How do you put a whole country on stand-by?

[7oddisdead]

Well it's nice to know that if the shit ever does hit the fan, I'm most likely fucked from radiation....wonderful.

right there with ya kor.....radiated high five!

[yarri]

I'll pose a question to this thread....

Don't these things have fail safe programs that shut down the plant in cases of disaster?

[Kc]

I'll pose a question to this thread....

Don't these things have fail safe programs that shut down the plant in cases of disaster?

They're not permanent fail safes, and many of them require power to operate. They're not designed for people to completely walk away.

[yarri]

They're not permanent fail safes, and many of them require power to operate. They're not designed for people to completely walk away.

but wouldn't power plants also have back up generators? Things to keep the backup systems active. I know our hospitals do.

[Kc]

but wouldn't power plants also have back up generators? Things to keep the backup systems active. I know our hospitals do.

Yes. But for how long? What happens when they run out of fuel?

[yarri]

Yes. But for how long? What happens when they run out of fuel?

the machines turn off and the system goes into shut down. I would hope that things like Chernobyl would have got the techs to figure out a way to shut down a system without human help.

[yarri]

But then again, I'm a nurse not a tech person. I understand the human machine better then I do machine machines...

[Kc]

the machines turn off and the system goes into shut down. I would hope that things like Chernobyl would have got the techs to figure out a way to shut down a system without human help.

Sadly, no. But they won't react the same way as the elephant foot of Chernobyl, but the water coolant must be pumped in, and that requires power from backup generators. They could supply their own power, but without the draw from other power stations going down, it'd go into a sort of "gray" state where it doesn't output power otherwise it'd melt the lines.

At least that's what all my research concluded. I might be wrong, but that's what I found.

[yarri]

Sadly, no. But they won't react the same way as the elephant foot of Chernobyl, but the water coolant must be pumped in, and that requires power from backup generators. They could supply their own power, but without the draw from other power stations going down, it'd go into a sort of "gray" state where it doesn't output power otherwise it'd melt the lines.

At least that's what all my research concluded. I might be wrong, but that's what I found.

It sounds very ominous, how long can a plant remain in a "gray" state?

[YetAnotherBloodyCheek]

@yarri: A nuclear plant is one the most sophisticated machines every created by humanity. However, one of the challenges is the fact that in order to operate it, you will have to deal with nondeterministic radioactive decay processes over a long period of time. In the nature of subatomic things, a lot can go wrong. And let's face it, you can not predict what is next on Mr atomic nucleus' mind. The only option you have is to reduce risks by applying an awful lot of fault tolerant protection devices, sensors on so. Nevertheless, this only reduces just the probabilities of failure you are already aware of. If something unexpected happens, well, you should better cross your fingers for the people in charge. Otherwise, the following event might be compared to the partial meltdown in Three Mile Island, Chernobyl or Fukushima later on.

To sum it up, you can not put a nuclear plan in a "gray" state, at least not with zero preparation time.