Massive Quake Hits NE Japan

[Guynemer]

The Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is arguably one of the worst situated in the country wrt earthquake and tsunami threats but it seems better prepared then the Japanese plant having the problem. For instance DC has it's diesel supplies underground so if a tsunami hits they can't be washed away unless the whole surface of the earth erodes away also the cooling water can be gravity fed so even if everything goes wrong you will still get water running as long as we still have gravity.

One can only hope.

[Wezil]

There is a lot of hindsight applied and this ends up being the basis of new regulatory requirements. Basically the NRC in the US looks at operating experience near miss incidents and holds the utilities to ever strengthening regulatory requirements.

A couple of points the diesels did activate immediately following the quake and tsunami but failed an hour later. The fuel supply was contaminated with sea water and failed due to contaminated fuel supply. The design ofnthe diesels and all associated systems withstood the impacts. The point is these safety systems are designed to withstand a design basis event. In the case of seismic forces the basis depends on the seismic surveys of the site and surrounding region. Likewise the meteorological design basis flooding etc. These are the assumptions of the design. The tsunami was far greater in magnitude then ever anticipated in the design basis. No doubt the industry will require reevaluation of design bases going forward and undoubtedly require even more conservative bases going forward.

Granted, but the fuel did become contaminated and the diesel shut down. Something failed.

[Thorn]

yeah and 1000 year old plants still stand in the redwood forest your point wezil?

[Wezil]

Ehrrr, three blew up.

They were still standing to be able to blow up.

The problems as I understand it have to do with the inability to supply coolant after the fact.

[Wezil]

yeah and 1000 year old plants still stand in the redwood forest your point wezil?

And I bought milk today for $4.99.

Your point?

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Granted, but the fuel did become contaminated and the diesel shut down. Something failed.

Yes the design basis was exceeded. Reevaluation of design bases is in order.

[germanos]

They were still standing to be able to blow up.

The problems as I understand it have to do with the inability to supply coolant after the fact.

True. A rather pivotal ability for a nuclear reactor though as it's proven to be.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

ANS site indicates unit 4 spent fuel pool cooling is an issue. This normally wouldn't be an issue except that unit 4 just came off a refueling outage and the rods in the SFP are not decayed down. If this had happens a month later this wouldn't be as big an issue.

[Thorn]

And I bought milk today for $4.99.

Your point?

And I bought gas today for $3.51.

Your point?

[Wezil]

True. A rather pivotal ability for a nuclear reactor though as it's proven to be.

Hence my mentioning that particular issue.

I'm curious about why the diesels were so susceptible to the tsunami. Isn't a tsunami a very good possibility for an island nation after an earthquake? If these things are to prevent a meltdown, why weren't they better protected?

[Wezil]

And I bought gas today for $3.51.

Your point?

My point would be this - If you have issue with something I have said do me the courtesy of pointing out what that is. Starting with a non sequitur then asking my point gets us nowhere.

[Thorn]

Just following your lead. Wezil. and btw:

I must confess the fact these 40 year old plants are still standing

by Wezil

[germanos]

Has anybody seen footage of #2 exploding? At newssites I see reruns of #1 and #3 but #2 is curiously absent.

[Thorn]

Again, anyone know what it is in rads that is leaking?

[Wezil]

Just following your lead. Wezil. and btw:

by Wezil

TY. "my lead"? You were the one going on about old trees.

Nice how you left off the last half of my quote (the qualifier).

You did see pictures of the quake area?