[ RadSafe ] Dry Cask Spent Fuel Storage -was: Re: Belgium Nuclear Safety

Stewart Farber farber at farbermed.com
Sun Mar 27 14:08:14 CDT 2016


I checked after making my post in this thread and found that a dry spent fuel storage cask weighs about 180 tons (not 60 tons). A single cask is 11' in  diameter with concrete walls 2' thick. No one is just sneaking off with spent fuel if a facility is attacked or taking anything that might be used in a so-called "dirty bomb".

Stewart

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 27, 2016, at 12:38 PM, Jeff Terry <terryj at iit.edu> wrote:

Yes. In general, megatons is a poor unit to use in nuclear energy to begin with. 

Jeff 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 27, 2016, at 11:21 AM, Stewart Farber <farber at farbermed.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Jeff,
> The NEI note on nuclear plant safety has important details that highlight the ruggedness and minor vulnerability of any nuclear electric station to any conceivable attack. However, it contains an error in making reference to storage casks weighing "megatons" which would make them difficult to hijack. Indeed. For reference the Queen Mary 2 has a gross tonnage of 150,000 tons ( 0.15 megatons). The fact a storage cask might weigh 60 tons vs. 10,000 tons is irrelevant. We just need to get our numbers right.
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Mar 27, 2016, at 8:11 AM, Jeff Terry <terryj at iit.edu> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Jay,
> 
> I'm not going to discuss in detail the security precautions I've seen in nuclear plants in the US but if I ever find myself in a terrorist attack, a nuclear plant would be about the safest place for it to occur. 
> 
> The internal defenses are very significant and in general are well designed. A small band of terrorists are not going to take over a nuclear plant in the US. 
> 
> The NEI has a nice comment on nuclear plant security. 
> 
> http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-fresh-perspective-on-nuclear-plant.html?m=1
> 
> Hope that helps,
> 
> Jeff 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Mar 26, 2016, at 9:50 PM, Jay Cafasso <jay.cafasso at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I post this article to the list as a serious topic of discussion (no I am
>> no anti-nuclear and no I do not see terrorists under my bed at night).
>> 
>> First, as an American and a retired HazMat Specialist. My heart goes out to
>> all of those who lost loved ones and to all first responders as well as the
>> People of Belgium At-Large.
>> 
>> Second, I would like to know ground truth with regards the article. I am
>> well aware of the Mails record of stretching the truth. It's not like our
>> folk here are pillars of the Fifth Estate.
>> 
>> Lastly, what is everyone's opinion of nuclear safety? I am well aware of
>> our track record here in the States.
>> 
>> Thoughts? Fears? Serious Opinions?
>> 
>> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3510384/Belgian-nuclear-plant-guard-murdered-security-pass-stolen-two-days-Brussels-attacks.html?AID=7236
>> 
>> Thank you..
>> Jay Cafasso
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>> 
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