[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

But no swaying is required when the roof of a nuclear plant blows off! That's dramatic enough already.

It might sound odd, but that is exactly what it was designed to do. The build up of gases released from the pressurised cooling system is contained (trying to prevent release to the environmnet) in the secondary area above the main reactor. I'll see if I can grab a diagram of the building.

With the build-up of Hydrogen it is highly likely that this gas will ignite. But the explosion outward from this secondary zone diverts the blast away from the reactor.

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

To be fair, it seems to me that you have an agenda, or at least a strong pro-nuclear bias.

From my statements regarding promoting objectivity and waiting to find out the full facts before arm waving ? My only agenda is that facts rather than fears are used to form an opinion. Your answers in contrast are charged with emotion.

Information and explanations from experts in their field are required more than "experienced, knowledgeable journalists". The latest information being broadcast regarding the situation within the nuclear plants is, as I said earlier, much better now.

D.

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

Come on, even if this is technically true now (and you discount the people who worked at the plant as members of 'the public'), how likely is it that this will be the eventual outcome?

What makes you think otherwise ? Explain to me.

D.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

These explosions we are seeing, while dramatic and making good TV news for the anchor men/ladies, are not the reactors exploding. And any radioactivity released in this steam is very limited and finite.

I am only now seeing some very good, clear reporting/explanation of the mechanics/events in the present situation. The latest BBC reports with good clear graphics have started to inform rather than speculate. I do think it is very important that the normal layman can be informed of the actual scenario and facts in a clear and accessable manner - this helps counter any (dis-)information supplied by those with any poilitcal agendas or vested interests.

I have over 20 years experience working directly in this industry - very closely with the Japanese having spent months at a time with the lads on site througout Japan.

Not arrogance or being a "know it all".

D.

There was some really interesting and impressive analysis from an 'on-site' journalist on radio 4 this afternoon. Firstly, the plant was designed to withstand an earthquake of this magnitude. Clearly this worked, which is impressive in itself. The reactor was apparently shut down automatically when the quake hit. The cooling system was powered by the reactor and when it was switched off diesel back-up generators took over.

The generators had some protection from Tsunamis (again very impressive), but the sea level went higher than the protection and damaged the generators. Battery back up kicked in, but when the batteries ran out the cooling system was lost.

Since then, they have been trying to cool the nuclear fuel with sea water and the explosions appear to have been steam venting under pressure as a result. One of the reactors has boiled dry twice and they are struggling to keep fire engines on site to do the pumping. One ran out of fuel and others were damaged in the explosions. All of the containment vessels are apparently intact. Amazing effort from the Japanese really.

[Mani59]

Just watched this new vid posted on BBC News.
Its amazing and also horrible how quickly the water takes over everything and sweeps up people's houses, especially at 55 seconds in the vid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12735023

I cant imagine how it must have felt standing there seeing that with their own eyes

[FieldingMellish]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

It might sound odd, but that is exactly what it was designed to do. The build up of gases released from the pressurised cooling system is contained (trying to prevent release to the environmnet) in the secondary area above the main reactor. I'll see if I can grab a diagram of the building.

Yes, that makes sense.


I agree with you re. the neeed for objectivity, but I can't help having at least *some* emotional element in what I think, and say, about these matters.

[FieldingMellish]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

What makes you think otherwise ? Explain to me.

D.

Well there has been (and will be) at least *some* leakage of radioactive material, right? Didn't I see a report form the US Navy that they had helicopters come back onto one of their ships which were litreally filmed in something quite nasty? Reports suggested that naval personnel had been exposed to "a month's worth of radiation in just one hour".

There is also the question of environmental damage.

I accept that certain segments of the media are continually seeking senastionalist headlines etc. On teh other hand, teh Guardian seemed to have some very good people answering questions (in a so-called 'live q&a') this afternoon, and many of them were playing down fears:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...ural-disasters


Edit: a colleague just sent me this, an interesting article, seems to be written very much from an 'everything is going to be OK' angle:

http://morgsatlarge.wordpress.com/20...lear-reactors/

[willhollin]

Anyone see "Ross Kemp - Extreme World" last night?

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by willhollin

Anyone see "Ross Kemp - Extreme World" last night?

Did he surf the tsunami at Sendai?
I thought I saw a surfer, or is that why Matt has been so quiet?

[Em135eye]

It was a big paddle out but worth it.

Any of you seen this footage? It's the first I've seen of it breaking like a "proper" wave - except on a bonkers scale...

http://uk.reuters.com/news/video/sto...eoId=195671726