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Putting A Lid On Chernobyl

Posted by chrisd on from the graphite-didn't-work dept.

slicer622 writes "Chernobyl is finally getting a containment structure (Washington Post). Billed as the largest moveable structure ever built, its designed to help take apart the wreckage and keep most of the radioactive material from spreading. It will be 800 feet across, and 300 feet high and will cost $800 mil."

17 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. Quake 3 mapping. by kpdvx · · Score: 5, Funny

    I always wondered what a Quake 3 map would look like in real life... :)

    For those of you who map, you'll know what I'm talking about. :)

    1. Re:Quake 3 mapping. by Spyffe · · Score: 5, Funny
      I always wondered what a Quake 3 map would look like in real life... :)

      Pretty much the same. But maybe the frame-rate will be a little lower, and textures won't be as detailed.
      Most of the "real world" was actually produced for viewing using the ATI Rage 128. That's why computer games have become more and more attractive compared to the "real world" since nVidia unleashed the GeForce3.
      Making matters worse, the physics model in the real world is also limited. For instance, rocket jumps are impossible because of improper collision detection between shards of the rocket casing and the jumper, resulting in shards improperly embedded in the body.
      Unfortunately, the world was intended for full simulation on what was considered powerful in the 1980s. (The world existed before that, but only in a 2-dimensional form suitable for reproduction on thin, 35mm film.)

      --
      Sigmentation fault - core dumped
  2. Hundred Years? by RobertTaylor · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The shelter is designed to keep water out and dust in for 100 years"

    Great, in 2108 we are screwed again.

    1. Re:Hundred Years? by Subcarrier · · Score: 5, Funny

      That won't be our problem, though. ;)

      Early indications are that kids from the Chernobyl fallout area will live to be at least 200 years old. The third arm comes in pretty handy, too.

      --
      "I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them." -- George H. W. Bush
    2. Re:Hundred Years? by FTL · · Score: 5, Insightful
      > Great, in 2108 we are screwed again.

      This is actually really good design.

      The first sarcophagus was built in great haste over a hot reactor. The article points out there there are huge holes in the roof, but doesn't point out that the holes are a feature of the design, not a bug. If it were air-tight it would melt.

      It has been nearly 20 years, and the sarcophagus has done its job well. Conditions are much better, and it is time for a new containment structure that addresses the current requirements.

      In 100 years when the new structure is worn out, it will be time to reevaluate the conditions, and build a permenant enclosure. Suggestions I've heard are that a simple (but large) sand pile might be the best option at that time (presumably waterproofed on the outside).

      The requirement for a 100 year lifespan for the current enclosure is a good one. Any longer, and you end up designing something that has to perform two very different jobs.

      --
      Slashdot monitor for your Mozilla sidebar or Active Desktop.
  3. Thats All Great but.... by dirkdidit · · Score: 5, Interesting

    what happens if the existing "sarcophagus" fails after the bigger one is built over top of it? Couldn't this still be a disasterous problem? After all, I've heard before that if it were to cave in, it'd be like having the accident all over again.

  4. Why Shouldn't You Wear Russian Pants? by yoyona · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because Chernobyl Fallout.

  5. Radioactive Christmas trees by Spudley · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ties in nicely with the story today about radioactive Christmas trees being sold by russian businessmen.

    --
    (Spudley Strikes Again!)
  6. And that's not the REALLY scary part by core+plexus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They want to reopen Chernobyl. This article states "Officials from the European Bank for Reconstruction have criticised plans by the Ukrainian authorities to reopen a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. They say they are concerned about the safety of reactor number three, which sits next to the remains of the world's worst nuclear disaster, because of a failure to put in place extra safety measures that had been agreed. " Here is a link about the facilities.

  7. Obvious Russian Solution by limekiller4 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Leave it to the Russians to come up with a solution that is, in essence, one big matrioshka doll.

    Now I want to see the heir of the peasant who invented these things sue for IP infringement.

    --
    My .02,
    Limekiller
  8. Cost by dokutake · · Score: 5, Informative

    It will be 800 feet across, and 300 feet high and will cost $800 mil.

    The dome itself will not cost $800 million, the whole project, including cleaning up inside the dome once it's there, will cost $768 million.

    --
    - Peter
  9. Photos and Poetry from Pripyat. The worker's town. by muonzoo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I stumbled (ok Googled) across some interesting and moving photos from Pripyat, the town where the Chernobyl workers were housed.
    Shocking and worth a read / look.

  10. Re:Surrounding areas by dirkdidit · · Score: 5, Informative

    About 7 years ago they built a huge concrete wall that goes underground and is meant to stop the flow of groundwater(to some extent) from the contaminated areas. The last I read of this said that the wall had begun to fail. The Pripyat River, which was Chernobyl's water supply, was severely contaminated.

    This map shows the "hot zone." It actually covers quite a large area.

  11. Chernobyl accident information by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    A lot of stories about the Chernobyl accident can be found here.

    Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster On April 25th -26th, 1986 the World's worst nuclear power accident occurred at Chernobyl in the former USSR (now Ukraine). The Chernobyl nuclear power plant located 80 miles north of Kiev had 4 reactors and whilst testing reactor number 4 numerous safety procedures were disregarded. At 1:23am the chain reaction in the reactor became out of control creating explosions and a fireball which blew off the reactor's heavy steel and concrete lid.

    The Chernobyl accident killed more than 30 people immediately, and as a result of the high radiation levels in the surrounding 20-mile radius, 135,00 people had to be evacuated.

  12. Why build another one by Boiling_point_ · · Score: 5, Funny

    Psssst - I know where you might be able to pick up a suitable enclosure really cheaply, if you don't mind using second hand equipment. As an added benefit - it seems to do a good job of discouraging tourists! ;-)

    --
    "If you create user accounts, by default, they will have an account type of Administrator with no password." KB Q293834
  13. Re:Mutants? by glwtta · · Score: 5, Funny

    Of course all the animals were radically affected. Approximately half of these animals are now gigantic and are terrorizing Japan as we speak. The other half have become smart-talking, hip ninjas.

    --
    sic transit gloria mundi
  14. How wonderful... by ATAMAH · · Score: 5, Insightful

    After this tragedy occured soldiers were volunteered
    to go there and die fighting with fire and radiation. Many lost their homes and were evacuted to the town i lived in. We got lucky - the wind was in the other direction. Nevertheless streets had to be washed literally - trucks were spraying water everywhere trying to wash off the radioactive dust.

    Many thousands of people died in Chernobyl. Many more are STILL dying from this disaster. It was a tragedy. Please don't joke about it. It's beyond "dark humor" IMHO.