Nuclear Power

[MikeP]

I gotta admit that my previously favorable view of nuclear power is rapidly disintegrating based on the problems in Japan. Despite what anybody may say, there is no way to "earthquake proof" anything. I realize that the problems in Japan seem to be primarily a result of the Tsunami, not the earthquake so one would expect that a reactor in Boise, Idaho would not have to deal with that threat.

But it seems that IF something goes wrong, it tends toward the catastrophic. If a conventional plant blows up or whatever, there's not much "collateral damage" but a nuke can basically wipe out the local population - if not from any actual explosion, from the radiation or, just as effectively, from the FEAR of radiation.

I always thought that nuke energy was the way forward but I have to admit that I'm now tending to the idea that it's just NOT the way to produce power.

OTOH, they have been doing in in Europe for many years with no reported issues. But the consequences of a problem are so much greater than with any other source of power and as long as people are involved in the design and operation of these things, the potential is there for mistakes, not to mention whatever mother nature tosses into the mix.

I don't know the solution so it's not like I can offer any suggestions. As a manager I once worked for said, "Any idiot can toss a grenade; the hard part is catching it."

 

[krush]

Nuke is done in the US for another 20+ years.

The culture of the Japanese didn't help the nuke disaster situation. I'll end with that opinion.

 

[the kuz]

I'm always amazed about news coverage - Billions in damage and tens of thousands killed by the earthquake/tsunami and few if any by the "nuclear disaster", but that still is getting 99% of the "coverage" and 100% of the hype. To get an objective look at the nuclear and non-nuclear damage check out nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/13/world/asia/satellite-japan-before-and-after-tsunami (sorry link seems too long to post right - Google "nytimes japan before and after" and the lonk will come up).

Wait until all this is over and see what the final results show before forming any opinions on the safety of nuclear power. This situation may look better (or worse) once the facts are known, which will take months. As with prior nuclear accidents, facts will be used to change some things (design, procedures, or both) or the lights will be switched off on that type of reactor. No government (in the free world for sure) would risk the consequences of a "repeat" once a high risk is known.

If you worry nuclear safety, don't forget all the military applications. Anyone remember "Offshore Power" which almost put reactors at sea in the 1970's? Like it or not, the genie is out of the bottle and will not go back in.

 

[Passages]

Couple things at play here. First it's the fear of the unknown. Nuclear radiation is invisible to human senses making it the ultimate bogeyman. Second, Japan, being the only country to suffer a nuclear attack has first hand experience with the horror of radiation illness on a large scale. Third, though Chernobyl was a completely different design, it's legacy leaves a large area of the Ukaraine uninhabitable for the next 600 years. Japan, with it much higher population density, does not have much space to quarantine.

People have legitimate concern about this unfolding disaster. I do not believe it spells the end of nuke power but it's not helping public opinion.

 

[67hat34c]

Dont know why you would build a nuke plant in earthquake zone. At least in the US there are enough placed to build them where they will be relatively safe.

Agree that the thought of nuke disaster is a bigger story than what has already happened. Nothing against news media for that.

Lastly there are some that are saying regarding Japan--What goes around comes around. Oddly enough a high ranking Japanese official said the same thing.

 

[MikeP]

I find this kind of sad and amusing at the same time. They need workers at the nuke plant but the radiation is higher than the gov-approved max dose per day. So what's the solution, better protection suits for the workers?

Nope, just raise the max approved dosage! Cheap and easy!

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/16/2117672/japan-hikes-legal-radiation-dose.html

 

[Freeebird]

I'm always amazed about news coverage - Billions in damage and tens of thousands killed by the earthquake/tsunami and few if any by the "nuclear disaster", but that still is getting 99% of the "coverage" and 100% of the hype.

Could it be the earthquake/tsunami is over and the nuclear problem is still there and growing?

 

[Walter P]

Three mile island in PA suffered a meltdown and all was repaired and cleaned up....Not One death from it. The disaster in Ukraine was primarily due to very poor or no safeguards.

We all know how the Press loves to sensationalize the news. Same with the weather folks. It sells papers etc. That being said, I agree that it's a major disaster to one of our best friends and we need to do whatever it takes to help them out.

