Nuclear reactors are still the current cleanest energy source. The Reactors in question are outdated. Newer ones are better and from now on we will learn from this.
Nuclear reactors are always safe except in hindsight. Then we see all sorts of problems no others have until there's further hindsight.
I thought there was a good analogy on slashdot the other day.
some guy builds the first bridge ever. it's not especially well designed, but it gets the job done... over time, other people build new bridges, based on the first but continually making improvements to the safety and construction.
but because people keep falling off the first bridge, they demand their government dismantles all bridges and invest money into increased ferry service.
"melt down" is a fun phrase the media loves to use. The reality is, that the situation is being over hyped by the press. You would have seen a meltdown by now if there was a chance of one.
Newer plants put out far more power than these 30-50 year old plants still running today. You would be building plants that would lead to the replacement of old plants, and that would be built to the latest and greatest fail-safes and seismic survivability ratings....
If anything.. the disaster in Japan should reinforce that we need to build new safer plants.
In the real world with hysteria ruling the day we will get what happened at TMI. Instead of an example of how the safety feature worked and the system didnt fail in a catastrophic nature. This will be used as an example that nuclear power is scary and should be avoided at all costs!
The question should be "would you want a nuclear reactor in your backyard?".
The biggest Earthquake and (biggest?) Tsunami in Japanese history, both affected the plant. It is currently having 3 reactor cores melt, 2 containment buildings exploded, and the freaking thing IS STILL contained.
That's a testament to their safety, so long as containment remains during this crisis.
It's a testament to the fact they happen to have seawater handy to pump into them. Otherwise they would have already gone Chernobyl on us.
Japan could not repeat the Chernobyl disaster because the Japanese reactors successfully shut down.
It's a testament to the fact they happen to have seawater handy to pump into them. Otherwise they would have already gone Chernobyl on us.
Look, whatever generates the most money for the rich, is the safest. You idiots need to get that right - know you place on this Earth.
Doubtful. Sounds like the control rods were full inserted once the earthquake was realized. That puts the core into a shut down state. But it is still hot and takes time to cool. Those cores afaik are not running. Now the question seems to be can they cool them enough in time before the fuel melts down and destroys the reactor. Not blow it up chernobyl style.
Lucky for us they got the control rods in place since it took them 2 hours to figure out how to pump water into one.
It is ironic that those who speak ill of nuclear power primarily come from the left, who take no small pride in reminding everyone that they are the party of intellectuals...
...who apparently know more than engineers and physicists about nuclear power.
Would love more nuclear reactors around here. How many died from these recent nuke failures compared to how many would have died if a coal plant exploded from some massive earthquake. How many people would have died from the exposure to polution living near a coal plant for years.