Coolant for most light water reactors is highly pure water.

Are you sure about the source here?

From the reports I'm hearing, the problem is that the redundancies in place to cool the reactor by continuing to pump water failed.  They had to issue a nuclear emergency in Japan because they're required to do so by law whenever a reactor fails, but so far the various worldwide nuclear agencies seem to think it's under control.  How much of that is smoke and mirrors to prevent (even more) panic I don't know, but I'm praying it's true. 

Prayers and more prayers to those living, working, and vacationing in Japan.

>What does the US Navy use for it's reactors

water

There are of course other types of reactor designs but if the other reports I had read were accurate the endangered reactors were BWRs and or PWRs. Both of these designs are water moderated/cooled.

Reserve coolant is usually stored in underground tanks, partly because Visible Nuclear Stuff freaks people out.

Add giant earthquake.

"13 Megyn says the tsunami pretty much completely destroyed the docks and harbor."

Is Megyn a news reporter or Megyn McCain. If the later, then it must be important. Hugh and Series.

Does not sound like anyone at Fox knows what they are talking about, AND they are not willing to find out before they spout off...

This is the danger of having to fill 24 hours of News Talk with somthing....

"They had to issue a nuclear emergency in Japan because they're required to do so by law whenever a reactor fails, but so far the various worldwide nuclear agencies seem to think it's under control."

Old story here folks. Next up Godzilla and Mothra. Pity the poor fish heads.

Posted by: Truman North at March 11, 2011 01:50 PM (8ay4x)

Yes, at this point, it would be in poor taste to comment... besides, I'm busy with a water delivery...

Posted by: JDW at March 11, 2011 01:50 PM (uw+0A)

You want a punch in the mouth?

41 29 This tragedy isn't lending itself to nearly as many good jokes as other threads.

First, you have to suspend basic concern for your fellow man, then the jokes just write themselves.

Huh? A commenter writes that the earthquake was so powerful it shifted the earth's axis by 10 inches/25 cm.

that seems pretty normal.  I recall a mention that during the Earthquake and tsunami that hit the Indian/Pacific region back during Bush's term was strong enough to have a slight effect on our orbit or axis.

I hope California is taking notes.  They are very overdue, after all.

Prayers to the living and the dead, missing and found.  This is just beginning.

I just did a little sleuthing and Japan does possess a fast breeder. Couldnt find out if it was still operational or not. The news report would make more sense if this is the unit being referred to. The rest of their commercial fleet is BWR and PWRs.

>Boiling water reactors use ultra-purified water - not something you can just >pull out of the tap.

That is only true as long as they feel they can save the plant. In an emergency they would use any water they could get into the rx vessel.

It is not clear for sparse info available just how severe this accident is.

FWIW for disclosure my past career was in USNRC.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 11, 2011 01:53 PM (HicGG)

Yeah, but where's his birth certificate?

First, you have to suspend basic concern for your fellow man, then the jokes just write themselves.

Posted by: Surfer Dude at March 11, 2011 01:54 PM (Q5+Og)

Hey at least maybe now Huntington Beach will stop trying to sue Santa Cruz for use of the name "Surf City".

(Like that?)

First, you have to suspend basic concern for your fellow man, then the jokes just write themselves.

Posted by: Surfer Dude at March 11, 2011 01:54 PM (Q5+Og)

Ah, so you saw my magnificent presser.  Comedy gold, baby!

I heard an NPR reporter doing a spot from Tokyo this morning and they asked after her son, who was attending HS right in the impacted area.  She said she hadn't heard from him, but added since the Japanese practice for this constantly, she was sure he was all right, and then went on with the report. 

What a gutsy babe - I sure hope she's right.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2011 01:56 PM (M9Ie6)

We also have to keep in mind that this isn't the first earthquake Japan's had even this WEEK.  There was a 7.2(?) earthquake a few days ago that may have also disrupted operations at this and other nuclear facilities.  Following it up with an earthquake as severe and relatively nearby as this one could have exacerbated those disruptions to dangerous levels.

(Like that?)

Yeah pretty much. You really didn't personalize it though. Maybe call Huntington Beach a bunch of cock sucking homos would reveal the pathos of the moment and add a textural depth to your depravity. Beach civil wars are serious stuff. Just ask Jan and Dean.

