TEPCO has a 2nd to last ditch option at reducing nuclear criticality at Fukushima, namely the direct injection of Boron into the ground water. For more information see:
Boron Injection Wells Into Fukushima Ground Water and Nuclear PLINKO
However, since TEPCO has made a face saving claim that there is no recriticality because Boron water poured into the reactor is having no affect, there likely is resistance to taking further measures (not to mention the expense)
We at POTRBLOG believe the data indicates that the corium is in the ground water and is in an on-and-off again recriticality, with each cycle having a yet unquantified likelihood of an uncontrolled explosive recriticality.
Boron water poured in from the surface becomes too diluted from ground water, when and if it reaches the corium, to moderate the criticality. The coruim is actually self moderating via the production of Iodine-133 ~ Xenon-133. Depending on ground water conditions, the cycle jumps between the production of Neptunium,Plutonium and Iodine,Xenon.
In that light, the sole purpose of the Boron water being pumped into the reactors was to have a smooth thermal transition as the corium left the site and entered the ground water, there by delaying a violent "China Syndrome" type event.
However, much like the Federal Reserve's printing of money, it only makes matter worse long term. In both cases (the FED and TEPCO) it is the equivalent of giving a drug addict more and more of a drug at greater and great doses in hopes that it will somehow hold off the inevitable crash.
We at POTRBLOG believe the data indicates that TEPCO- as all of its "remedies" now have little to now affect- is no longer in control of the situation. The situation is in the hands of the ground water.
Assuming no explosive recriticality between now and winter, the snow and frost cover conditions at the Fukushima site will give away the severe nature of the condition in much the same way as the 10/24/11 Northern Lights in the Southern United States gave away the quantity of fallout in the skies above.
For more information on the current recriticality cycling at Fukushima please watch this video.
For more information about the last option (sans turning a blind eye) read post;
So who is building the PANtron for Fukushima, and when will it be used?
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Did I see an article in the past few days saying they just tried Boron and it failed.
ReplyDeletePublished: November 19th, 2011
ReplyDeleteBy ENENEWS STAFF
China syndrome inevitable says architect of Fukushima Reactor No. 3 — Warns of massive hydrovolcanic explosion — Melted fuel inevitably sank underground
Architect of Reactor 3 warns of massive hydrovolcanic explosion, Fukushima Diary by Mochizuki, November 19, 2011:
Nov. 17 interview with Uehara Haruo, former president of Saga University and architect of Fukushima Daiichi Reactor 3
“He admitted Tepco’s explanation does not make sense, and that the China syndrome is inevitable.”
“He stated that considering 8 months have passed since 311 without any improvement, it is inevitable that melted fuel went out of the container vessel and sank underground.”
“If the underground water vein keeps being heated for long time, a massive hydrovolcanic explosion will be caused.”
SOURCE: news.livedoor.com (Japanese)
DATE: 2011 November 18th 19:16
Babelfish Translation result for http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/6041353/
Relevant Excerpts
You think that in interview, the Tanaka dragon work person of the journalist, “the China syndrome (the hot nuclear fuel which was melted with the core, penetrates the pressure container and the Containment Vessel and leaks and comes out, furthermore entering in the underground soil) has entered into process?” When with opinion is sought, Uehara answered “you think that from present time lapse, to tell the truth it does not become so you do not obtain,” that.
In addition, Uehara “if, (the nucleus) the fuel rod has arrived to underground Mio, when it becomes, rather several fearful thing occurs”, that after warning, by the fact that underground Mio itself is polluted to the radioactivity, pointing out the possibility, serious radiation contamination such as soil contamination and marine pollution reaching to wide scope. When underground Mio continued to be heated with the hot nuclear fuel, it did not mean that large-scale phreatic explosion occurs, or that anxiety was shown. On that, vis-a-vis the competent authorities “we want teaching truth quickly”, that it appealed.
As for Uehara while interviewing, concerning especially Tokyo Electric Power Company announcement contents “you do not understand well whether honesty, what is said” that, there was a scene where many degrees give an advise. When from Takashi Uesugi of the journalist, the present each reactor (1, 2 and 3 the machine) possibility of the China syndrome which includes state and melt through is questioned, “The melt knocking down, when doing melt through, if you do not understand the nuclear fuel is what state, as for the person who can say accurate thing because it is not in the world.”
It seems as if TEPCO has successfully thermally transitioned the corium into the ground water with all the sea water they pumped in; the real risk is that they have lost any ability to moderate the reaction with Boron.
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