The actual state of reactors 3 and 4 after their explosion:
After the explosion of reactor 3 and 4 at Fukushima energy plant, there is now only one option left to reduce fire and cool down reactor 3: Pouring water down from army helicopters. Additionally, damaged water pumps will be replaced as soon as possible by U.S. company General Electric who delivered the original pumps that crashed during the tsunami impact. NHK World, Tokyo, on March 16, 2011.
Cooling off reactor 3 by helicopter:
Comment by Ulysses:
As to the explosion of reactors 1, 3 and 4, it was said they were due to hydrogen emitted from the reactor. Now, hydrogen can be produced from water that is used as a coolant fluid in such reactors. It is known that reactor fluid usually contains a certain amount of H2O2 that has to be generated from water H2O under the influence of radiation. Thus, the formation of hydrogen H2 must be due to the following summary equation:
2 H2O => H2O2 + H2
The mechanism of H2 formation should be based on a so-called radical type reaction. Under high-temperature conditions, however, H2O2 will soon decay to water H2O and oxygen O2 that is adding to the oxygen atmosphere inside the reactor receptacle. The explosion observed in all three reactors is now a violent recombination of hydrogen and oxygen in a mixed atmosphere:
2 H2 + O2 => 2 H2O
This formation of water H2O from the gaseous elements hydrogen and oxygen can be triggered off by any spark inside the reactor casing. Such spark might be generated by the electric system of the reactor or by accumulation of electric charge in the moving mechanical parts of the facility.
Unfortunately, hydrogen molecules H2 are of a very low size that makes it possible to them to "tunnel" through any regular building material. Hence, the exlosion can take place anywhere inside the reactor building what makes it difficult to determine the actual damage of such explosion from the outside. Only an increased amount of radiation leaked from the reactor building can therefore be a sign for possible damage to the inner or outer receptacle of the reactor's core.
"Good Winds" are coming soon:
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