BBC: Reactor 3- Cooling attempts failed; Full meltdown underway; 1 mill people to be evacuated

[denem]

Hydrogen explosion is possible but unlikely to breech the steel vault inner container.

(What this conveniently fails to mention is that with plutonium in the MOX, temperatures may exceed the tolerance of the steel vault, with the core melting through to the concrete and beyond- In other words, the China Syndrome. An explosion might be preferable. )

No link yet. Reported live on World Service.

UPDATE: BBC seeking further confirmation.

The 1 Million figure includes the 200,000 already announced.

Attempts at cooling were given up when sea water could not be introduced through a stuck hub. (overly stressed / faulty?)

One Link on failure of cooling attempts here:
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Another_quake-hit_Japan_reactor_in_trouble_operator_999.html

[Matariki]

1. One million people evacuated???

no words

[denem]

3. Thats what the Minister said as translated, and repeated

by the BBC correspondent. Press conference was about 15 minutes ago.

[stockholmer]

2. okay, for the first time, all I have to say is...shit

;(

[cliffordu]

4. No words indeed.

Omfg.

[tavalon]

35. Actually, that's an acronym

and dropping the "ing", I'm repeating the third letter over and over. I just sent a long email to my partners delineating what we need to do in the remote case of fallout that makes it here but I was sure I was being overreactive, so I kept telling them it's also earthquake preparedness which, while I've meant to get that together for like, forever, this is my push. But now, we're back to looking at the fallout.

That said, it's days away and right now, my heart is just breaking for Japan. We can talk about the pros and cons of nuclear power plants later. Now, they just need our love and support and help and, and, and,. Oh, shit!

[jaxx]

5. BBC news reporting partial meltdown.

Evacuations to 20kilometers.

[denem]

9. They have not update their headline bulletin.

What a heard was their correspondent live from a press conference.

They are replaying the failure of all cooling attempts.

[jaxx]

11. I heard live coverage.

Wonder why they aren't updating if it is a meltdown in progress. Scary situation all around.

[denem]

14. Something about scaring the cattle I guess. Who knows?

"Jolly poor show old boy"

[jaxx]

24. Yep, that is the result.

[tavalon]

34. Correct

Though they aren't cattle, this is actually a necessary dissembling (that's why I'm not calling it lying).

[FogerRox]

30. Reactors 2 & 3 have been stabilized, reactor 1 has not

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Venting_at_Fukushima_Daiichi_3_1303111.html

[madokie]

32. Something tells me I don't really want to believe anything written there

too rosey of a picture they're trying to paint so its probably not true.
Thanks anyway
Have a good day
Peace

[dipsydoodle]

6. Different link here

The operator of a quake-hit Japanese nuclear plant said Sunday that the cooling system of another reactor was not working and risked a possible explosion.

"All the functions to keep cooling water levels in No. 3 reactor have failed at the Fukushima No. 1 plant," said a spokesman of Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco).

"As of 5:30 am (2030 GMT Saturday), water injection stopped and inside pressure is rising slightly," he said, adding the operator filed an emergency report on the plant's condition with the government.

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Another_quake-hit_Japan_reactor_in_trouble_operator_999.html

[denem]

7. The Minister said - unable to introduce sea water

because of overstressed or faulty hub.

[dipsydoodle]

8. BBC link Japan fears second reactor blast

There is a risk of a second explosion at the quake-hit Fukushima power station, Japanese officials have said.

However, chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano said the facility could withstand the impact and the nuclear reactor itself would not be damaged.

Technicians are battling to cool reactor 3 following a blast at the building housing reactor 1 on Saturday. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12724953

[denem]

10. The battle to cool the reactor has ended.

Technicians were unable to introduce sea water, their last card.

[tavalon]

37. They can't end it.

Yes, this isn't working but something will have to be done and people, brave people will probably die to stop it. I hope it isn't in vain.

[tavalon]

36. Oh, man, if they are saying this much,

it's actually FUBAR. Governments will always play down the danger and actually, rightly so. It's one of the rare times when painting it rosier is safer for the terrified people.

[steve2470]

12. Official press release from TEPCO on status

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/11031305-e.html

Press Release (Mar 13,2011)
Plant Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (as of 9am March 13th)

All 6 units of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station have been shut down.

Unit 1(Shut down)
- Reactor has been shut down. However, the unit is under inspection due to
the explosive sound and white smoke that was confirmed after the big
quake occurred at 3:36PM.
- We have been injecting sea water and boric acid which absorbs neutron
into the reactor core.

