Japan earthquake/tsunami

[Saltheart]

The fuel is not like just molten metal that cools and that's it. The nuclear activity keeps going on. Almost never stops without some absorbers (like the boron control rods) to soak up excess nuetrons , tec. because it keeps having nuclear activity , it needs to be continuously cooled. There is going to be ups and downs at all the reactors as things cool , melt , move , etc. They will need to watch this for a long time.

As far as I know , there has not been a leak from a primary containment vessel. There is almost certainly a leak from the secondary containment vessel of one of them. That is not good!. Think of a big steel ball inside a big concrete casket (I use that word purposely). The primary vessel as has been posted , is very thick steel. It sometimes has steel cable wrapped around the thick steel for further reinforcement. Hopefully that stays sealed and the really Hot (as in radioactively hot , not just temperature) stuff stays inside. Now by necessity there are pipes and other I?O areas so these are weak points and they could leak.

The secondary containment vessel is essentially a big concrete ball sitting in a concrete bathtub. Its usually the bottom of these seconday vessals that you need to worry about. The heat , the shaking and moving during the quakes , shock from hot to cold as coolant is there and then not , can lead to the concrete cracking or breaking open in areas. Obviously this is not good. I believe there is no doubt at all that one of the secondary containment structures has failed.

I have been to japan many times. The big difference there is that people believe in individual honor and they believe that others should be treated with respect. Those of course are values we hope to impart to children at home , in schools , in sports , etc. We could do a better job but most people do at least see the value in honor and respect and try to impart those ideals to their children. I think it must be taught and become part of a value system while young. Few people suddenly become "noble" . You need to grow that in them over a long period of time.