03-18-2011, 07:17 AM
Oops. Forgot to hit post last night!
They can still melt. But they are producing less heat than the plants that were operation when everything hit the fan. So it will take them a lot longer to melt, and it is much easier to add water to a pool at atmospheric pressure than to the reactor core.
I suspect that the water being dropped on the site by helicopter is meant for the pools or to put out fires, if there are still any burning.
As long as they are kept covered with water, they will be fine.
Paul F. wrote:
They can generate decay heat, and heat up and split and crumble, but they can't melt. They can't generate the 5000°F necessary to melt.
They can still melt. But they are producing less heat than the plants that were operation when everything hit the fan. So it will take them a lot longer to melt, and it is much easier to add water to a pool at atmospheric pressure than to the reactor core.
I suspect that the water being dropped on the site by helicopter is meant for the pools or to put out fires, if there are still any burning.
As long as they are kept covered with water, they will be fine.