[ RadSafe ] Molten Uranium?

[KARAM, PHILIP]

The melting point of uranium is over 1100 C (over 2000 F). not likely to still be molten. Not sure if there's enough decay heat to bring it to that temperature in the absence of cooling water - that would depend on the geometry of the fuel.

Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Roger Helbig
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2014 6:19 AM
To: RADSAFE
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Molten Uranium?

This story leads with "molten uranium" that needs continual cooling.
Question for the list - is there really molten uranium in the melted
down Fukushima reactors?  Thanks.

Roger Helbig

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Christina MacPherson posted: "a constant flow of water is necessary to
keep the molten uranium from heating up. TEPCO has built thousands of
tanks to store the daily flood of contaminated water, but it is
running out of space. "The tanks have mushroomed all over the power
plant," M"
Respond to this post by replying above this line

New post on nuclear-news

Wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is in a continuing crisis

by Christina MacPherson

a constant flow of water is necessary to keep the molten uranium from
heating up. TEPCO has built thousands of tanks to store the daily
flood of contaminated water, but it is running out of space.

"The tanks have mushroomed all over the power plant," McNeill said.
"Because if they don't keep it cool, it heats up, radiation escapes
and then we're back to square one."

Is Fukushima at risk for another nuclear disaster?, Aljazeera America,
9 Jan 14  by Michael Okwu Nearly three years after the nuclear
catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, there
remains concern about whether another disaster is right around the
corner. America Tonight

 At the Fukushima Daiichi plant, the Tokyo Electric Power Co., or
TEPCO, is struggling to contain the ongoing nuclear disaster. Since
the catastrophe almost three years ago, there has been disagreement
about whether the plant is safe.

The official line from the Japanese government is that the situation
is under control.

"The government is moving to the forefront and we will completely
resolve the matter," said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in September, just
before Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympics.

But others, such as then-Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose, have said the
situation is "not necessarily under control.".....

'An ongoing crisis' Journalist David McNeill has been covering Japan
since 2000. America Tonight

"I think this is an ongoing crisis," said David McNeill, a journalist
who has lived in Japan since 2000 and has been covering the Fukushima
disasterfrom the beginning. "What you've had is a series of ad hoc
strategies designed to deal with the crisis that's right in front of
you." Read more of this post

Christina MacPherson | January 9, 2014 at 7:24 am | Categories:
Fukushima 2014 | URL: http://wp.me/phgse-g4q

http://nuclear-news.net/2014/01/09/wrecked-fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-power-plant-is-in-a-continuing-crisis/
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