extreme earthquakes. Thankfully the Japanese have plenty of batteries and seawater on hand or a good sized chunk of America would be running for the hills right now. I'd say its pretty obvious the industry is willing to cut corners and push their luck as far as they can.

As for my black humor- Get over it.

 

[BladeVenom]

Here's an article someone linked to in another thread. http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/#more-3970

The part I find incredulous,

This is where things started to go seriously wrong. The external power generators could not be connected to the power plant (the plugs did not fit). So after the batteries ran out, the residual heat could not be carried away any more.

So they had a nuclear accident because they had the wrong plugs? I would think in that situation, you make it work. Splicing wires isn't rocket science.

 

[rcpratt]

Here's an article someone linked to in another thread. http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/#more-3970

The part I find incredulous,

So they had a nuclear accident because they had the wrong plugs? I would think in that situation, you make it work. Splicing wires isn't rocket science.

The backup diesels failed because the tsunami wiped out the fuel supply. I have no idea what the source on that article is.

edit: Nevermind, that's talking about generators that were flown in from another location. I don't know much about splicing wires on generators that provide power in the MW range, but I'm sure it would have been done if it could have been.

 

[wuliheron]

Here's an article someone linked to in another thread. http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/#more-3970

The part I find incredulous,

So they had a nuclear accident because they had the wrong plugs? I would think in that situation, you make it work. Splicing wires isn't rocket science.

It's a cooling system for a nuclear reactor dude, not a night lamp. For all I know the cable is so thick short of sending it to the factory it could take days to splice.

 

[William Gaatjes]

Sigh...

I read this morning in the paper that in my country an action group against nuclear energy is using the Fukushima reactor accident as proof that nuclear energy is not save. Convieniently forgetting that the biggest earthquake and tsunami in a century where not enough to cause any serious damage. Convieniently forgetting that even after failure of the cooling system there was no serious danger. Convieniently forgetting that the Sovjet RMBK reactor and the Fukushima BWR reactor are of a totally different species.

Sigh...

 

[KlokWyze]

Sigh...

I read this morning in the paper that in my country an action group against nuclear energy is using the Fukushima reactor accident as proof that nuclear energy is not save. Convieniently forgetting that the biggest earthquake and tsunami in a century where not enough to cause any serious damage. Convieniently forgetting that even after failure of the cooling system there was no serious danger. Convieniently forgetting that the Sovjet RMBK reactor and the Fukushima BWR reactor are of a totally different species.

Sigh...

That's P&N for ya. :awe:

 

[zsdersw]

Yes, Chernobyl was the fault of operator indecision/error coupled with the very touchy RBMK reactor design.

This reactor in Japan is nothing like it.

 

[Throckmorton]

Sigh...

I read this morning in the paper that in my country an action group against nuclear energy is using the Fukushima reactor accident as proof that nuclear energy is not save. Convieniently forgetting that the biggest earthquake and tsunami in a century where not enough to cause any serious damage. Convieniently forgetting that even after failure of the cooling system there was no serious danger. Convieniently forgetting that the Sovjet RMBK reactor and the Fukushima BWR reactor are of a totally different species.

Sigh...

Hmmm. But I thought nuclear reactors didn't need any backup systems or interventions to shut them down in the event of a failure. But they had to fly in batteries to power the cooling system to prevent meltdown. Hmmm.... That's unlike every other power source, which can be left alone and will simply shut down with time, which is a good thing considering the possibility of some kind of EMP attack, war, or apocalyptic epidemic. What else do you nuclear proponents lie about?

 

[Throckmorton]

There is no legitimate commercial use for a nuclear cruise missile. Your attempt at humor isn't even a relevant analogy.

But a nuclear missile should be just as safe as a regular sack of gunpowder right? When was the last time anybody died from a nuclear cruise missile?

 

[Jaskalas]

Hmmm. But I thought nuclear reactors didn't need any backup systems or interventions to shut them down in the event of a failure. But they had to fly in batteries to power the cooling system to prevent meltdown. Hmmm.... That's unlike every other power source, which can be left alone and will simply shut down with time. What else do you nuclear proponents lie about?

First, they speak of modern designs. Second, the meltdown was not prevented. The cores are melting, the containment buildings (on two) have exploded all that remains is the containment vessel, yet so far it appears to be doing its job.

 

[rcpratt]

First, they speak of modern designs. Second, the meltdown was not prevented. The cores are melting, the containment buildings (on two) have exploded all that remains is the containment vessel, yet so far it appears to be doing its job.

Two barriers to radionuclide release remain. The reactor pressure vessel, and the primary containment.

 

[William Gaatjes]

Hmmm. But I thought nuclear reactors didn't need any backup systems or interventions to shut them down in the event of a failure. But they had to fly in batteries to power the cooling system to prevent meltdown. Hmmm.... That's unlike every other power source, which can be left alone and will simply shut down with time, which is a good thing considering the possibility of some kind of EMP attack, war, or apocalyptic epidemic. What else do you nuclear proponents lie about?

It is not the fault of the people who actually inform themselves about the positives and the negatives of nuclear driven generation of electricity, that some uninformed people just make noise. You my friend, are making make noise. If someone has the ability to have the technology and use an EMP, a nuclear reactor blowing of some steam is the least of your concerns.

 

[piasabird]

When the Chernobil reactor overheated there was an explosion and the reactor blew through the roof and landed in a nearby forest. Then a large area is considered to be contaminated for the next 300 years.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

They had to use soldiers and volunteers to seal the reactor with cement, all of who died due to radiation exposure.

 

[Jaskalas]

When the Chernobil reactor overheated there was an explosion and the reactor blew through the roof and landed in a nearby forest. Then a large area is considered to be contaminated for the next 300 years.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

They had to use soldiers and volunteers to seal the reactor with cement, all of who died due to radiation exposure.

Speaking of making noise....