The plant that I worked at was a PWR. We had two seperate types of emergency coolant, High Pressure Safty Injection (HPSI) and Low Pressure Safety Injection (LPSI). HPSI injects new coolant directly into the pressurized coolant loops. It depends on the integrity of the coolant system to operate (if the coolant pipes are broken you can't maintain pressure, much like a radiator on your car.)

Both systems depend on the pumps working. Which means both the integrity of the pumps and associated piping and electical power.

The final backup was a Terry Turbine, which used steam straight from the containment to power an emrgency coolant pump.

Posted by: Downscaled Upscale at March 11, 2011 01:59 PM (IhHdM)

Has anybody read Battle Circle?  Post-apocalyptic warrior society?  Sol the Sword?  Var the Stick?  That's what I want the post-apocalyptic future to be like.

"65 I keep thinking about that cretin jackass Democrat who claimed Guam would tip over if too many people were on one end."

Has anybody check on Guam?

Hi guys. I'm here in the Bay Area and media here say the Crescent City harbor is pretty much destroyed. It's a circular bay, just south of the Oregon line, about 370 miles north of SF. What a shame. When the tsumani from the Alaska quake in 1964 hit Crescent City, it pretty much wiped out the town. I don't know what's happened in Eureka, a deep water port 345 miles north of SF.

Santa Cruz harbor has a bunch of fishing and pleasure boats ripped from piers and crashed together like a "car crash", according to one reporter.

Sorry I don't have links. I reading the local news websites. One of the best is KTVU in Oakland which does that best job around here for accurate news.

Posted by: andycanuck at March 11, 2011 01:49 PM (7H/n0)

Posted by: Cicero at March 11, 2011 02:06 PM (PyVAg)

Yeah, she wrote a tablet to Prophet Gore about it.

Clinton does not know what she is talking about.  These reactors are GE Boiling Water Reactors of various vintages.  They all operate with clean demineralized water as the coolant.  Can use any water for coolant in a pinch.

The "radioactive vapor" you see spoken is simply coolant steam that is contains "activated" nitrogen (N-16) that is a low energy beta emitter with a half life of 7 seconds.  In an event of this nature, steam is released to keep pressure in the reactor vessel from becomming too high.  It is released into what is called the dry well of the containment, not to the atmosphere.

"86 Breaking News: Jesse Jackson headed to Japan"

Winning The Future. I hate to tell Jessie, but Japs don't think much of black guys. I guess Jessie figures its a looting opportunity worth traveling for.

This tragedy isn't lending itself to nearly as many good jokes as other threads.

Well, I tried, but was on an old thread. Repeat:

I'm now hearing reports that Pokemon were acting strange for hours before the quake.

Yeah pretty much. You really didn't personalize it though. Maybe call Huntington Beach a bunch of cock sucking homos would reveal the pathos of the moment and add a textural depth to your depravity. Beach civil wars are serious stuff. Just ask Jan and Dean.

Dude brah, check it. I was ridin' these siiick ass waves man. It was sinking boats man. Down in Huntington Beach the only time they get such killer waves is when the hazardous waste treatment plant spills needles and diapers into the ocean. Big turn off man. Also they are suckers of cock. SC4Life!

Hello, Congressional Information Office?  J-3 here.  Give me some statistics on how many earthquakes could be prevented if the General Welfare Clause was amended to mention Jelly Roll Morton by name.

Yeah, I'll hold.

Posted by: George Orwell at March 11, 2011 02:01 PM (lwUmg)

I can't imagine that.  This is Japan.  They are a 1st-world nation.  Its not like they're a country with most people still living in dirt huts with thatched roofs and no technological means.  I would think they are very aware of the dangers of earthquakes and tsunamis and know that one does follow the other, and hopefully they got out of the way.

Posted by: Surfer Dude at March 11, 2011 02:07 PM (Q5+Og)

A vicious racial slur and two nasty racial stereotypes.  Dude, your jib is cut quite well.  Might you have a newsletter to which I could subscribe?

and basically N-16 is radioactive for about 35 seconds. so depending on the release they won't have to worry about cleanup, it'll be a bucket brigade sort of effort. but if they don't have flow of primary and secondary coolant, it doesn't matter what they do.

I'm surprised they don't have some portable gensets they can fly in for emergency power. tho i'm not sure how they're set up, i'd imagine they'd beable to rig SOMETHING to get pumps back online.

