Core Workers still at plant contrary to earlier reports

[sixmile]

via NYT blog

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/latest-updates-on-japans-nuclear-crisis-and-earthquake-aftermath-2/?src=twt&twt=thelede#core-group-of-workers-remain-at-plant

11:13 'The Times's Hiroko Tabuchi reports that a small group of workers remains at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, contrary to what an English translation of the chief cabinet secretary's remarks had implied.'

[wtmusic]

1. Making sense now.

Edano reported they were trying to ascertain what the source of the smoke was at #3 - without anyone there? :shrug:

[Codeine]

This is why people should stop freaking out at every rumor

and half-story.

[Tansy_Gold]

5. I haven't seen a whole lot of freaking out around here

Have you?



TG

[jimlup]

2. What can a few workers really do anyway?

I'm not sure it matters actually.

[jtuck004]

16. They can continually fill the reactor core with water, and vent the steam to keep

it from rupturing the vessel (further?) while it cools. Assuming metal fatigue doesn't set in, or several other failures don't occur, it should be cool enough in 5 years or so to put it in a cask and ship it to a storage or reprocessing facility.

The alternative is to walk away and let it melt to the bottom of the reactor (we hope). That makes it slightly more difficult ;)

[jimlup]

21. Yeah, but I don't think we are talking about

Manning the pumps. These have to be major pumps with complicated connections particularly considering the other factors. I can't imagine what they are doing other than giving their lives to desperately try and smoother this monster.

[jtuck004]

23. They are much like the ones we used in the Navy, along with a control

room (hopefully still intact) and gauges to monitor conditions. The pumps are gone - the water is either getting in by gravity or hoses. Probably gravity. My ship was conventional, but the turbines and steam process was much the same.

And since they have no electricity (their ability to generate it, including all the backup systems, was destroyed by the quake/tsunami), it is all manual at this point.

But nuclear power is all about heat, and the only thing they can do now cool and contain it. There is no smothering - it will be very, very hot for years, no matter what. Can't stop the decay of the material. What they are trying to do is get water in, let it absorb the heat, and then get rid of the water (steam). This would have to go on for years (typically the used fuel sits at the site until it is cool enough to ship without constant cooling).

The upside is that these reactors are designed to contain the byproducts of a meltdown - that would be the best case scenario at this point. Otherwise it will melt into the ground below it, generating large, uncontrolled steam clouds from the groundwater until it comes to rest against dirt that pulls the heat away.

[bluestateguy]

3. I've never seen a story with more contradictory, confusing and gibberish reporting than this one

And I blame it on the twit, twit, instant electronic media and cable news BS.

I long for the days of the three broadcast channels nightly newscast and that was it.

[LiberalAndProud]

12. Not entirely true. This story would have gotten the Breaking News treatment.

Remember when the really important stuff was called Breaking News, as opposed to today when Paris Hilton's hangnail gets that tag? Back in the day they "interrupted regular programming" for stories such as this.

[liberalmuse]

15. It was Breaking News on MSNBC...

That's what caught my attention. It helps to have multiple sources, though.

[Hannah Bell]

25. msnbc is not a good source. they are always late. try nhk english or kyodo

[Codeine]

17. I can't say I disagree with you there. nt

[BeFree]

20. heh

You must be young. This story is pretty solid. The translation from Japanese is the greatest problem, that and the lack of forthcoming either by design or just plain too much happening.

You should log off and tune out if you don't like the way the info flows. Just go back to your half hour broadcasts and leave this stuff for those who are digging being as near to the top as possible. Because for the rest of us this is the way it should be.

Your longing for the old ways is in your control.
Bye now.

[deutsey]

4. Apparently they were pulled for 45 minutes because radiation was too high n/t

[frazzled]

6. That's their front page story, too, from 36 minutes ago

I was hoping against hope that this was true: that 50 were still there. I knew that when everybody left it was all over. I don't know what to believe any more. Every story seems to contradict the next one.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/world/asia/16workers.html?hp

[Newest Reality]

7. Well, in one culture's viewpoint

they will die with great honor having sacrificed themselves in order that the greater good be served and that lives be saved and tragedy averted.

In this culture, they are simply fucked, and would be considered gullible, because we sacrifice the greater good for the profit of a handful of rich and powerful fools.

Go figure. Yet, I do honor those who can put their personal lives aside to do what has to be done. That is both honor and dedication and deserves respect.

They are like warriors and may it be a good day to die.

[bluestateguy]

9. That is one thing I really like about Japanese culture

They are team players and communitarians, and not the Me, Me, Me crap that is so quintessentially American.

[liberalmuse]

19. We need to bring back honor.

I greatly respect that. Honor is not a bad thing to leave this world with intact. Not at all.

[Newest Reality]

22. I can bow to that

and honor your views.

[jimlup]

8. Thanks

[Hannah Bell]

10. There were high readings onsite at 10 am so they evacuated the plant completely.

radiation levels have dropped, workers are returning to site.

ongoing press conference here:

http://yokosonews.com/live/

[thewiseguy]

11. Nobody else is running with that story

This is as of 5 minutes ago from Kyodo:

NEWS ADVISORY: Safety agency tells Fukushima plant workers to evacuate due to radiation

They also have a update saying the high radiation maybe coming from number 2 reactor. Does not make a difference at this point...

[Hannah Bell]

13. that was at 10 am. there's a presser right now & report radiation levels down,

worker returning

http://yokosonews.com/live/

[thewiseguy]

18. He said that in the last press conference too. Down to what exactly?

He said in the last press conference that the levels are fluctuating.

[Hannah Bell]

24. he said what in the last press conference? the high level was read at 10 am

japan time, about 3 hours ago.

workers started going back about 1 hour ago.

per the japan nuclear security agency.

they gave the readings i'll link you to what i typed but i don't think they're exactly right as there was the confusion with milli & micro sv and a lot of backtalk

edit: here are the readings i typed while i listened, i don't vouch for their accuracy as i was doing a lot of things simultaneously and it was going quickly.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x657035#657480

6000?

at 10:20 (japan time a.m. 3/16) 2096 micro sievert

10:30 2036 microsv

10:45 2.3 millisv

10:55 2.9 millisv

? 3.391 msv

[deutsey]

14. MSNBC is reporting that they're back in

[daleo]

26. They might never leave. n/t

[jpak]

double post

yup

[jpak]

27. Color me skeptical as no other news outlet is reporting this

yup