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Japan To Create a Nuclear Meltdown

Posted by Unknown on from the suddenly-godzilla dept.

Taco Cowboy writes "Japanese researchers are planning an experiment to better understand what transpires during a nuclear meltdown by attempting to create a controlled nuclear meltdown. Using a scaled down version of a nuclear reactor — essentially a meter long stainless steel container — the experiment will involve the insertion of a foot long (30 cm) nuclear fuel rod, starting the fission process, and then draining the coolant. The experiment is scheduled to take place later this year."

5 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Great by StripedCow · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What could possibly go wrong?

    By the way, didn't they have to hand in their license to do nuclear stuff already?

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    If Pandora's box is destined to be opened, *I* want to be the one to open it.
    1. Re:Great by Stargoat · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What could possibly go wrong?

      I believe that's what they want to find out.

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      Hoist Number One and Number Six.
    2. Re:Great by Sarten-X · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And, it should be noted, they want to find out in controlled conditions with sufficient protective equipment in a facility explicitly configured for this kind of situation. This is science.

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      You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
    3. Re:Great by ebno-10db · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This is science.

      The problem is that it should have been done decades ago. You're supposed to test failure modes before you declare something safe. That's doubly true of something as potentially dangerous as nuclear meltdowns.

    4. Re:Great by amorsen · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Good luck with that. IDB Reference Characteristics of LWR Nuclear Fuel Assemblies from the 1996 Integrated Database Report (copied from Nuclear Tourist) mentions a fuel rod assembly containing 185 kg uranium. In contrast, Little Boy which destroyed Hiroshima contained 64 kg uranium, and that was certainly not a 100% efficient fission reaction.

      It is not realistic to design nuclear power plants to withstand the maximum energy you could get out of the reaction. That would kill off the nuclear industry.

      Feel free to start discussing whether it is realistic to get all the energy out of the 185 kg uranium. You can argue that it is less highly enriched than bombs, and that it is entirely unlikely that uranium which is mostly U-238 is going to suddenly decide to fission. I completely agree, but then we are no longer protecting against the maximum energy that could get released.

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