Reply #9: More learned opinions at TOD

[robdogbucky]

"...Continued hydrogen production could imply that there has been oxidation of the zirconium cladding surrounding the fuel pellets, which in turn implies very high temperatures. Why isn't this thing cooling off? Possibilities:

•Poor heat transfer, perhaps getting worse with time
•Re-criticality, facilitated by damage to the core structure and insufficient borate in the water
Elsewhere, reactors 5 and 6 are being inundated with radioactive groundwater.

And then there are the spent fuel pools. As for good news, we have no confirmation that TCHLTV:

But we don't believe at this point in time that that core has left the vessel.

Martin Virgilio
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
4/6/2011

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/7765#more


"...Me, I'm waiting so patiently

Lying on the floor

I'm just trying to do this jig-saw puzzle

Before it rains anymore..."

Jagger/Richards