Loss of coolant is the Achilles heel of all nuclear power plants. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan. It will represent a massive economic loss and a major problem in terms of real energy shortages for Japan – but hopefully no harm will come to the people who work in and live around these plants. If the containment buildings remain intact this should be no worse than Three Mile Island. It’s hard to imagine a greater test of the technology than the circumstances of these earthquakes. The one possible bright note, once Japan pulls itself back together, is that these reactor accidents are always opportunities to better understand the causes of failure and to make corrections and improvements. I don’t understand completely what happened here but wonder if the automatic shut-down feature might be a poorly designed system. Japan uses essentially 1960s nuclear technology, i.e. Japan has previously had an excellent nuclear record, barring the accident at the enrichment facilities at Toka-Murai. 1 plant, which officials feared could cause a meltdown. 2 power plant came after officials were already troubled by the failure of the emergency cooling system at the Fukushima No. The coolant water’s temperature had reached boiling temperature, the agency reported, citing the power plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power. The Kyodo news agency reported that the cooling system has failed at three reactors of Fukushima No. Reuters LinkĬonditions appear to be worsening at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan, according to local media. Officials are concerned that a Three Mile Island 1979 meltdown could happen here. Extremely critical situation currently at several earthquake affected nuclear reactors. Nuclear reactor coolant systems are running on batteries, and the coolant has reached the boiling point. If multiple meltdown begins, it will be uncontrollable.
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Could still be brought under control, but Four other Fukushima nuke reactors are struggling with similar problem. UPDATE: 21:47 PST: Meltdown underway at Reactor #1? !/dicklpįukushima fuel cores are melting at 2000C and dropping onto steel floor.
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UPDATE: 22:50 PST: BREAKING NEWS: Pressure successfully released from Fukushima No. Walls and roof of a building at site destroyed by blast – NHK via Sky News Several people appear to be injured at Fukushima nuclear plant – NHK URGENT: March 12 00:00 PST: Explosion at Nuclear Facility Meltdown occurred according to Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency The news coverage coming out of Japan is even more confused when American media deciphers it. Pick a number, and that reactor is described as being near a meltdown.