Santa Cruz harbor has a bunch of fishing and pleasure boats ripped from piers and crashed together like a "car crash", according to one reporter.

Sorry I don't have links. I reading the local news websites. One of the best is KTVU in Oakland which does that best job around here for accurate news.

video of CA coast

the link on the right "Witness Describes Calif. Tsunami Surges" is Santa Cruz.

6.6 "aftershock"

The point I'm struggling to make is that this is so large I don't have any scale-references to make sense of it.

Ace, BBC has said the water went 10K (6.2 miles) inland. Sendai has a population of 1 million. I don't want to think about it.

Posted by: George Orwell at March 11, 2011 02:01 PM (lwUmg)

I can't imagine that.  This is Japan.  They are a 1st-world nation.  Its not like they're a country with most people still living in dirt huts with thatched roofs and no technological means.  I would think they are very aware of the dangers of earthquakes and tsunamis and know that one does follow the other, and hopefully they got out of the way.

Posted by: buzzion at March 11, 2011 02:10 PM (oVQFe)

They  have a ton of coastline, and not much inland, I was thinking earlier.  And the population density varies from elbow-to-elbow to on-top-of-each-other.

Posted by: George Orwell at March 11, 2011 02:14 PM (lwUmg)

I would imagine there are a ton of people stuck in place with no means of communication.  At least that's what I'm hoping....

It's not the official number, according to the BBC. 300 dead, 500 missing, IIRC.  

We'll see. It's not yet dawn there.

"115 Agreed, but where does this huge figure of missing people originate?
Posted by: George Orwell at March 11, 2011 02:14 PM (lwUmg) "

As always - from experts. Shoosh, you must be dumb. Experts know everything.

Agreed, but where does this huge figure of missing people originate?

Posted by: George Orwell at March 11, 2011 02:14 PM (lwUmg)

Wild speculation?  Population density and a survey of people to extrapolate from?  How can you have a number like that already to begin with?  I was listening in my car and there was a report an hour ago that the police in Japan have found 300 bodies so far.  That is at least a number that can be pinned down.  And I'm really hoping that its much closer to that number.

that seems pretty normal.  I recall a mention that during the Earthquake and tsunami that hit the Indian/Pacific region back during Bush's term was strong enough to have a slight effect on our orbit or axis.

Who knew GWB was in Sendai?

Oh, and I heard on the news that 35 boats were crushed or destroyed in the marina at Crescent Bay.

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at March 11, 2011 02:18 PM (qIHlG)

In Japan, it is.

Posted by: Y-not at March 11, 2011 02:19 PM (pW2o

LOL!

Posted by: Steph at March 11, 2011 02:19 PM (AkdC5)

What idiot wrote that?

Posted by: Just Asking Questions at March 11, 2011 02:22 PM (McG46)

After all, it IS 3/11. 

What idiot wrote that?

Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2011 02:22 PM (VuLos)

Why, the AP, of course.

Posted by: Just Asking Questions at March 11, 2011 02:22 PM (McG46)

Bush took his natural disaster generator with him when he left office.

Posted by: toby928™ at March 11, 2011 02:23 PM (GTbGH)

A reporter on Fox pointed out some of the cars caught in the tsunami had their wipers going.....meaning people were trapped in their cars. 

Dear Lord.

Damn.

Posted by: George Orwell at March 11, 2011 02:19 PM (lwUmg)

You're wrong.  Both are tragedies that are our fault.  Our policy in the mideast caused 9/11.  And our raping of mother earth caused her to go into a siezure.  Its all America's fault.

Posted by: George Orwell at March 11, 2011 02:14 PM (lwUmg)

The 88,000 is from the official Kyodo News Service, who presumably got it from a government source, but I can't say for sure.  Most of those missing are simply people who are stranded in Tokyo or other places and haven't been able to get in touch with their family.  But a good chunk of them are no doubt individuals who live(d) in the Sendai area and other areas devastated by the tsunami, and I fear the outlook for them is not good.

The 200-300 bodies found in Sendai, btw, apparently weren't from there.  The tsunami carried them to Sendai from elsewhere in Japan.  At least, that's what I heard on the BBC a little over an hour ago.  Not sure how they could verify that, unless the individuals in question were easily identifiable as being from a specific area.

Surreal, these pictures are horrible. After you have counted the dead, tended to the injured, and notified the survivors, where do you begin? These poor people, God help them.

