On Mar 21, 2011, at 7:57 AM, Jed Rothwell wrote:
From unit 3 where the pool is located:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/21/japan.nuclear.reactors/
index.html
It looks like Ed Storms may have been right.
I submitted his idea to Slate, by the way:
http://hive.slate.com/hive/averting-meltdowns/do-nothing-to-the-
fuel-in-the-ponds-it-will-not-reach-criticality
(This only displays with Internet Explorer on my computer.)
QUOTE:
Do nothing to the fuel in the ponds -- it will not reach criticality
Submitted by Jed Rothwell
Friday, March 18, 2011
This is not my proposal at all. This is from Dr. E. Storms, retired
from Los Alamos, an expert in nuclear fuel. He wrote to me: Two
kinds of fuel are being used, uranium metal clad by zirconium
(Unit, 1,2, and 4) and UO2+PuO2 clad with zirconium (Unit 3). . . .
No one has endorsed this so it will not be forwarded from Slate to
the authorities. People here should endorse it.
- Jed
This could be an incredibly bad suggestion. It depends on whether
neutron absorber slabs were actually placed between *all* fuel
assembly storage positions. It is my recollection that storage pools
did not have neutron absorber slabs when originally constructed
decades ago because there was no intent to store for long periods.
Separation geometry alone was used to prevent criticality. When
storage pools began to run out of room, the unused portions of
storage pools were later modified to accommodate closer storage by
adding neutron absorber slabs between fuel assemblies, and storing
them closer together.
If the neutron absorbers can burn, decompose or rubblize at lower
temperatures than the fuel rod assemblies, then even they probably
will not prevent criticality in the volumes in which they exist. If
there are volumes where they do not exist then it is essential to
fill those volumes with a solid which will prevent critical mass,
either by preserving the geometry or by absorbing neutrons.
It seems to me that one key thing to do immediately is to locate a
number of neutron counters in the vicinity of each pool. This could
be done by lowering an asbestos insulated cable with one or more
neutron counters on it through the roof by crane, or to lower a water
cooled metal pipe with neutron counters located within it through the
roof.
Time is of the essence. Putting water on the storage pools seems to
have provided some calm for a while, just no permanent solution. Here
is an alternate suggestion to not putting water on the storage:
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg43699.html
Best regards,
Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