I still believe that Nuclear Power is the best bet for our electrical needs for the forseeable future until all the newest technologies can produce our needs. Does it present a potential danger...absolutely, but life is dangerous by it's very nature. Throughout the history of mankind, every new technology presented a major element of danger to life. Production of electric power is only one. We can reduce our danger to electric production by going back to water wheels to power our machinery and candles to provide light...oh wait, candles have fire, which can burn our buildings...Hummm.

Walt

p.s. Let's prohibit boats...after all they are also dangerous. Occasionally folks drown because of poor design etc. Get real......

 

[bobk]

We can much more easily learn the benefits of new technology because we are looking for them. The down sides are more elusive because we don't (can't) look as hard for it. We see this in medicine all the time. The latest cure causes some issues 20 years down the road. It's a part of progress, like it or not.

In the current case it seems the plant operator has done some covering up of maintenance issues. Did these contribute? Who knows today, but we will someday. A good friend who retired from the nuclear power industry can describe all sorts of things they do as backups to backups. For example diesel electric generators that are kept hot with circulating fluids that start in an instant so they can provide immediate power for cooling if needed.

In my experience investigating accidents, it often takes a series of unanticipated or ignored events to cause a disaster. Should we anticipate them? Sometimes hard to do, and sometimes bean counters make it even harder. And the politicians (aka technical idiots) often make it even harder still. Just look at the amount of nuclear waste we have to deal with vs. almost any other nation.......

Bob

 

[rsmith]

At least Jimmy Carter put on his galoshes and went to help mop up the leak. Would it be racist to ask BHO to do that? Ah what the heck he's pretty busy with the BBall bracketing.
BTW would you trust the goomer with the glasses to run a nuke plant?

 

[SereneWarrior]

Heck, I didn't trust the "goomer" in the plaid suit!

 

[Tim Powell]

Dont know why you would build a nuke plant in earthquake zone. At least in the US there are enough placed to build them where they will be relatively safe.

Agree that the thought of nuke disaster is a bigger story than what has already happened. Nothing against news media for that.

Lastly there are some that are saying regarding Japan--What goes around comes around. Oddly enough a high ranking Japanese official said the same thing.

Here is some news for you. THERE IS A NUKE PLANT IN SOUTHPORT N,C, OBOUT 10 MILES FROM WILMINGTON N.C. It is built on a falt. Another little bit to go with it. Its on the coast about 3 miles from the inlet, at the mouth of the cape fear river. Which is part of the ICW . IN FACT THE DISCHARGE CAN BE SEEN FROM THE ICW. So us sites are SOMEWHAT VENDERABLE Tim

 

[spartonboat1]

At least Jimmy Carter put on his galoshes and went to help mop up the leak. Would it be racist to ask BHO to do that? Ah what the heck he's pretty busy with the BBall bracketing.
BTW would you trust the goomer with the glasses to run a nuke plant?

Pres Cahtah was an Annapolis grad Navy Submarine (I believe subs) Nuclear Engineer, under the famous, very tough, and father of the nuclear sub navy, Admiral Hyman Rickover. So at least Jimmah had some idea of the nuclear facility functionality.

The closest that the POTUS has been to excess radiation is forgetting to wear his sunglasses, while on vacation in Hah-vi-eee.

 

[rsmith]

1989 June 5
St. Lucie, Florida, USA - A diver was sucked into the nuclear reactor cooling water uptake system at the St. Lucie nuclear power plant in Florida. The diver was dragged a quarter mile through a 16 foot diameter pipe, ending up in one of the reactor cooling ponds. He was fortunate to have lived through it. ("Radiation and Alternatives Bulletin" (RadBull) USA Aug. 1989, WISE-319 20/10/89).1989

I know this guy. He owned the local weld shop. He and his brother were diving near the low velosity intakes and outlets for the plant. One of the concrete tunnels caved in and sucked him down. He ended up climbing up the wall in the retention pond and wandering around the plant. No one would belive him till they checked the intakes. He was in a Timex watch ad. Timex takes a lickin keeps on tickin.