tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post3431504829689576553..comments2024-03-07T02:00:01.582-05:00Comments on NEI Nuclear Notes: When You Don't Have Bad News...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-85389074958044478442012-07-24T21:50:43.438-04:002012-07-24T21:50:43.438-04:00now, 16 months later, isn't it time to revoke ...now, 16 months later, isn't it time to revoke the "alarmist" ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-88739172673070725572011-03-30T14:15:14.603-04:002011-03-30T14:15:14.603-04:00Similarly, if you look at plant parameters, RPV Bo...Similarly, if you look at plant parameters, RPV Bottom Head temperature has remained fairly close to the boiling point of water 100 C rather than the melting point of metals involved 1500 C to 1800 C.<br /><br />IMHO, fuel has melted, but is in the RPV.<br /><br />Exposed fuel on top of the core has radiantly heated the feedwater sparger area 160 C - something is heating it, more than the lower RPVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-41756169604235989002011-03-30T07:28:39.826-04:002011-03-30T07:28:39.826-04:00If you look at the plant parameters:
http://www.n...If you look at the plant parameters:<br /><br />http://www.nisa.meti.go.jp/english/files/en20110330-1-3.pdf<br /><br />You can see that unit 2's RPV pressure is reading downscale, and the drywell CAMS (which won't be functioning as a CAMS and instead would probably be measuring shine) is reading 4000 R/hr.<br /><br />Those data points seem consistent with what Lahey is saying, that some molten core probably got through the bottom of the RPV. Keep in mind control rods enter from the bottom in a BWR, so there are penetrations in the vessel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-85546892500306871692011-03-30T01:47:41.156-04:002011-03-30T01:47:41.156-04:00NEI needs to be very careful about questioning the...NEI needs to be very careful about questioning the credibility of people like Richard Lahey who is an authority on multi-phase flow in addition to literally writing the book on BWR thermal-hydraulics with Moody. The BWRs under question are in fact very old. It should come as no surprise that the experts on this particular design are equally old.<br /><br />I agree that many of the "experts" in the media have been far from experts. However, NEI is very off the mark in this case and this is quite unfortunate. Dr. Lahey has a long distinguished career in reactor thermal-hydraulics and has done much service for the ANS. Implying he is not an "expert" on BWR technology does more to question the expertise of the author of this piece.Edward Blandfordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-9695701569688035182011-03-30T01:27:18.893-04:002011-03-30T01:27:18.893-04:00You forgot the links :
Guardian
http://www.guar...You forgot the links :<br /><br />Guardian <br /><br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/29/japan-lost-race-save-nuclear-reactor<br /><br />Irish Times<br /><br />http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0329/1224293298321.html<br /><br />You are unfairly harsh with Richard Lahey. He left the General Electric in 1975 but that was to move to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he headed the Department of Nuclear Engineering then as dean of the School of Engineering. <br /><br />Not exactly some old dude disconnected from nuclear and general engineering. Most likely, he knows what he's talking about. And given the radiation readings in unit 2, his guess about a breach in the RPV is quite plausible.<br /><br />That partial, heavily edited quote in the Guardian left me scratching my head, though.<br /><br />" workers at the site appeared to have "lost the race" to save the reactor " <br /><br />Very weird turn of a sentence. I think its pretty obvious the workers at site have been fully aware that the plant is FUBAR and far beyond saving since about ... 24 hours after the tsunami?<br /><br />Not sure who's to blame. Most likely the Guardian.Fifinoreply@blogger.com