"A reporter on Fox pointed out some of the cars caught in the tsunami had their wipers going.....meaning people were trapped in their cars. "

I would recommend rolling down your windows and finding some scotch in that event.

Posted by: toby928™ at March 11, 2011 02:23 PM (GTbGH)

Seconded.  Followed by the fire conflagration that resembles the Hawaii on fire scene in 2012.

Posted by: toby928™ at March 11, 2011 02:23 PM (GTbGH)

It's obvious you haven't seen a picture of Nancy Pelosi lately...

A reporter on Fox pointed out some of the cars caught in the tsunami had their wipers going.....meaning people were trapped in their cars. 

Dear Lord.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 11, 2011 02:25 PM (UOM4

I noticed that as I was watching.  It's beyond belief.  All I can imagine is how terrified those people must have been (and I pray they found their way to safety somehow).

Elsewhere, officials announced they were shutting down ferry service between Vallejo and San Francisco and BART officials were considering cancelling train service between West Oakland and Daly City between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. as a precaution.

I'm pretty sure they'll need billions of federal dollars now.

"A reporter on Fox pointed out some of the cars caught in the tsunami had their wipers going.....meaning people were trapped in their cars. "

I would recommend rolling down your windows and finding some scotch in that event.

Posted by: Ted Kennedy at March 11, 2011 02:28 PM (Q5+Og)

Yeah, but the Kennedys are used to going down from the bridge into water, In japan, the water is coming up to the bridges.

If I could make a comparison, it looks like those old Japanese movies, like Godzilla, where they used minatures for the destruction and action sequences. It just doesn't look real when you see it.

Kyodo News Service is saying that the death toll is likely to go over 1000.  Honestly, seeing all this destruction and the compounding tragedies (fire, dam ruptures, landslides), I shudder to think that might be a low estimate.  Mind you, the Kobe quake of 1995 took over 6,000 lives.  If this catastrophe DOES top off at or near 1000 deaths, it will be a miracle in my eyes. 

I thought Chris Matthews hated Clinton.  I remember watching Hardball back in the day and savoring obvious contempt in which Chrissy held Bill. 

Or was I dropping acid? 

They're not mutually exclusive.

Oh, I seen to have lost the will to identify my sources.

Just yell if you want a link to something I post. KTVU, my home town station was reporting about BART 'n stuff.

Did I say pieces of houses? I just had a scale-check again and saw that entire houses are floating in the tsunami water.

If you watch the video footage of these houses being carried along by the flood, you can see them just crumple like tissue paper as they collide with each other under the force of the water.  It's absolutely heartbreaking.

From The Blaze...

...the Huffington Post is coincidentally warning readers that Republican budget cuts could hinder U.S. emergency responses to natural disasters in the future:

...

Presented as part of a larger deficit reduction package, each cut could be pitched as tough-choice, belt-tightening on behalf of the GOP. But advocates for protecting those funds pointed to the crisis in Japan as evidence that without the money, disaster preparedness and relief would suffer.

Damn.

Shit. This is bad.

Posted by: George Orwell at March 11, 2011 02:31 PM (lwUmg)

"Yabai."

What's Japanese for "holy crap?"

Tora fucking tora?

105 et al.

There are steam driven emergency cooling pumpes that I am sure are operating right now.  Both high and low pressure emergency coolant injection systems are likely steam driven...I am only familiar with the early vintage BWR 3-6 reactors.  The flow control valves are battery fed in an event like this where there is a loss of offsite power.

I dont want to be to pollyannish, but I am pretty sure this is much ado about nothing.

I just think it is too classic what Clinton said...had to look like we were helping...idiots.

Presented as part of a larger deficit reduction package, each cut could be pitched as tough-choice, belt-tightening on behalf of the GOP. But advocates for protecting those funds pointed to the crisis in Japan as evidence that without the money, disaster preparedness and relief would suffer.

Shameless. Can't even wait for the bodies to get cold.

Shameless. Can't even wait for the bodies to get cold.

Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at March 11, 2011 02:36 PM (JxMoP)

Never let a crisis go to waste.  Thanks a lot, Rahm Fucking Emmanuel.

Just to throw wrenches around here, <b>highly</b> pure water is very difficult to make and keep that way, and very expensive.

If we're talking something crazy like 55.5 molar water that is 99.999999% pure, not just a bottle of "distilled water" which may be 99.9% pure if you're lucky. Probably more like 99.0%.

