At Fukushima, Radiation Leaks to Continue for 6 to 9 Months --

[defendandprotect]

Japan vows to stabilize nuclear plant in 6 to 9 months

Mari Yamaguchi
Associated Press

EXCERPTS ONLY --

That assessment also prompted the government to acknowledge that the reactor’s fuel rods had mostly melted soon after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami knocked out the plant’s cooling system.

Until all the reactors are safely shut down, they continue to leak radiation, though in much smaller amounts than in the early days of the disaster.


Still, the sheer volume of contaminants spewed from the plant — and their buildup in places outside the 20-kilometre evacuation zone — persuaded the government to order residents to leave more towns in late April. Some of those evacuations began this weekend.

“What’s crucial is how we can proceed with cooling. Even though the cores had melted, they are somewhat kept cool,” Hosono said.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/991884--japan-vows-to-stabilize-nuclear-plant-in-6-to-9-months


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Temperature inside #1 reactor core has cooled to 100 C - cold shutdown level -

with a "cold and stable shutdown" timetable for six to 9 months.

[damntexdem]

1. Or 6000 to 9000 years, as the case may be.

Or, rather, as further cases are melted open at the bottom by fuel rods that have gone critical.

[defendandprotect]

3. Evidently leaking nuclear reactors are now simply a bore -- !!

:evilgrin:

[The Traveler]

2. I really don't understand

how a cold shutdown was achieved by pouring water on molten fuel slag ... unless a significant amount of that fuel isn't where they think it is.

This is where the details of core vessel geometry becomes important to understanding the situation ... For example, if there was enough room on the core bottom to allow the stuff to spread out in a thin layer, creating an unfavorable geometry for a chain reaction, then this can be understood without assuming a leak of molten fuel.

Trav