Edit:22 Update 2: Experts warned Fukushima of tsunami threat 2 years ago.

[techs]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0...-state-of-emergency-as-cooling-power-runs-low

Japan nuclear plant in state of emergency, as cooling power runs low

A nuclear plant in Japan is said to declare a state of emergency, as backup power used to cool three reactors runs low. Help is on the way. 'It's a dicey situation,' says nuclear specialist in US.

At least 11 of Japan's 52 nuclear power reactors are shut down and three of those may pose a danger to the public after a massive magnitude 8.9 earthquake hit the island nation Friday. One plant, 150 miles north of Tokyo, is reported to be in a state of emergency. It is relying on limited battery power to cool the three problematic reactors, and officials say they plan to release some radioactive gases to the atmosphere to cope with the problem.

The Japanese government issued an evacuation advisory to people living within a 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) radius of the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant, according to Japan Broadcasting Corp.'s NHK World website.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. says an equipment failure had made it "impossible to cool two reactors" at the Fukushima 1 plant. Air that may contain radioactive materials will be vented from the plant, the company told NHK World late Friday. The decision to release the gases was to avoid the breakdown of the reactors, the news agency reported. Tokyo Electric told NHK World that the release would be small and that the company will notify residents near the plant before it starts the release and will monitor the amount of radioactivity in the gas.



Holy Three Mile Island, Batman.

 

[zerocool84]

and any hopes of opening up any new reactors here in America are gone

 

[NuclearNed]

I foresee abnormally large lizards looming in Japan's future.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I foresee abnormally large lizards looming in Japan's future.

I was about to post, isn't this how Godzilla rose from the depths?

 

[techs]

I foresee abnormally large lizards looming in Japan's future.

Well, you should know, NuclearNed.

 

[Nik]

Sigh.

Don't buy into the ignorant hype.

First, if it really were in danger of thermonuclear meltdown, they'd evacuate WAAAAAAAAAAY farther out than 1.8 miles. Someone doesn't remember their history and basic science lessons.

Second, the cloud being released isn't really that dangerous.

Third, if the US has time to gather, prep, load, and fly coolant over to Japan, on the opposite side of the world, then there's no real time issue, either.

 

[zinfamous]

It is relying on limited battery power to cool the three problematic reactors, and officials say they plan to release some radioactive gases to the atmosphere to cope with the problem.

They should be fine as long as this guy is in charge:

 

[techs]

They should be fine as long as this guy is in charge:

Nah, that's the guy in charge of Vermont Yankee.

"Pipes?" "We don't have underground pipes carrying radiation"
"Oh, we do? D'oh!"

 

[silverpig]

Sigh.

Don't buy into the ignorant hype.

First, if it really were in danger of thermonuclear meltdown, they'd evacuate WAAAAAAAAAAY farther out than 1.8 miles. Someone doesn't remember their history and basic science lessons.

Second, the cloud being released isn't really that dangerous.

Third, if the US has time to gather, prep, load, and fly coolant over to Japan, on the opposite side of the world, then there's no real time issue, either.

1. Thermonuclear refers to nuclear fusion. Wrong type of reaction.
2. There's no such thing as a thermonuclear meltdown.
3. Even in a meltdown, there's no nuclear explosion.
4. Even Chernobyl, which exploded, did not "go nuclear" as there was no nuclear blast.
5. Chernobyl melted down, overheated, and superheated the coolant which blew the top off the reactor.
6. There's no way for this reactor, or any other for that matter, to explode like a nuclear bomb. It's impossible.
7. Looks like they're handling the situation quite well. Those nuke plants will probably fare better than those oil refineries.

 

[Nik]

I was using idiot terms for idiot people who believe the idiot hype.

 

[TheNinja]

Sweet....nuclear gas clouds! Man, this thing is going to take years to fix. There are so many people packed in a small area relying on public transportation. What a giant mess.

 

[mrjminer]

Sounds like they could have planned their system a little better to accomodate for natural disasters of greater than average magnitude.

 

[AMDZen]

I was using idiot terms for idiot people who believe the idiot hype.

So you were talking to yourself basically.

 

[techs]

Sounds like they could have planned their system a little better to accomodate for natural disasters of greater than average magnitude.

Hey, lets build a nuclear plant on top of one of the most earthquake prone areas on Earth!
What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Scotteq]

It is relying on limited battery power to cool the three problematic reactors,

If the Japanese Military haven't already, I imagine the US forces are rushing a (a few?) 2,000 KW "Portable" generators to the scene.

 

[silverpig]

I was using idiot terms for idiot people who believe the idiot hype.

And I was making sure that idiots didn't believe it.

 

[KGB]

I was using idiot terms for idiot people who believe the idiot hype.

 

[techs]

If the Japanese Military haven't already, I imagine the US forces are rushing a (a few?) 2,000 KW "Portable" generators to the scene.

Where's the energizer bunny when you need him?

 

[Scotteq]

Where's the energizer bunny when you need him?

Powering Captain Janeway's "nightstand friend" apparently.

 

[Nik]

So you were talking to yourself basically.

Surprise surprise, AMDZen is trolling.

 

[Nik]

Love that pic

 

[AMDZen]

Surprise surprise, AMDZen is trolling.

Says pot to kettle

 

[KGB]

Love that pic

Yep!

 

[Fritzo]

They should power the cooling system with nuclear power! Yeah!

 

[Patranus]

and any hopes of opening up any new reactors here in America are gone

Wont stop China from taking the lead in developing pebble bed technology.

Its sad that the United States feels that it must needlessly handicap itself in the development of new (practical) technologies when it once lead the world in these areas.