I just want to thank all of you that responded to my question on the cool down of nukes. I also read the report from LindaO. I agree it is a must read. I truly believe that knowledge is comfort to the soul. Anytime one experiences hardship, disaster, etc., if there is anykind of understanding as to the "whys", it is easier to accept the situation and diminishes the fear. I would recommend everyone to read, read, and read more. I feel so much more knowledgable than I did 3 months ago, it's incredible, but it's thanks to Rick, Bonnie, and all who contribute to this forum and others. I KNOW how much time and effort this must take on your parts, as it takes me a lot of time just reading it all and making notes. Thank you all, Nancy

-- Anonymous, January 27, 1999

Answers

In reponse to this post:

>From: nucpwr >Subject: Response to cool down time for nukes >Date: 1999-01-27 > >Gary north has obviously not gotten his doctorate in nuclear >engineering.It takes aproximately 2days to cool down a reactor with an 18 month operating history to ambient temperature. Spent fuel is >as you said contained in a pool that is continually supplied with >cooling water. Some fuel cells can later be stored out of water in a >dry cask system (for details see www.nrc.gov). And lastly, nuclear >power plants most certainly do supply thier own power. this is a >licensing requirement for all plants to have an onsite source of >power independent of the main generator and the grid.

...as much as I hate to defend Gary North..

The Uranium Institute: www.uilondon.org/index.htm at their "Fuel Cycle" document: www.uilondon.org/nfc.htm

Says this....

The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Spent fuel storage When removed from a reactor, a fuel bundle will be emitting both radiation, primarily from the fission fragments, and heat. Spent fuel is unloaded into a storage facility immediately adjacent to the reactor to allow the radiation levels and the quantity of heat being released to decrease. These facilities are large pools of water; the water acts as both a shield against the radiation and an absorber of the heat released. Spent fuel is generally held in such pools for a minimum of about five months.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 1999

Meg: Are you arguing for me, or against me?

-- Anonymous, January 28, 1999

Also there are quite a few numbers flying around. The five month figure, I assume is the point at which no cooling for the pool is required. This I may agree with. This also depends on many different factors including the current number of assemblies and the power history of them.(most are usually burned for 3 18 month cycles.Even without external cooling there are methods of gravity feeding pools (feed and bleed). These pools will not result in a chernobyl type meltdown even with a loss of cooling. The boron concentrations of the water and the storage racks prevent a critical mass or geometry. SO if they were to heat up, the water would boil off (into a contained filtered atmosphere) and more water would be added. (via gravity or a small pump powered from a small generator) Also for Robert Cook, Using the dimensions of 100 x 60 x 48 Iwould also agree that the pool would not boil But I have never seen a pool of this size except in swimming competitions.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 1999