How does a nuclear meltdown work? (w/ Video)

Link to full article ...

(PhysOrg.com) -- When working properly, nuclear reactors produce large amounts of heat via nuclear fission reactions. The heat converts the surrounding water into steam, which turns turbines and generates electricity. But if you remove the water, you also remove the most important cooling element in a nuclear reactor and open up the possibility for nuclear meltdown.

I wasn't sure where to put this - either in the Science forum or the Japan forum, but I thought I'd go with the latter due to the video. The article and video explains what causes nuclear meltdowns and what went wrong in Japan's plant.

Interesting article for those who are interested.

The closing line "once again Mother Nature has challenged man's best efforts.".... That pretty much sums it up!
Thanks for posting the Video.
Peace,love and safety to all my brothers and sisters around this intresting time we are living in.
RED

Originally posted by redzareptile
The closing line "once again Mother Nature has challenged man's best efforts."

Yeah except the seawall wasn't all that high. I don't think it was that hard to predict we'd get a larger tsunami so I'm not sure it was really "man's best efforts".

Here is an idea, lets add another safety feature that pumps liquid nitrogen to the rods to prevent meltdowns, has this ever been tried or considered?

reply to post by LordofHades


Liquid Nitrogen is far to cold, this would crack the containment vessel. Then you have a bigger disaster on your hands. It's like pouring super cold Ice water on a hot engine block. It will crack.

i think Japaneses should take care of there...nuclear reactors.....& all thing
it should be dangerous to local people


www.mynetpharma.com...

reply to post by SJE98


what would be worse meltdown or cracked equipment, and if ur refering to the container, it can be altered with a bladder system to prevent damage from temperature change