And more from the huffwhores...

“These are very closely related,” National Weather Service Employees Organization President Dan Sobien told The Huffington Post with respect to the budget cuts and the tsunami. “The National Weather Service has the responsibility of warning about tsunami’s also. It is true that there is no plan to not fund the tsunami buoys. Everyone knows you just can’t do that. Still if those [House] cuts go through there will be furloughs at both of the tsunami warning centers that protect the whole country and, in fact, the whole world.”

I thought Chris Matthews hated Clinton.  I remember watching Hardball back in the day and savoring obvious contempt in which Chrissy held Bill. 

Or was I dropping acid? 

He had a raging full hard-on man crush on Bill until the Monica Lewinsky scandal.  He subsequently got over his disappointment with Clinton at the 2004 Democratic Convention, where Clinton was a speaker.  I had never paid attention to politics before 9/11, and so this was the first such convention I ever paid attention to.  Chris was on MSNBC in a slobbering orgasm when Clinton took the podium "He looks fit, trim, blah, blah blah."  It was disturbing!

Posted by: kbdabear at March 11, 2011 02:34 PM (vdfwz)

Probably the same kind of idiots who feel the need to see it up close and personal and/or idiot surfers.

 4 people swept out to sea in Crescent City

I'm always amazed to see those idiot surfers in the water whenever there's a tsunami or a high wave warning.

"Yeah, but the Kennedys are used to going down from the bridge into water, In japan, the water is coming up to the bridges."

Yeah. But look on the bright side - shit floats.

Posted by: Y-not at March 11, 2011 02:37 PM (pW2o

The flowing water of the tsunami happened yesterday, so the videos are from yesterday afternoon, but the flooding is still ongoing (or that's what I've read).  It's currently the middle of the night in Japan, so it's dark.  We'll have new video once daybreak arrives there. 

Okay, I understand the sentiment, but why am I having a WTF moment here?

California Governor Jerry Brown has said he has directed the state's emergency management agency (Cal EMA) to make state resources available to the Japanese government. "We stand ready to assist them", he added. Mr Brown also urged Californians to heed tsunami warnings.

Does CA have any state resources?

After you have counted the dead, tended to the injured, and notified the survivors, where do you begin?

The last pictures I saw from Haiti (from a woman who did a medical LDS mission last fall) looked like nothing had been done.

I hope that Japan will do better, not being a completely corrupt hell-hole. 

Guys, may i remind everyone here that this is minor compared to what happened in WW 2 to the Japanese.

They have rebuilt from worse.

On March 9th and 10th of 1945 we fire bombed Tokyo an burned down 250,000 buildings, some 25% of the Capital city killing some 100,000 Japanese citizens.

If they can rebuild after that, they can rebuild after this.

It is horrifying and tragic, but don't worry for one second that the Japanese people won't rebuild. They are fiercely hard working and innovative people. This is a nation who wents from a feudal society to a modern industrial power house in some 30 years(Meiji Restoration 1868-1899).

They will rebuild.

 is the tsunami still happening or are the videos we're seeing of what happened yesterday/early today?

You mean in Japan? Those pics are from yesterday because it's like 4 or 5 in the morning now. Too dark for pics of anything but fires so far.

If we're talking something crazy like 55.5 molar water that is 99.999999% pure, not just a bottle of "distilled water" which may be 99.9% pure if you're lucky. Probably more like 99.0%.

Posted by: Entropy at March 11, 2011 02:37 PM (IsLT6)

Can't figure out why it would have to be that pure.  Delicate pumps?  Come on.  It's just heat transfer at that point, isn't it?  Any ol' water should do.

Does CA have any state resources?

Probably. We have those seasonal wildfires and are fairly earthquake prone ourselves. But I can't Imagine what those resources would be.

Posted by: kbdabear at March 11, 2011 02:34 PM (vdfwz)

Probably the same kind of idiots who feel the need to see it up close and personal and/or idiot surfers.

Posted by: ErikW at March 11, 2011 02:38 PM (99T54)

Jeff Spicoli types, no doubt.  You know, idjits.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at March 11, 2011 02:32 PM (qqrPQ)

Probably surfers who didn't heed the advisory.

Can't figure out why it would have to be that pure. Delicate pumps? Come on. It's just heat transfer at that point, isn't it? Any ol' water should do.

