UPDATE AS OF 1:15 P.M. EDT, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16:
NEI has posted an updated version of the fact sheet Used Nuclear Fuel Storage at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Also available is a new fact sheet called Industry Taking Action to Ensure Continued Safety at U.S. Nuclear Energy Plants.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Stop the panic (Japan's nuclear plant issues)
The following is a short description/ explanation as to why the media should keep their mouth shut about things they don't understand.
First. The reactors reported on the media have been shut down. Meaning the nuclear chain reaction that is used to generate electricity has been stopped. This happened automatically when the earthquake happened.
Second. The nuclear fuel continues to generate heat after the reactor is shut down due to the decay of fission products that are produced while the reactors were operating. This is the issue faced by the Japanese plants. They need cooling water to remove this decay heat. They lost power to their cooling water pumps so they were unable to provide the cooling that was needed which is why some of the fuel melted.
These plants are built with 3 layers of containment. The fuel pellets made of Uranium Oxide which are like little cylanders about the size of a cap from a magic marker are put into a round tube made of Zircaloy. This Zircaloy "cladding" is the first barrier or containment. The fuel melts at about 3000F and the Zirc at temps greater than 2000F. These fuel rods are put into assemblies and then into the reactor vessel. The reactor vessel is like a large pot. This pot is designed to withstand temperatures and pressures in excess of the normal operating temps and pressures. This is one heavy duty pot. This pot is sealed and is the second barrier or containment. The reactor vessel and associated piping and systems are inside a steel and concrete building designed to hold the pressure from an accident inside and not leak. This is called the containment building and is the third barrier. These plants in Japan have and additional structure built around the containment that is not built to be pressure tight. This is the structure that exploded. While not a good thing it would be like your shed in the back yard blowing up. Not required to keep the radioactive stuff inside.
As to the United States flying "special, important, coolant" over to Japan. You've got to be kidding me. Water is the coolant and last time I checked Japan was an island. They already put saltwater in the reactors which will prevent them from ever being operated again. The media is just making stuff up. As far as radiation released. The stuff if any that has actually been release is most likely Nitrogen 16 which has decayed to non radioactive isotopes in less than 30 seconds or noble gasses like Xenon which decays in a couple hours and once again poses little to no threat to the public. If you have every been to the beach, flown in an air plane, gotten an Xray, or God forbid gone to a tanning bed you could probably camp for a week or two right outside these plants in Japan and still not get the exposure you recieved from any of the fore mentioned activities.
If you have any questions, ask. or check out this site http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/ and please just turn off the news. Bunch of booger pickin morons trying to scare the public.
First. The reactors reported on the media have been shut down. Meaning the nuclear chain reaction that is used to generate electricity has been stopped. This happened automatically when the earthquake happened.
Second. The nuclear fuel continues to generate heat after the reactor is shut down due to the decay of fission products that are produced while the reactors were operating. This is the issue faced by the Japanese plants. They need cooling water to remove this decay heat. They lost power to their cooling water pumps so they were unable to provide the cooling that was needed which is why some of the fuel melted.
These plants are built with 3 layers of containment. The fuel pellets made of Uranium Oxide which are like little cylanders about the size of a cap from a magic marker are put into a round tube made of Zircaloy. This Zircaloy "cladding" is the first barrier or containment. The fuel melts at about 3000F and the Zirc at temps greater than 2000F. These fuel rods are put into assemblies and then into the reactor vessel. The reactor vessel is like a large pot. This pot is designed to withstand temperatures and pressures in excess of the normal operating temps and pressures. This is one heavy duty pot. This pot is sealed and is the second barrier or containment. The reactor vessel and associated piping and systems are inside a steel and concrete building designed to hold the pressure from an accident inside and not leak. This is called the containment building and is the third barrier. These plants in Japan have and additional structure built around the containment that is not built to be pressure tight. This is the structure that exploded. While not a good thing it would be like your shed in the back yard blowing up. Not required to keep the radioactive stuff inside.
