General Discussion

FBaggins

(28,706 posts)

78. I'm sure. Yes.

Mon Nov 25, 2013, 03:21 PM

Nov 2013

Unit #3 had just started using MOX at their last refeuling outage... so there wasn't even any spent MOX in the #3 SFP (though there would be a little "fresh" MOX that hadn't been loaded). None of the other units had started using MOX yet - Unit #3 was one of the first in Japan (receiving the fuel in 1999 from France, but not being given permission to start using it until late 2010).

everyone keeps saying that there is MOX in that pool

"Everyone" rarely knows what they're talking about when it comes to nuclear reactors. Note that (as I said above)... all spent reactor fuel has plutonium in it... so it isn't as if there would be a big difference if there was MOX in the pool. For some reason, people latched onto that early on as something else to fear about Fukushima when it really didn't matter a bit (MOX behaves in essentially the same way as other fuel rods during a meltdown).

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Highlight:

Fuel rod removal: Fukushima�s most dangerous operation yields first successes [View all] MineralMan Nov 2013 OP

To add: There were lots of predictions of disaster MineralMan Nov 2013 #1

Not Predictions. The odds simply didn't look good. Katashi_itto Nov 2013 #68

K & R malaise Nov 2013 #2

Thank you. I hope so, too. MineralMan Nov 2013 #3

Something they should have done a year ago. Baitball Blogger Nov 2013 #4

I think the planning process was done very carefully. MineralMan Nov 2013 #6

Wait what? Egnever Nov 2013 #5

Almost all of those stories were from advocacy websites and publications. MineralMan Nov 2013 #7

I think being an opponent of nuclear power is great! Egnever Nov 2013 #8

That's a lesson that advocacy groups rarely learn. MineralMan Nov 2013 #9

Agreed and it is very unfortunate Egnever Nov 2013 #11

Ive learned to take Arne Gundersen's hyperbole with a grain of salt Warren DeMontague Nov 2013 #52

Nope not even close madokie Nov 2013 #10

oh really? Egnever Nov 2013 #12

Operative word here is 'could' madokie Nov 2013 #13

LOL thats just one of many hair on fire world is going to end Egnever Nov 2013 #14

do show me more madokie Nov 2013 #16

Why so you can continue to stick your fingers in your ears? Egnever Nov 2013 #18

go pound sand madokie Nov 2013 #20

Even so, the statement was an exaggeration. MineralMan Nov 2013 #15

I don't think you are a nuclear expert MM madokie Nov 2013 #17

I would not call myself a nuclear expert. MineralMan Nov 2013 #19

Plus, people sniping from the sidelines is not good form. longship Nov 2013 #23

From the "sidelines?" 99Forever Nov 2013 #30

It also dissipates with distance. That's how it works. longship Nov 2013 #50

Thanks for that. MineralMan Nov 2013 #48

The problem is that this was never even close to rational FBaggins Nov 2013 #32

Excellent. pa28 Nov 2013 #21

They're doing the easiest stuff first Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #22

Thank you for that clarification.n/t dixiegrrrrl Nov 2013 #24

exactly. furthermore, reactor 4 is the easiest of the reactors to remove the fuel from... magical thyme Nov 2013 #25

Plenty to celebrate FBaggins Nov 2013 #35

perfectly normal except manually operated and the easiest of the rods to be removed. magical thyme Nov 2013 #37

Manual doesn't really make it harder FBaggins Nov 2013 #42

Sorry, but I'm taking the word of people who actually do the job of fuel removal magical thyme Nov 2013 #44

Like who? FBaggins Nov 2013 #46

Like Toshio Kimura, former Tepco technician magical thyme Nov 2013 #49

I figured that's who you were thinking of FBaggins Nov 2013 #55

thank you for the source links to back up your claims... magical thyme Nov 2013 #56

They might not remove those. Warpy Nov 2013 #27

According to TEPCO, they've already started removing them Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #28

Yes, from those pools but not from the reactor Warpy Nov 2013 #29

Why would the unused fuel rods be easier than the spent ones? FBaggins Nov 2013 #34

This video explains why Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #36

Could you translate the key point? FBaggins Nov 2013 #38

I can't listen to it right now Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #41

??? FBaggins Nov 2013 #43

I have watched the video before Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #45

Ok. Thanks. FBaggins Nov 2013 #47

well, for one thing, if they have never been critical, they are only alpha emitters. Throckmorton Nov 2013 #60

That doesn't make them harder to remove. FBaggins Nov 2013 #61

Never said you did, Throckmorton Nov 2013 #72

These are MOX rods, Pu239 undergoes spontaneous fission Sirveri Nov 2013 #73

No they aren't. FBaggins Nov 2013 #75

Scratch that, double checking the numbers you're right. Sirveri Nov 2013 #77

I'm sure. Yes. FBaggins Nov 2013 #78

Right, due to U-238 activation via neutron flux you'll have Pu-239 Sirveri Nov 2013 #79

I listened to it again-- twice Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #74

Yes, of course. When faced with MineralMan Nov 2013 #39

Thank you for this, I am a bit relieved Warpy Nov 2013 #26

It's just silly to call this the "most dangerous operation" FBaggins Nov 2013 #31

It is dangerous RobertEarl Nov 2013 #53

Not to the rest of the world FBaggins Nov 2013 #57

Aww, you are such a dreamer RobertEarl Nov 2013 #58

I'm not the one with the active imagination FBaggins Nov 2013 #59

Hey, you almost got something correct. RobertEarl Nov 2013 #62

Lol! You're the entertaining gift that just keeps on giving, aren't you? FBaggins Nov 2013 #63

Quit yer dreaming, FBaggins RobertEarl Nov 2013 #64

Stop... I can't take it. FBaggins Nov 2013 #65

Heh RobertEarl Nov 2013 #66

You shoud just stick with that "I don't get it" FBaggins Nov 2013 #67

"the entertaining gift that just keeps on giving"... SidDithers Nov 2013 #69

A start. 99Forever Nov 2013 #33

Yes. MineralMan Nov 2013 #40

Storage is a MAJOR ISSUE. Tikki Nov 2013 #51

Just the beginning..... Bennyboy Nov 2013 #54

Good job, Japan. Bonobo Nov 2013 #70

Nuclear power generation was very, very attractive MineralMan Nov 2013 #71

Keeping fingers crossed. Warren DeMontague Nov 2013 #76