Maybe the impurities react with the pipes and stuff at high temps/pressures?

Posted by: runningrn at March 11, 2011 02:40 PM (ihSHD)

BWAHAHAHA!

I can read minds backwards into the future!

Wait...

California Governor Jerry Brown has said he has directed the state's emergency management agency (Cal EMA) to make state resources available to the Japanese government. "We stand ready to assist them", he added. Mr Brown also urged Californians to heed tsunami warnings.

Does CA have any state resources?"

I think Gov Moonbeam should check with Chairman Hui to see if its okay to loan pawned goods to the Japanese.

They will rebuild.

 Posted by: Ben at March 11, 2011 02:41 PM (wuv1c)

They will, but they were already in an economic shithole before this happened.  I don't know how the hell they're going to dig themselves out of that without massive influxes of money from foreign governments (like ours) that are broke or close to it. 

Humanity is resilient and resourceful, though.  I have faith there's a light at the end of this tunnel, and it's NOT a (high speed) train.

Question: I know the yakuza actually helped quite a bit during the Kobe earthquake back in '95.  I wonder if they'll help again here.  They're vicious bastards, but if they can help save lives instead of taking them for a change, I'm sure their aid would be welcomed.

Posted by: MissTammy at March 11, 2011 02:43 PM (BebB7)

They seem to have very few liberal kooks.  Maybe it's a racial thing.

Probably the same kind of idiots who feel the need to see it up close and personal and/or idiot surfers.

When the emergency broadcast system keeps warning about dangerous water conditions, I'm sure the stoner surfers take that as an invitation.

"221 208
Probably surfers who didn't heed the advisory.
Posted by: KG at March 11, 2011 02:43 PM (2k/Dg)

Proud Darwin Award winners ..."

Many tsunami parties were had in Kilua, HI, in my day. And look I'm still here.

Geologists say that the quake ripped a hole in the earth's crust 150 miles long

We'll need a global effort to build a butterfly bandage big enough.

Maybe the impurities react with the pipes and stuff at high temps/pressures?

Posted by: dudeinsantacruz at March 11, 2011 02:44 PM (dGdcX)

Yeah, I can see that, maybe, but in an emergency?  Surely the reaction would take a while to disable the whole thing, meantime you're preventing a nuclear holocaust or something.  In the short term, in an emergency, run 'em.  They should have all kinds of back up pumps and pipes too.

I'm available for consultation, Japanese nuclear industry.

Geologists say that the quake ripped a hole in the earth's crust 150 miles long

We'll need a global effort to build a butterfly bandage big enough.

I though butterflies caused hurricanes, not fixed earthquakes?

Yeah, I can see that, maybe, but in an emergency?

Probably the owner's manual is really specific, and the obediant Japanese people do not wish to disobey on risk of their family honor?

They seem to have very few liberal kooks

I think they have plenty of socialist-minded thinking there, but they also have the concept of pride, and not being a burden on your fellow man.

Also, they have a very closed culture. They are one of the few countries in the world that almost never lets immigrants in to become citizens. They are 98.5% Japanese.  Not having racial divisions, real or perceived, makes for a different society.

Obama called him "Prime Minister Kan" in his brief condolence message. Is it usual to use the first name as a form of address for the Japanese as contrasted with saying "P.M. Naoto"?

Asians have their last name first and first name second

Hu Jintao would be Jintao Hu in america

Can't figure out why it would have to be that pure.  Delicate pumps?  Come on.  It's just heat transfer at that point, isn't it?  Any ol' water should do.

Posted by: FUBAR at March 11, 2011 02:42 PM (McG46)

Posted by: andycanuck at March 11, 2011 02:52 PM (7H/n0)

"Naoto" is the Prime Minister's given name.  His family name is "Kan."  So (as much as I hate to say it) Bammy was correct in his address.  I hate saying he got anything right.  It makes me feel dirty.

"It has to be demineralized to prevent scale formation. Other contaminants could also cause corrosion."

In a pinch, does it really matter? Given the choice between scale and end times, which option would you select?

Posted by: Ed Anger at March 11, 2011 02:56 PM (7+pP9)

The totally unfunny thing is they DO.  I wonder what the shinkansen look like right now?

The video I saw of the water rolling across the land is the most horrifying thing I've seen in ages.

Agreed.  I was a few minutes into it before I even realized what I was watching.  Absolutely horrifying. Surreal.

