Russia still has ten RBMK (Chernobyl-type) reactors in operation, retrofitted with additonal safety measures, but still...
Yep.
Russia still has ten RBMK (Chernobyl-type) reactors in operation, retrofitted with additonal safety measures, but still...
Russia still has ten RBMK (Chernobyl-type) reactors in operation, retrofitted with additonal safety measures, but still...
Following Legasov's death all remaining RBMKs were retrofitted with a number of updates for safety. The largest of these updates fixes the RBMK control rod design. Previously the control rods were designed with graphite tips, which when initially inserted into the reactor first speed up the reaction and after that begin slowing or stopping it. This design flaw contributed to the first explosion of the Chernobyl accident.
The updates are:
* An increase in fuel enrichment from 2% to 2.4% to compensate for control rod modifications and the introduction of additional absorbers.
* Manual control rod count increased from 30 to 45.
* 80 additional absorbers inhibit operation at low power, where the RBMK design is most dangerous.
* SCRAM (rapid shut down) sequence reduced from 18 to 12 seconds.
* Precautions against unauthorized access to emergency safety systems.
Just got another warning in the apartment and felt another tremor. I think they said it was magnitude 5 in Fukushima on TV. Getting tired of it.
http://in.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=INRTR2JQOB#a=1
It was a 6 off the coast of Fukushima apparently, about a 5 on land, about a 3 in Tokyo.
Radiation has reduced to 70microsievert according to announcement on news.
Again, what 70?Sv over what timeframe?
70?Sv is less than one head x-ray, and about 3 hours in an airplane. If that's the dose per second it would be really bad. If it's the dose per hour or day it would be pretty good under the circumstances.
However, on an ironic note, apparently this specific reactor was to be decommissioned and dismantled... later this very month.
I wonder if that has anything to do with the failed diesel generators.
Thankfully, everyone I know is fine, including relatives of some friends in Japan. Hopefully the same can be said about all the FG members effected. Also it seems I assumed correctly that nobody I associate with here in California was among the fucking morons who thought to themselves, HURRRRRRRRRR, tsunami warning! lets go to the beach and see what happens!
Wouldn't be surprised if some jerk mechanic decided to skip the last maintenance/overhaul and just say he did it, figuring that since the plant was closing, nobody'd notice and it wouldn't matter.
Yes, I think per hour.
Or it may have been seawater damage (does anyone know if the facility was swept by the tsunami?).
Or it may have been seawater damage (does anyone know if the facility was swept by the tsunami?).
Or the plant's owner decided to skip it, saving some bucks. They got a history of downplaying reactor security problems.
I think that's one of the reasons for the flawless record of the US Navy you rightly pointed out: They are not under pressure to deliver returns to their shareholders. I'd feel much better about civilan uses of nuclear technology if it would not be use by for-profit entities.
I read the tsunami affected the site, to what extent i don't know. It's possible that even sediment stirred up could have caused problems (blocked pumps), but I would have thought that those possible outcomes would have been considered. There is a protective wall around the site but the tsunami was on the large side.
Apparently there were 13 diesel generators and all failed.
It's located very close to the seaboard, so... there's a good possibility that the waves may have done some damage to contribute to this event.