Well, it just been reported that the reactor core partially melted. They will be pumping seawater to cool it and boric acid to slow down any nuclear fission still ongoing. Okay, it's TMI stage now. If they don't contain this, then we're looking Chernoble. And in about 50 more years, you'll see Gojira coming out of the bay
The new dreactor esigns use air rather than water as the cooling medium. Instead of fuel rods, they use "bucky balls" (fullerenes for the technical term) of ceramic embedded with nuclear fuel. If the air pumps shut down, all you have to is to vent the the air thru a scrubber system to remove any alpha particles. All you'll be releasing at that point is just hot air. No worries about the water turning to steam, then hydrogen and oxygen.
I wouldn't call the design new either. IIRC, the reactor design was a DOE project in the early 90's. New it's not.
__________________
Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell
The new dreactor esigns use air rather than water as the cooling medium. Instead of fuel rods, they use "bucky balls" (fullerenes for the technical term) of ceramic embedded with nuclear fuel. If the air pumps shut down, all you have to is to vent the the air thru a scrubber system to remove any alpha particles. All you'll be releasing at that point is just hot air. No worries about the water turning to steam, then hydrogen and oxygen.
I wouldn't call the design new either. IIRC, the reactor design was a DOE project in the early 90's. New it's not.
__________________
Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell