50 people left to control reactor are Heros, Let us never forget.

[Rockne]

Most structures here in Japan are design to withstand earthquakes to a degree, with critical buildings being built to greater strength. However, this M9.0 earthquake was the largest in Japan's history, and exceeded a lot of preparatory measures.

TEPCO will definitely have a lot to answer for, but this doesn't seem to be a case of human error as was the situation with Tokai-mura incident of 1999. Future scrutiny may prove otherwise, but this time it appears that there were just a series of really bad circumstances that have led up to the current situation.

I'm not an expert at all, but I've been reading a lot about this and watching the news constantly since I live in Tokyo and want to know the minute they decide if we should evacuate. ><

- Magnitude 9.0 earthquake hits off the northeastern shore of Japan. Largest quake in Japan's history.
- The nuclear power reactors shut down automatically within seconds of the earthquake.
- Residual heat continues after the main reaction stops (normal situation), and this heat needs to be carried away to prevent damage to the reactor.
- The earthquake itself destroyed the external generators which power the cooling system.
- The backup generators kicked in, but were then destroyed by the tsunami.
- Battery power takes over, but was exhausted 8 hours later.
- With loss of cooling, pressure was rising in the reactor building and they began controlled venting.
- Excessive amounts of hydrogen in the gas mixture causes explosion of external structure (which serves to keep weather out but has no purpose for reactor containment).
- Primary containment structure remains intact.
- Chance of full meltdown is nil since the reactor cores are all completely shut down.
- Chance of radioactive material escaping into the environment and subsequent health risks are still very real.

Japan has been steadily moving towards clean energy like solar and wind, and hybrid vehicles. But we are still a very electricity hungry society and nuclear has been the only way to meet those needs without burning fossil fuels.

In hind sight, I guess it was foolish to think that human-built structures could withstand anything that nature could throw at it.

I hope they are able to control the situation soon.

I think that anyone involved in the earthquake and tsunami recovery, and the Fukushima nuclear response is a hero.

Yeah, you live in an Earthquake paradise. Every single nuclear plant is capable of withstanding a magnitude 9 Earthquake, it didn't phase them which is why there wasn't any immediate booms.

However, when the electricity and pumps were destroyed, the nuclear power plants always have backups, and they did. The pumps are responsible for cooling the core, this is also true.

However, when the pipes connecting the core to the pumps are completely destroyed, the electricity and the pumps are completely useless and the core goes into overheating.

The pipes need to be replaced, and that's not possible at the moment because, well, it takes friggen time to get 3' pipes and install them.

The vented explosions would of done about 1/3 of the damage if it wasn't done thrice.

PIPES. IT'S A SERIES OF TUBES.

The radiation is at sea now since the radiation escaped, and heading to the west coast of the US. If the wind changes to bring the radiation to Japan, there will need to be a mass evacuation.

It won't affect the US that much because the radioactivity will dissipate as it nears us, the ocean will take a hit.

All in all, where are those Chemical Engineers?

[Delsus]

the reason the Fukushima plant is going through all this is because the backup generators were damaged beond repair by the tsunami. The power plant can withstand almost anything, they are designed to shut down if there is an earthquake, then the generators take over to power the cooling systems which prevents this however because they were damaged by the tsunami they could not power the cooling systems which is why the reactors have been close to meltdown

[Elkwood]

Please explain to me what a Chemical Engineer has to do with Design and implementation. The Design Engineer is responsible for the layout and fundamental stability of the plants the chemical engineers would be responsible for the chemical makeup, im not even sure the plant would employ a chemical engineer, nuclear engineers yes chemical no.

[Chiem]

Man....If only I could do something.


Only thing I can do is have faith in the Japanees. If I "HAD" to choose (god forbid I must) in which country such a disater had to happen I would pick Japan. I know they can handle it. They have overcome many disasters, they will overcome this one as well.

I dont have faith in God or any other surreal power. I have faith in Japan.


Lots of respect from Holland

[Rockne]

Please explain to me what a Chemical Engineer has to do with Design and implementation. The Design Engineer is responsible for the layout and fundamental stability of the plants the chemical engineers would be responsible for the chemical makeup, im not even sure the plant would employ a chemical engineer, nuclear engineers yes chemical no.

Chemical Engineers are glorified plumbers(in nuclear power plants anyway). They're completely in charge of pipes, designing the pipes, and what the hell it can withstand, considering what's being pumped in is, lo and behold, full of chemicals to cool the core. They're not the ones installing it manually.

Chemical Engineers DO DESIGN the damned things. Engineers design and create. Nuclear Power Plants: Pipes.

Pipes brokededed

Their damned fault.

[Chiem]

Please guys stop.

This is not the time.

[Arcell]

You know I am was pretty oblivious that Japan had so many Nuclear reactors to power their cities! It really surprises me that they chose this route for power! Especially with the inheritant risk associated with it.

I'm sure they thought the technology was mature enough to be used reliably and it met their demands for producing alot of power for their growing population.

But Nuclear power in earthquake riddled towns seems foolish.

Yes they are Heroes trying to make the best of a bad situation! I hope they seriously reconsider their power options after this.

The power plants have been stable for decades now, it was only after a magnitude 9 earthquake and a tsunami that they took sufficient damage. Those two natural disasters alone don't come along often and certainly not of that magnitude. The power plants are pretty safe considering.

[Rockne]

The power plants have been stable for decades now, it was only after a magnitude 9 earthquake and a tsunami that they took sufficient damage. Those two natural disasters alone don't come along often and certainly not of that magnitude. The power plants are pretty safe considering.

Pipes.

It was the pipes.

[Grit]

It's hard to call technology from the 70's "safe"

Much of the plant was one big design flaw to begin with.

[Elkwood]

Well you are somewhat correct, I just did a bunch of research on engineering requirements for plants and it appears that the design engineers actually do have a partial chemical background. However you cannot blame what is happening on any 1 person, this 8.9 Earthquake is the 5th strongest on record, the plants were sadly only tested to a 7.9 Mag Quake, which at the time they were built was thought to be the worst quake they could get. So it is not as if these guys were incompetent, I am also sure they did not exactly test to see if a Tsunami would wipe the plant out.

What I would like to know is how all 13 backup Diesel generators died, I have seen nothing out of the TEC giving any explanation in depth as to how the primary backup system completely failed. While I do not blame this on any 1 individual or set of individuals, this especially so close to the last major Tsunami in 2004, was an entirely unforeseen event.