Quake Rocks Japan

[QB Eagles]

Actual info about the third explosion is difficult to come by right now. I'm hearing conflicting things, which have radically different implications for the integrity of reactor #2. Part of the problem is that actual confirmed information is getting mixed up with rampant media speculation.

Supposedly there will be a news conference in about five minutes which will hopefully clear some things up. I want to hear specifically if they know anything about the integrity of both the "suppression pool" below the reactor, and the various layers of containment.

[Don Ho]

All is well, Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta are on site.  Whew.

The statements that are being released by the Japanese government are pretty sketchy. 

[phillymic2000]

link?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0l6z0HaUAM

Sorry, same time frame, right at 2:09. suck it Godzilla freaks!

[QB Eagles]

Okay. Here's my understanding of the situation right now.

Reactor #1 and #3 (the ones with the exploded outer buildings due to hygrogen buildup) still require water injection but are by far the most stable at the site right now.

Reactor building #4 (which was a shut-down reactor prior to the quake) was set on fire by falling debris from the hygrogen explosion of Reactor #3. This is something they have to get on top of immediately before it spreads. It's not an operating reactor in there, but there is spent fuel and radiation from the prior operation of the plant. This fire is probably contributing the most radiation at the moment, and could scale up with the scale of the fire.

Reactor #2 worries me the most. Currently it is not releasing much radiation, but there seems to be some kind of unspecified damage to the containment structure. It may be fine in its current state, but if the situation in this reactor degrades significantly (for example, if a hydrogen explosion similar to #1 or #3) occurs there, potential exists for a major escalation of the crisis.

This is still a miniscule event compared to the scale of the earthquake/tsunami, but the situation has degraded, and has certainly become dangerous for some of the people at the plant.

[ice grillin you]

qb do you work for the nuclear energy lobby?

[QB Eagles]

I have the same employer as you, Uncle Sam.

[ice grillin you]

then you get caked off by the nuclear energy lobby?

[QB Eagles]

I don't get caked off by anybody. I have zero connection to the civilian nuclear industry. I'm giving you the information as best I understand it. If you'd rather get your nuclear engineering info from some journalism major working for TIME Magazine, be my guest.

[ice grillin you]

i could care less about it until it explodes and blows over hanover but for whatever reason you seem to be balls deep into nukes

[QB Eagles]

As I said upthread, I work on reactor protection for the feds. Military, to be specific.

[mpmcgraw]

and I think most people enjoy your insight.  go jerk off to pictures of shirtless black athletes and leave us alone igy. 

[ice grillin you]

go jerk off to pictures of shirtless black athletes and leave us alone igy. 

lol...who is "us"....the dozens of nuclear reactor fans on the board...or are you referring to your many different screen names

[QB Eagles]

I can confirm that Hanover will be 100% safe.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I've always been curious about nuclear reactors since I grew up close to Limerick.

[MMH]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42066534?gt1=43001

"Spewing radiation" and "stay inside or risk radiation poisoning" can't be good.  Are all these Japanese houses made of lead?  GTFO!
Getting worse and worse by the minute.