Nuclear reactions are smoldering again at Chernobyl

[mapuc]

Guess it will do so for hundreds if not thousands of year ahead, if they can't find a way to stop it.

Thirty-five years after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine exploded in the world's worst nuclear accident, fission reactions are smoldering again in uranium fuel masses buried deep inside a mangled reactor hall. "It's like the embers in a barbecue pit," says Neil Hyatt, a nuclear materials chemist at the University of Sheffield. Now, Ukrainian scientists are scrambling to determine whether the reactions will wink out on their own—or require extraordinary interventions to avert another accident

https://www.science.org/news/2021/05...rnobyl-reactor

Markus

[Skybird]

Them Cherno-Zombies don't want to stay in the cold during winter, you see...

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Them Cherno-Zombies don't want to stay in the cold during winter, you see...

Not to forget glowing in the winter darkness so they can see each other

Markus

[3catcircus]

It's all based upon two things:

1. Critical mass/critical geometry resulting from any shifting of material causing a mass of fissile material to undergo fission again.

2. Decay heat from the fissile material's fission products. They'll continue to produce heat at about 7% of the total power levels immediately prior to the stopping of the fission process. Those fission products will continue to produce heat dependent upon their half-life. That heat needs to be cooled somehow - and that may involve doing things that could inadvertently result in additional fission reactions occurring.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

It's all based upon two things:

1. Critical mass/critical geometry resulting from any shifting of material causing a mass of fissile material to undergo fission again.

2. Decay heat from the fissile material's fission products. They'll continue to produce heat at about 7% of the total power levels immediately prior to the stopping of the fission process. Those fission products will continue to produce heat dependent upon their half-life. That heat needs to be cooled somehow - and that may involve doing things that could inadvertently result in additional fission reactions occurring.

Thank you
Could it end up with the China syndrome ?

Markus

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Thank you
Could it end up with the China syndrome ?

Markus

No, the Chinese have so far not shown any interest in the Ukraine, and the latter has not asked for participation in the Silkroad 2 project.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Skybird

No, the Chinese have so far not shown any interest in the Ukraine, and the latter has not asked for participation in the Silkroad 2 project.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Them Cherno-Zombies don't want to stay in the cold during winter, you see...

The final season of The Walking Dead is due shortly

[3catcircus]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Thank you
Could it end up with the China syndrome ?

Markus

Likely not. Any fission would likely be short-lived, resulting in the critical mass/geometry melting or shifting, becoming subcritical again.

You need to remember that the core has flowed all over the basement as molten corium, so any portions that could fission again are much further away from having enough mass in the right geometry.

[Buddahaid]

[Catfish]

^

Originally Posted by Skybird

No, the Chinese have so far not shown any interest in the Ukraine, and the latter has not asked for participation in the Silkroad 2 project.

Seriously: There is no solution of getting rid of "accidentally" set free 'corium'. B.t.w. "corium" lmao. Fine example of doublespeak. Same as in Fukushima where they release contaminated water into the ocean, and will have to do this for millenia to come.
The probem is inherent, and will not go away by wishful thinking. As long as no one can really contain the stuff i will radiate on for millenia.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

Likely not. Any fission would likely be short-lived, resulting in the critical mass/geometry melting or shifting, becoming subcritical again.

You need to remember that the core has flowed all over the basement as molten corium, so any portions that could fission again are much further away from having enough mass in the right geometry.

Of course it's not one big melted ball
Trying to recall what was said in the 70's movie China Syndrome.

Markus

[Jeff-Groves]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

The final season of The Walking Dead is due shortly

A bit of radiation never bothered me.

[Eichhörnchen]

I can remember that morning so clearly: Moira and I had just been to look at the house we are now making plans to leave all these years later

We'd spent the night in the VW in a damp meadow next to the river and she was cooking up breakfast while I listened to the news about the explosion on the car radio

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

and she was cooking up breakfast while I listened to the news about the explosion

Sounds as if this christmas a cooking book is on order...!?