Unit 2(Shut down)
- Reactor has been shut down and Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System has
been injecting water to the reactor. Current reactor water level is lower
than normal level, but the water level is steady. After fully securing
safety, we are preparing to implement a measure to reduce the pressure of
the reactor containment vessels under the instruction of the national
government.

Unit 3(Shut down)
- Reactor has been shut down. However, High Pressure Core Injection System
has been automatically shut down and water injection to the reactor is
currently interrupted. We are examining alternative way to inject water.
Also, following the instruction by the government and with fully securing
safety, steps to lowering the pressure of reactor containment vessel has
been taken. Spraying in order to lower pressure level within the reactor
containment vessel has been cancelled.
- Currently, we do not believe there is any reactor coolant leakage inside
the reactor containment vessel.

edited for copyright, of course. 6 more paragraphs to read, if you're curious.

[denem]

13. Yep. They can't use water cooling. The steps to lower pressure

are letting off steam - in other words, hydrogen and other vaporized material. This leads to the loss of the remaining coolant.

[Lucinda]

15. BBC online now has cycling message saying 3 has lost cooling system

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698

[denem]

16. OK Point 1 confirmed by BBC in writing.

[JCMach1]

17. Japanese gov. walked this back per BBC

Now saying meltdown not likely... though the cooling system is offline.

[Cetacea]

18. PM: "many power plants damaged".

[JCMach1]

19. Blackouts and calling for conservation

-Worst challenge to Japan since WWII.

[Cetacea]

20. Just what they don't need.

Just a terrible situation.

[JCMach1]

21. Damn he looked grim- things must be horrible

[steve2470]

22. Yes he did. I thought he was going to cry for a second nt

[JCMach1]

23. CNNi has the follow-up with Secy. Edamo

[divvy]

25. TEPCO website down

The Toyko power website is down. The address is: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html

In a nutshell, when fissile U-235 breaks into two pieces and releases energy, the two pieces are unstable - they have too many neutrons for their new size. So the neutrons decay, emitting beta and gamma rays.

The fission products are normally isolated from the environment by three barriers: the zirconium cladding around the fuel elements (which are uranium oxide pellets), then the reactor vessel itself, then the steel and reinforced concrete containment structure.

If water cooling inside the reactor is lost, the reactor will be shut down instantly by inserting the control rods, which shut down the chain reaction. The fission of fuel ceases instantly. The problem, however, is this: the existing fission products contained in the fuel continue to release a substantial amount of heat, and with no heat transfer medium to carry that heat away, the zirconium cladding will melt, releasing the uranium dioxide fuel pellets and the fission products (which are both solid and gaseous) into the reactor coolant system. If the reactor coolant system has been breached, then these products will be released into the reactor building itself.

[jpak]

26. How many times will we be told "everything is OK" - when it is not OK

:shrug:

[Hannah Bell]

28. or vice=versa

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x631531

[liberal N proud]

27. And all we get from the US media: All is well

No fear, move along now.

I have come to believe nothing from the M$M until I can verify it.

[Hannah Bell]

29. good rule:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x631531

[denem]

31. Do you consider the BBC to be M$M?

[geckosfeet]

33. God be with those people. Where is the international community on this?

Given the long term global impact there should be a huge international effort to help. I see and hear a lot of coverage about the disaster but not a lot about international containment efforts.

Jeez. Standing back in hindsight, and observing the global impact of nuclear incidents like Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and now Japan, it seems that there should be some kind of international engineering standards and regulatory authority for nuclear power plants. These suckers are just too dangerous to leave to local municipal authorities to construct and supervise.

[tavalon]

38. Actually, and this is freaky,

I was watching the TV at work (don't have TV at home) and Faux, yes, Faux had the best coverage and they listed the international offers as of yesterday and the international community is stepping up to bat. They really are. I mean, unless Faux lied, but I can't see why they would about that, you know?

[geckosfeet]

39. Well - I think I would respond that when you build reactors on fault lines

you should have a plan to mobilize a local response immediately after an incident - and rally the internationals within 12-18 hours. All this should assume you will have to fly in power sources and fuel.

Nuclear reactors are just too dangerous.

[denem]

40. NO MELTDOWN. JAPANESE GOVT RETRACTED THE STATEMENT

after receiving further information.

Proposed 60 km exclusion zone axed as well.