The European Council on Foreign Relations

The reactors at Fukushima

Date: 15th March 2011  |  Author: François Godement,

Categories: Security and Defence,
Tags: , fukushima, nuclear, tsunami, japan, earthquake

What I have seen of the European press in the past few days, and the nuclear experts interviewed at least in France (they are often in fact less well informed energy experts or they belong to the nuclear establishment) have been behind the curve at every step since Friday night. 

Because these reactors are standard GE design, and because info in the US is more open, you could find the accurate predictors on the NY Times website at each of these steps.

The first one was the issue of generators and pumps serving to cool the stopped reactors.

The second one was the obligatory release of steam – with particles – to prevent the containment coffins from cracking.

The third one is the fact that Fukushima reactor n° 3  runs on MOX – it’s recycled from spent fuel including from military enrichment plants. This is the most toxic nuclear fuel you can think of, also includes plutonium, and reacts much more to neutronic impact. Even more plants in Europe use it, but apparently Japan had just introduced it in 3 reactors, one of which is unfortunately Fukushima’s n° 3. (The BBC on March 12 did carry the mention that reactor n° 3 was loaded with MOX.)

The fourth was the existence of spent fuel pools (mentioned as early as Saturday on the NY Times website) which also need cooling, and can melt and start a fire. These are NOT in the containment coffins – they are potentially open air garbage fires.

Last night, we arrived at step four. My next questions – I don’t have the answer – is have the pools simply boiled over, or is the envelope of these tubes melting (1200 °C required), and can these fires also elevate again  the temperature in the containment coffins. The most dangerous reactor is reactor n° 3.

In any case we now know the only control of the situation is by kamikaze workers. We also know that in any case, radiation will be spreading for a long time, the question is how much of it.

This is unlike Chernobyl – it’s not a reactor out of control – but there are 6 reactors (the ones stopped months ago also need cooling) and it’s even more dangerous fuel than at Chernobyl.

PS I am not anti-nuclear.

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