re: #120 freetoken

Well, TEPCO is warning of blackouts now and is pleading for people to cut back on electricity use.

Within the reactor some equilibrium temperature will be reached at whatever amount of water is left inside. Since by design run-away reactions are not possible the energy released by the usual U decay will only supply a bit of heat. Still, the energy will build up and will conduct to the outside via the solids (cement, steel).

Japan went for nuclear because they have very little natural gas, and using oil is too expensive, and coal is expensive to transport (for the amount of energy/weight).

Sadly, this one of its oldest reactors (1972). The best laid plans, etc. This could very easily be a TMI scenario, if not a “China Syndrome”.