Nuclear explosion in Japan

[TimberWolf]

Did the tsunami cause this problem? The problem seems to be that the reactor shutdown automatically, taking away the power for the cooling, but the backup diesel pumps failed after an hour. And the last I read, nobody knows why the backup pumps failed. It may be nothing to do with the earthquake or tsunami, maybe the backups just weren't up to scratch.

Generators brought to the site didn't work either, I gather.

[suityou01]

The backup diesel generators worked well until they were flooded with sea water. Then the backup to the backup (batteries) kicked in and did it's job for 8 hours.

The new generators turned up but the plugs did not fit.

[wurzel]

From the Guardian live blog:

Kyodo News has reported in the last five minutes that the fuel rods at the No 2 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi are now fully exposed.

Correct me if I'm wrong but that sounds very bad

[suityou01]

From the Guardian live blog:

Kyodo News has reported in the last five minutes that the fuel rods at the No 2 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi are now fully exposed.

Correct me if I'm wrong but that sounds very bad

Ok I'll correct you.

The fuel rods are housed in chamber which in turn is housed in a chuffing great concrete chamber many meters thick.

It's only bad in that the reactor is now beyone repair and will cost money to replace.

[TimberWolf]

The new generators turned up but the plugs did not fit.

Was there nobody around with some wire strippers and a pair of pliers?

[d000hg]

If it were Japan in the bad old days they'd have some employee do a Spock.

[wurzel]

Ok I'll correct you.

The fuel rods are housed in chamber which in turn is housed in a chuffing great concrete chamber many meters thick.

It's only bad in that the reactor is now beyone repair and will cost money to replace.

Ah, that's alright then.

[suityou01]

Was there nobody around with some wire strippers and a pair of pliers?

It's not quite like that. We're not talking about wiring up a cement mixer to a 110v transformer.

Also getting the work done would have taken time they could ill afford.

[Suity in pub expert mode]

[VectraMan]

If it were Japan in the bad old days they'd have some employee do a Spock.

Mind meld with the fuel rods?

[suityou01]

Ah, that's alright then.

Well not really. Power is being rationed and the worlds 3rd largest economy will suffer. Also they have large positions on the euro so there could well be knock on effects.

This disaster will go global, although not in the nuclear sense.

Poor sods.