You'd never know that disaster struck the world's third largest economy yesterday (I wrote it in that way as that is how a newsfeed described this country full of 137 million people...)
Now we see what can e done to help the people up north. And let us pray that any leaky nuclear reactors don't take this disaster to our future generations.
Thanks everyone for keeping an eye on Japan.
I love you.
Cam
PS I'll let you know when the next one hits, but in the meantime I guess I should finish hanging my laundry and then start up breakfast.
I know it's tough and will probably get tougher, but hang in there buddy.
ReplyDelete*YES*
ReplyDeletepumps fist
three cheers for engineers !!
!
ReplyDeleteKeeping fingers crossed about the nuclear reactors , they are saying the temperature is rising and are 1000 times higher than they should be , very scary !!!
ReplyDeleteso graba spare pump and vent the extra water
ReplyDeletebeats the hell outta a meltdown
no drinking water downstream...shit...i don't have to tell you this stuff
ReplyDeleteas if sitting on an active volcano wasn't enough to instruct in quick reaction
use the fire department if the uptake valves are damaged
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vancouversun.com/news/Japan+earthquake+factbox+Entire+Japan+coast+shifted+metres+earth+axis+moves+inches/4425617/story.html
ReplyDeleteEarth's axis has shifted 10 inches.
So I am confused is it one or two power plants? Either way why are the cooling systems shutting down? Were they damaged in the quake?
ReplyDeleteI am putting out my orders to the Universe... NOT TODAY. Enough already, Japan has had enough for one day.
*sighs*
ReplyDeleteagain??
We knew this to be.. or that it would be, but it's so important to control our thinking and not be afraid. (yea easy to type, harder to translate..LOL)
ReplyDeleteI'm still just glad you're there.
ReplyDeleteI love you.
then hush...
ReplyDeleteand let the people do their work
ReplyDeleteChecking in on you. I'm relieved and consoled that you're alright, Cam. You and Mayu were the first people I thought of when I heard the tragic news. I'm so sorry for the pain of so many people...grieving, homeless and lost.
ReplyDeleteI havent been on Multiply in such a long time, but I had to come and check on you Cam. I hope and pray that you, Mayu and your loved ones are safe and sound. I am keeping everyone effected by this in my thoughts and prayers. I hope the world pulls together to help everyone.
ReplyDeleteLove, Betty
I think they said it was because the backup generators couldn't work because of water damage
ReplyDeleteFive Generators. But apparently these reactors are a little different and that although temperatures rise when they release the pressure, it is a way of controling them so they can shut them down. We need nuclear power here as there isn't enough without it.
ReplyDeleteBe careful Cam. We're now getting news from officials in Japan that one or two reactors are potentially gonna go into meltdown and perhaps one has already begun. Your local news and government may be keeping info from you in order to avoid panic. . . .but I'm telling ya I'm hearing this now from more than one source.
ReplyDeletePack some bags and consider getting further away.
Now dozens of sources. . . . . .just google Japan meltdown, and you'll see.
ReplyDeleteplease consider leaving and getting as far away as possible.
Please evacuate as soon as possible. The Japanese government is with=holding info on the explosion. Experts here say this is the worst case scenario and no one within 50 miles is safe....plus, whichever way the wind blows the radioactive plume.
ReplyDeleteGet out now.
Glad to know you're well and still up and about Cam!!
ReplyDeleteConcerning the design to the Japanese reactors,... there is a problem,... make no mistake about that.
Also, keep in mind I don't know how those particular cores are designed, but if they follow standard practice here's what you're looking at:
1) As soon as power to the core controls was cut or the coolant stopped flowing, the control rods scrammed, which would have taken the reactors from super critical to sub-critical production. (This is why there hasn't been worse news or mass evacuations yet.)
2) With the coolant flow stopped, unfortunately, the reactor coolant might not be cooling fast enough.
3) There should not be a melt down with the control rods scrammed. But pressure would still be building, it's a bit of a race between the ambient temperature bleed off and the coolant pressure.
4) If the pressure becomes too much for either the primary or secondary coolant (there should be both in a power plant with a sane design), there are systems in place to help control both.
The primary coolant system should have a device known as a pressurizer,... this is designed to help manage the pressure of the primary system via an ingenious setup with a steam bubble that automatically gets compressed when it rises too fast, and automatically expands (maintaining pressure) when it starts to drop too fast. The reason you don't want the pressure to drop too fast is because steam bubbles form,... when steam bubbles form, the primary system and fuel plates are at risk of cracking.
This would mean radiation levels so high, the secondary coolant would be contaminated and this is where the real risk is at.
The secondary coolant system is designed to vent if pressures get too high.
This would mean a radioactive cloud of steam.
As for worse damage, this would be contained behind a series of concrete and steel barriers. The real risk is the steam cloud.
* For future reference a much safer design is a natural circulation, verses forced circulation system. With a natural circulation system, even when the primary and secondary coolant pumps get shut off, the coolant keeps flowing.
The challenge with a natural circulation system is that it requires a bit more space.
Hope this helps.
Please stay safe and well.
Respectfully,
John F. Palermo
12 March 2011
I stand corrected on the evacuations,... these have started. And there are 4 power plants affected. All were shut down successfully.
ReplyDeleteThat said though, I have to say I'd rather be in Japan when something like this goes down than any other place on the planet.
Else where the death toll would not only be much higher due to weaker construction standards, the government and local response would be dramatically slower (aka. Katrina).
The best of outcomes to you Cam,
Respectfully,
John F. Palermo
12 March 2011
one of the plants had a blowout...
ReplyDeletewe'll be waiting to hear from you cam
assistance is on the way
ReplyDeletehttp://in.reuters.com/article/2011/03/12/japan-quake-experts-idINLDE72B07W20110312?pageNumber=1
ReplyDeleteIt's Fine. Japanese reactors are built with quakes in mind and while one has been compromised, many experts have chimed in and they are NOT predicting Chernobyl-esque awfulness.
Also - Cam's in TOKYO, so the chances of fallout from one of the northern reactors causing issues is MINIMAL.
Everyone relax.
I believe you may want to research more recent news......4 or 5 reactors are now on Red Alert. Japanese officials are now concerned about meltdown(s). And winds are predicted to start coming out of the north and blow south.
ReplyDeleteIn this situation, I'd pack up my family and go....just in case.
glad ur out of harms way ole boy..........still think ur mighty tall for a japeneser
ReplyDeleteor go underground
ReplyDeleteyou were right about the one that went pop
but so far the core is intact...
any new news?
Radiation leak count at 09:05 was 1204.5 (units). Not good. Not good.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the normal count ?
ReplyDeleteWell... the best I can say from what I heard was that it is leaking PER HOUR the amount we naturally receive from the earth PER YEAR.
ReplyDeletei don't have to say that minimizing your exposure would be a good idea
ReplyDeleteHey Cam, Mousie (Susan) here... is the Matt you've mentioned previously (apartment torn up), Matt as in "harmaceutical"? We used to be connected here a long while back but separated... just wondering if it's the same guy. If so... tell him I was hoping he's okay. He's a funny man.
ReplyDeleteMousie - That it is. Harmaceutical the Rock Action Hero! He left Multiply for blogger but you can find him on facebook as well as Twitter if you want to hook up again.
ReplyDeleteLove you guys! Eat lots of organic potatoes for me, eh?!
working on the garden all day yesterday ;)
ReplyDeletewill do