As to the United States flying "special, important, coolant" over to Japan. You've got to be kidding me. Water is the coolant and last time I checked Japan was an island. They already put saltwater in the reactors which will prevent them from ever being operated again. The media is just making stuff up. As far as radiation released. The stuff if any that has actually been release is most likely Nitrogen 16 which has decayed to non radioactive isotopes in less than 30 seconds or noble gasses like Xenon which decays in a couple hours and once again poses little to no threat to the public. If you have every been to the beach, flown in an air plane, gotten an Xray, or God forbid gone to a tanning bed you could probably camp for a week or two right outside these plants in Japan and still not get the exposure you recieved from any of the fore mentioned activities.
If you have any questions, ask. or check out this site http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/ and please just turn off the news. Bunch of booger pickin morons trying to scare the public.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Mini scalloped potatoe thingies
Last night we made these awesome mini scalloped potatoe thingies.
You need a muffin pan
Clean some potatoes. Put them in ziploc baggies and microwave them for about 10 minutes. (not completely done but still firm). Take a stick of butter and cut off thin little pats and put one in the bottom of each muffin hole. Slice the potatoes about 1/8-1/4 inch thich and put one slice on top of each butter pat.
Salt and pepper maybe some garlic powder if you like. Then sprinkle some diced up cooked ham, grated cheese, and some diced green onions. Add another potatoe slice, salt, pepper, ham, green onions, cheese and put another pat of butter. Then top off with a tsp of half and half on each muffin cup. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes.
Very good. Kind of like little mini single serving size heart attacks. But they taste very good. Guaranteed to make your cholesterol go up by at least 20 points.
You need a muffin pan
Clean some potatoes. Put them in ziploc baggies and microwave them for about 10 minutes. (not completely done but still firm). Take a stick of butter and cut off thin little pats and put one in the bottom of each muffin hole. Slice the potatoes about 1/8-1/4 inch thich and put one slice on top of each butter pat.
Salt and pepper maybe some garlic powder if you like. Then sprinkle some diced up cooked ham, grated cheese, and some diced green onions. Add another potatoe slice, salt, pepper, ham, green onions, cheese and put another pat of butter. Then top off with a tsp of half and half on each muffin cup. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes.
Very good. Kind of like little mini single serving size heart attacks. But they taste very good. Guaranteed to make your cholesterol go up by at least 20 points.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Test results
Finished my test and looks like i aced it. Won't be sure until Friday when we get the key.
Been busy
I haven't been posting or cooking lately. I picked up a new hobby and have been studying for my NRC GFES exam which is in 30 minutes. Hopefully I will do well and will have some more free time after the exam is over. If I do good maybe I will pick up some new fish for my new saltwater aquarium (my new hobby). I have my eye on a jellyfish aquarium as well. Very cool. You can see it at jellyfishart.com.
Wish me luck.
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Pizza night
Tonight Paige is out having dinner for her friends birthday. I did cook tonight. I made two frozen pizzas. Freschetta. They were pretty good...........................not. But at least there are a couple pieces left over for a sorry lunch tomorrow. Well looks like I have some interest in a brisket or two so as soon as it warms up I'm gonna have to fire up the smoker. I will keep the locals posted as to when the I will dust off and I'm sure de-stink bug the smoker. I hate those stupid bugs. Been catching them in the house all winter and flushing them down the toilet.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Daddy ain't been cooking lately
Well recently I haven't been cooking anything. Paige has been doing most of the cooking or we have been eating out. Did go to this place down in Bridgewater which had a pretty good philly and some very good chocolate brownie things that were filled with fudge. Well I am hoping to get out the smoker soon and make some brisket. Will post about that when it happens. Paige is not a huge fan of smoked meat or barbeque which is strange as she is from Texas. I won't pretend to understand her taste in food.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)