#Japan nuclear reactor meltdown update update

As long as the reactor core, which is specifically designed to contain high levels of heat, pressure and radiation, remains intact, the melted fuel can be dealt with. A meltdown does not necessarily mean a nuclear disaster. Via Ace comes a report making the distinction between a core meltdown and the type suspected here: a fuel meltdown.ДЄ meltdown occurs when the control rods fail to contain the neutron emission and the heat levels inside the reactor thus rise to a point that the fuel itself melts, generally temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, causing uncontrolled radiation-generating reactions and making approaching the reactor incredibly hazardous.

#Japan nuclear reactor meltdown update update

UPDATE x5: It may be helpful to define terms. Easter: вЂњAt the moment, there is no evidence of a nuclear meltdown at one of Fukushima DaiichiвЂ™s nuclear power reactors in northern Japan, JapanвЂ™s ambassador to the United States said.вЂќ Eastern: вЂњA meltdown may be under way at one of Fukushima DaiichiвЂ™s nuclear power reactors, an official with JapanвЂ™s nuclear and industrial safety agency told CNN SundayвЂќ - and at 6:30 p.m. UPDATE x4: To illustrate the confusion, CNN reports at 5:48 p.m. And it would be especially silly to talk about what this means for the future of nuclear power before we really know what happened. At this point, there is no need to get carried away. ItвЂ™s a breaking news story, and that is the nature of breaking news stories. In summary, I still have no idea whatвЂ™s going on - nor, it appears, does anyone else.

(вЂњThe detection of the materials, which are created following atomic fission, led JapanвЂ™s nuclear safety agency to admit the reactor had partially melted-the first such case in Japan.вЂќ) (вЂњThe discovery indicates that meltdown, caused by a nuclear reaction running out of control, had indeed affected the reactorвЂ™s fuel rods вЂ“ although possibly only to a limited extent.вЂќ) And this one, saying there was a partial meltdown.

UPDATE x3: And while I was out, another report has come out saying the reactor has not been breached, but that there was a limited meltdown. вЂњThe walls of the building containing the reactor were destroyed, meaning that the metal container encasing the reactor did not explode,вЂќ Edano said The ceiling of the building housing the reactor collapsed, according to information obtained by Fukushima prefectural authorities.ДЄt a news conference Saturday night, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano discounted the possibility of a significant leak of radioactive material from the accident. and plumes of white smoke went up 10 minutes later. (9501), which runs the plant, began to flood the damaged reactor with seawater to cool it down, resorting to measures that could rust the reactor and force the utility to scrap it.Д¬esium and iodine, by-products of nuclear fission, were detected around the plant, which would make the explosion the worst accident in the roughly 50-year history of Japanese nuclear power generation.ДЄn explosion was heard near the plantвЂ™s No. 1 nuclear plant could only have been caused by a meltdown of the reactor core. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) said Saturday afternoon the explosion at the Fukushima No. They also say the use of seawater is considered an act of вЂњdesperationвЂќ because it means the reactor will have to be scrapped. The bad news is Japanese officials have admitted the explosion was caused by a melting reactor core, but the good news is they claim the metal containment unit is still in place.

My interpretation of the bottom line: it looks like we are going to avoid the worst. There is a lot of contradictory information there, as is common with breaking stories. This kind of thing is his specialty, so if youвЂ™re looking for continuous updates, I suggest you follow the link. UPDATE: Allahpundit has running coverage here. TimesвЂs statement that вЂњt least one reactor at the plant was already showing signs of a partial meltdown.вЂќ FridayвЂ™s twin disaster, which pulverized JapanвЂ™s northeastern coast, has left 574 people dead by official count, although local media reports said at least 1,300 people may have been killed.ДЄs I write this, it is not clear whether the building whose walls collapsed houses the reactor. IWAKI, Japan (AP) вЂ“ An explosion at a nuclear power station tore down the walls of a building Saturday amid fears that its reactor was close to a disastrous meltdown after being hit by a powerful earthquake and tsunami. Aaron mentioned the explosion in an update to this post - but it is clearly going to be the story of the day and, with new information just breaking now, it deserves its own post: