A very good illustration of Beck's argument about modernity is illustrated here:
Water is normally used
as a nuclear fuel coolant in power plants but in the case of the Monju
reactor, liquid sodium is used instead to increase production of
plutonium. However, liquid sodium ignites when it comes into contact
with air, and it causes an explosive chemical reaction when it is mixed
with water. In 1995, some liquid sodium leaked from the Monju reactor,
causing the reactor to be shut down for a long period of time.
Water is normally used
as a nuclear fuel coolant in power plants but in the case of the Monju
reactor, liquid sodium is used instead to increase production of
plutonium. However, liquid sodium ignites when it comes into contact
with air, and it causes an explosive chemical reaction when it is mixed
with water. In 1995, some liquid sodium leaked from the Monju reactor,
causing the reactor to be shut down for a long period of time.
Monju reactor set for decommissioning lacks sodium removal method (2017, November 29). The Mainichi, https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20171129/p2a/00m/0na/013000c
Water is normally used as a nuclear fuel coolant in power plants but in the case of the Monju reactor, liquid sodium is used instead to increase production of plutonium. However, liquid sodium ignites when it comes into contact with air, and it causes an explosive chemical reaction when it is mixed with water. In 1995, some liquid sodium leaked from the Monju reactor, causing the reactor to be shut down for a long period of time.
...760 metric tons of liquid sodium used for the primary coolant system, several hundred inside the reactor vessel cannot be extracted....
This is amazing. 760 tons of liquid sodium that will ignite when in contact with air cannot be removed from the Monju reactor! The article states the liquid sodium problem is exacerbated because the sodium has been irradiated and is radioactive.
How could this have happened? The Mainichi cites a "senior official at the JAEA" who said the main priority when the reactor was being designed was speed! Quite apparently, no consideration was given to decommissioning.
Or conversely, plenty of consideration was given to future decommissioning problems, but the culture and leadership disallowed the kind of dissent that would have prevented the current situation.
This is a great illustration of how catastrophic hazards are engineered into industrial/military infrastructures.
Its also a good example of how authoritarian decision making can lead us to the brink of hell.
JAEA acknowledged that
the reactor had been designed without any regard for removing liquid
sodium from the reactor vessel, saying, "When the reactor was being
designed, the main priority was to finish the project quickly.
Decommissioning was not taken into account." In addition, the liquid
sodium has been exposed to radiation, making it difficult for humans to
approach it and perform tasks.
As a result, of about
760 metric tons of liquid sodium used for the primary coolant system,
several hundred inside the reactor vessel cannot be extracted.
People, and life in general, is simply disposable in such authoritarian circumstances.
ReplyDeleteyes, not fun to have your mind boggled, at the brink of hell... but what the hell, let's restart a couple more at Ohi, host some Olympics! oh, the incorrigible fascination of it all, how very 'sapiens' of us...
ReplyDelete