Kaoto sounds more like a Japanese surname than Kan, but you're right about the order of the names. Kan doesn't even sound like a Japanese name to me; I am used to more syllables.

I thought that too immediately after i typed it but i looked online and Kan is his surname.

Also, they have a very closed culture. They are one of the few countries in the world that almost never lets immigrants in to become citizens. They are 98.5% Japanese.  Not having racial divisions, real or perceived, makes for a different society.

Posted by: Ben at March 11, 2011 02:53 PM (wuv1c)

One of their legislators just had to resign because he took a campaign donation from a Korean woman who's lived in Japan for something like 70 years.  She's not a citizen, just a permanent resident, so accepting her donation was illegal. 

BBC just re-ran a clip of British Foreign Secretary William Hague speaking to the media outside on sidewalk by the Foreign Office.  No teleprompters.  No ums, ahs, errs.  Conveyed sincere concern for the Japanese peoples.  Projected competence and command.

Please, let's waive the Constitution and run him for President because he's got the essential crisis leadership qualities so sorely lacking in The Won. 

In a pinch, does it really matter? Given the choice between scale and end times, which option would you select?

Posted by: Flounder at March 11, 2011 02:57 PM (Q5+Og)

I head there was a whole train missing?

Two are.

Posted by: Ed Anger at March 11, 2011 02:55 PM (7+pP9)

Sure, but you're trying to prevent a meltdown, and scale takes time.  Months.  And, I've monitored water quality for a boiler, and lemme tell you, that water ain't pure.  We dumped gallons of chemicals in on a daily basis to prevent scale &c. 

And then we dumped it in the creek.  It was the 80s.

Please, let's waive the Constitution and run him for President because he's got the essential crisis leadership qualities so sorely lacking in The Won. 

Constitution doesn't prevent any foreign born person from being President!

End times. Mothra, Godzilla, Rodan. Shit is hitting the fan. Sure wish I had a high speed train to jump on.

Posted by: Have Blue at March 11, 2011 02:59 PM (mV+es)

OK this at least makes sense.

Sorry for the tedious repetition, but: in the short term, it would still seem a no-brainer to run that sucker with any fluid you have to prevent a meltdown, and deal with the few thousand or million gallons of ppm radioactive wastewater that just ran into the bucket.  Err, ocean.

Maybe the media is wildly exaggerating the urgency of the situation, and they can afford to wait that long without running it or risking a meltdown.  Shocking thought, I know.

FUBAR, 

The problem is, that if they inject tap water, or what ever else into the reactor, the impurities will be become radioactive, and settle into the pipes, turbines, etc. and cause them to become radioactive as well. That is bad long term for the workers, plus it adds a lot of major headaches for repairs, deactivation, and maintenance, not to mention human cost.  So the idea is to avoid dumping anythign but DI water into the coolant loop until you absolutely HAVE to. That said, i'd imagine they are fairly close to it.

Also, if they have totally black right now, they probably cannot pump into their coolant loop. I'm not sure what their pressure is, but a gravity feed isn't going to do any good for them.

one syllable thing got me too, that's why I looked up his full name. And I knew the Chinese did that with the (to us) name reversal, but I didn't know about it for the Japanese. Thanks. I guess Obama's protocol officer or the JEF making it up himself as he goes along didn't screw it up this time.

It's like that for China, Korea, and Japan, I am not sure about everybody else.

Some other fun facts. One in every three Koreans has the Surname Kim

Posted by: rdbrewer at March 11, 2011 03:04 PM (5inr1)

I think it's because the traffic naturally "bends" the road to the left and right due to the weight of the vehicles, which causes the center of the road to bow up slightly.  Then it just snaps.

Mind you, I'm speaking from my experience with FROST HEAVES here in NH, which is nothing at all like an earthquake. 

How is it earthquakes always split roads right down the middle?

The double yellow lines are really perforated.

End times. Mothra, Godzilla, Rodan. Shit is hitting the fan. Sure wish I had a high speed train to jump on.

Posted by: CA Assembly at March 11, 2011 03:05 PM (Q5+Og)

Ya know....my husband is in Singapore.  Maybe I should start worrying.  Although, he called this morning (my time) and he was on his way to a bar.  I'm pretty sure if anything happens there, he won't spill a drop.

Posted by: rdbrewer at March 11, 2011 03:04 PM (5inr1) "

Because news crews are extrodinarily lazy and don't want to walk. They drive around and take pictures.

