aircooled wrote:Yes, but functionally they are "steel sheds". They really are for no purpose other then to keep the weather out, just like a shed.
The pools are a concern, but fortunately they fuel there is already degraded (spent, but still hot of course), and they should be pretty easy to fill, being in the open to the outside now. So the blown up "sheds" is actually a good thing. (glass half full kind of thing)
... waiting for deadly cloud to come over Friday... why do I have the feeling it will contain about the same amount of radiation you get by being at the beach for a day...
It seems that the pools aren't "pretty easy to fill" because workers can't get close enough because of high radiation levels. Hence the failed attempts are airdropping water and the limited success of the water cannons. Though the fuel is spent it's not at all safe. I imagine it's particularly radioactive as a matter of fact. Degraded fuel doesn't mean safe fuel. Correct? If it gets hot enough, I understand that the Zircaloy fuel casings will oxidize/burn/explode. There's plenty that can still go wrong.
I've seen the buildings referred to as secondary containment. I assume that in addition to keeping weather out they also contain minor pressure releases during situations less dramatic than we're seeing now.
I haven't read anything particularly alarmist about short-term radiation levels for the west coast. I think if the situation in Japan continues to deteriorate there's valid reason to be aware/concerned/prepared.
