FYI, Reuters energy correspondent is answering questions on their blog:
Japan earthquake | Page 83 | Liveblog live blogging | Reuters.com
@REUTERS, thanks for being willing to answer questions Scott DiSavino. My question is what everyone I know is asking: Is the largest threat an uncontrolled fire on the spent fuel rods? And what would the results be if such a situation happens?
Hi, Thanks for your question - energy experts say the two biggest threats are the further melt down of Unit 2 at Daiichi and the spent fuel pool at Unit 4
if the reactor core at Unit 2 melts through the vessel, it would fall into the primary containment - which has a crack in it BUT most of the radiation should still be contained in the primary containment even with that crack
as for the spent fuel pool - TEPCO needs to keep the water in the pool over the rods or they will set on fire and release radiation, including cesium, strontium and plutonium into the environment
Japan earthquake | Page 83 | Liveblog live blogging | Reuters.com
@REUTERS, thanks for being willing to answer questions Scott DiSavino. My question is what everyone I know is asking: Is the largest threat an uncontrolled fire on the spent fuel rods? And what would the results be if such a situation happens?
Hi, Thanks for your question - energy experts say the two biggest threats are the further melt down of Unit 2 at Daiichi and the spent fuel pool at Unit 4
if the reactor core at Unit 2 melts through the vessel, it would fall into the primary containment - which has a crack in it BUT most of the radiation should still be contained in the primary containment even with that crack
as for the spent fuel pool - TEPCO needs to keep the water in the pool over the rods or they will set on fire and release radiation, including cesium, strontium and plutonium into the environment