"Mox Fuel" a mixture of plutonium and uranium oxides

[kpete]

Update on Japan's Nuclear Power Crisis
http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/japan-nuclear-crisis-03132011-0313.html?utm_source=SP&utm_medium=link2&utm_campaign=sp-nuke-link2-3-13-11-pm
http://www.fissilematerials.org/blog/2010/08/third_reactor_in_japan_to.html

However, Tokyo Electric recently reported that the water level in the Unit 3 reactor still remains more than 2 meters (6 feet) below the top of the fuel and company officials believe that water may be leaking from the reactor vessel. When the fuel is uncovered by water, it overheats and suffers damage. It is likely that the fuel has experienced significant damage at this point, and Japanese authorities have said they are proceeding on this assumption.

One particular concern with Unit 3 is the presence of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel in the core. MOX is a mixture of plutonium and uranium oxides. In September 2010, plant operators loaded 32 fuel assemblies containing MOX fuel into this reactor.

That amounts to approximately 6 percent of the core. MOX fuel generally worsens the consequences of severe accidents in which a large amount of radioactive gas and aerosol is released compared with non-MOX uranium fuel because MOX fuel contains greater amounts of plutonium and other actinides, which are highly toxic

http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/japan-nuclear-crisis-03132011-0313.html?utm_source=SP&utm_medium=link2&utm_campaign=sp-nuke-link2-3-13-11-pm



"Mox Fuel"
Lots Of Talk About "Mox Fuel" (anyone know more?)

The reactor to watch closely in the next hours is Fukushima Daiichi 3 - at least 2 metres of the fuel has been above the coolant water level for hours - perhaps 17 or more - and TEPCO have said that the sea water they are pumping in did not raise the water level in the pressure vessel during at least 11 hours - this suggest either major pipe leakage (TEPCO's notion) or something has gone seriously wrong with the pressure vessel - most likely at the base where molten fuel will migrate too. The risks are made worse by the presence of fuel assemblies of plutonium MOX fuel. The fact that the French embassy in Tokyo has advised French citiizens to leave the Kanto region (population 42 million) to leave for a "few days" suggests they are anticipating something truly terrible. Tokyo is 160km from Fukushima and as the embassy says with wind from the North radioactivity would arrive within 1 hour. It is looking truly terrible - bland reassurances from "independent academics/scientists" that happen to work for departments dependent upon nuclear industry funding are perhaps about to blown apart

http://sherriequestioningall.blogspot.com/2011/03/japan-exploded-nuclear-plant-uses-mox.html
Video: Greenpeace on nuclear power

CONFIRMED - REACTOR 3 (Mox Fuel Reactor) Exploded 10:50pm est- On LIVE right now - they are saying it is all still contained - possibly mass radiation from it though - (update) now they have changed that story and
saying no radiation! Saying reactor is not damaged now and saying containment vessel still intact - same explosion as what happened with #1 - just the outer building!
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/13/japan-quake-live-blog-nine-people-test-positive-for-high-radiation-levels/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tv
http://www.google.com/search?q=mox+fuel&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=mox+fuel&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=nws:1&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wn&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=ae14718dcecdb165
http://nirs.org/reactorwatch/accidents/Fukushimafactsheet.pdf


FOUND:
Japan nuke plant starts using controversial MOX fuel
November 5, 2009, 2:45pm

TOKYO, November 5, 2009 (AFP) - A Japanese nuclear power plant on Thursday started using recycled mixed-oxide or MOX fuel from a controversial shipment from France that arrived in the country amid protests in May.

A reactor at the Genkai nuclear plant in western Saga prefecture was activated after being loaded with MOX, a blend of plutonium and reprocessed uranium, said a spokesman of the plant's operator.

The 1.18-million-kilowatt reactor is expected to reach the state of nuclear chain reaction overnight and generate power from Monday, said the operator, Kyushu Electric Power Co, one of three that ordered the MOX.

.........

Japan previously obtained MOX, most recently eight years ago, but none was used amid a data cover-up scandal and a series of accidents at nuclear plants.

MORE: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/228002/japan-nuke-plant-
http://www.fissilematerials.org/blog/2010/08/third_reactor_in_japan_to.html

[tabatha]

1. from your nirs link

FACT SHEET ON FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
UPDATE 2:30 pm, Sunday, March 13, 2011. Tokyo Electric Power is reporting that some six
feet of the core of Unit-3 remains uncovered and has been for some time despite efforts to
pump water into the core. Tepco speculates there may be leaking pipes and water is not
remaining in the core. A translation of part of the statement from our Japanese colleagues:
"The fuel's integrity has been considerably compromised. We are assessing a considerably
serious situation."

[Journeyman]

2. Here are a couple of links that may help. . .

Union of Concerned Scientists. . .

http://allthingsnuclear.org/tagged/Japan_nuclear


On edit: Scroll down to the third article: "Sunday Update on Fukushima Reactors"


The Oil Drum: Discussions About Energy and Our Future. . .

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/7637

[defendandprotect]

3. KR -- and thanks to everyone for the immediate updates -- !!

Things are happening so fast in Japan -- just want to take this moment to

recall that they are people just like us, losing children, parents, loved ones --

10,000 and more already gone in this horror!!