Some other fun facts. One in every three Koreans has the Surname Kim

Posted by: Ben at March 11, 2011 03:06 PM (wuv1c)

TELL ME ABOUT IT.  Half my favorite Kpop acts are "Kim" this and "Kim" that.  One group alone -- SS501 -- has Kim HYUN JOONG and Kim HYUNG JOON. 

But... I like Kpop.  So I deal.

"They call it Sputnik!"

"We know. Sit down."

Posted by: Kemp at March 11, 2011

Fukushima !, built by GE, comissioned in 71 I think, uses water as cooling medium.

thanks to Vic, i think, from a previous thread.

"Ya know....my husband is in Singapore.  Maybe I should start worrying.  Although, he called this morning (my time) and he was on his way to a bar.  I'm pretty sure if anything happens there, he won't spill a drop."

That would be my go to move. It ain't like a bear - having a slow runner in the group will not save you. Best to enjoy the moment, reflect and be grateful. Savoring a bourbon with a beer back is not a bad way to go. The best part is there really is no problem with drinking too much.

Posted by: kbdabear at March 11, 2011 02:50 PM (vdfwz)

I'd hit it so hard who ever pulled me out would be the next king of england

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2011 03:08 PM (M9Ie6)

Vic, it's not the boiler we're worried about, it's the reactor loop. Same stuff?

Rody, agreed. I was just saying they aren't going to dump just any water in until they HAVE to. The real problem is if they can't circulate the primary OR secondsary coolant. but like you said, i'd imagine they have either DC backup or soemthing.

Of course someone said earlier that the batteries were damaged as well in the quake.

Three to four new power supply cars have arrived at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant in north-eastern Japan to provide emergency electricity for the earthquake-damaged cooling system of one reactor

BBC

From BBCWorld on Twitter:

"Three to four new power supply cars have arrived at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant in north-eastern Japan to provide emergency electricity for the earthquake-damaged cooling system of one reactor, the World Nuclear Association has said. The power cars are being prepared for connection, the WNA said, citing the Japanese ministry of economy, trade and industry. Other power modules are being flown in."

Contact has been lost with four trains in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, Japan's official Kyodo news agency reports.

BBC

Posted by: rdbrewer at March 11, 2011 02:11 PM (5inr1)

Nah, totaly normal

Waves hit 10 minutes after quake, BBC expert is saying. That's not enough time to get away from waves that went inland 6 miles.

If the BBC is right about both those numbers...

Contact has been lost with four trains in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, Japan's official Kyodo news agency reports.

BBC

Not good, as Sendai in Miyagi prefecture was one of the cities that got completely swamped by the tsunami.

Posted by: JEA at March 11, 2011 03:27 PM (ycm4Q)

This... Enviros really do not understand just how powerfull nature is... and vast... and immutable...

The whole enviro movement, and especialy global warming, shows their lack of understanding of the Universe, and their Hubris.

The US Coast Guard helicopters are searching for a man who was swept out to sea by powerful waves generated by the tsunami in Northern California, the Associated Press reports. Officials say the man was taking photos of the tsunami with two friends near the mouth of the Klamath river in Del Norte County. The two friends were able to get back to shore.

Sigh.

I'm going to get some fresh air now. Can only take so much of this.

Posted by: JEA at March 11, 2011 03:27 PM (ycm4Q)

Prepared for the earthquake, yes, although there's really only so much you can prepare for once they reach 9.0.  It's the tsunami you can't prepare for.  Especially with the earthquake epicenter so close to shore.

The whole enviro movement, and especialy global warming, shows their lack of understanding of the Universe, and their Hubris.

Wordless to describe the horror these people of Japan must be experiencing. Please keep praying.

I hope the linky works to show that Japan has had over fifty earthquakes TODAY registering over 5.0:

http://tinyurl.com/yhadh4s

Rats...not good with the tinyurl thingie. Google USGS earthquakes. Sorry, y'all.

I read we near the Solar Max for flares in 2013. It is suggested, the Solar storms somehow cause increased earthquakes. Christchurch, and now this. I don't know if the science is mainstream, but I have always believe the Sun is the reason for almost everything that happens to this planet.

Mankind is not causing anything other than local problems. 

good post.newport menthol cigarettes

cheap Newport cigarettes
newport cigarettes wholesale