Did I hear on National Public Radio, March 14, that one of the interviewees warned that if the fuel rods in one of the stricken Japanese reactors melted and formed a pool of uranium in the bottom of the reactor pressure vessel, there would be the possibility of an explosion?
To prove his point, he reminded us that the uranium nuclide (U-235) that fissions in power reactors is the uranium nuclide that can be used in nuclear bombs.
I want to unequivocally state that it is physically impossible to get a nuclear explosion from a pool of melted reactor-grade uranium in the bottom of a reactor pressure vessel.
I worked in nuclear core design for an early American power reactor, and I can testify how difficult it is to design a uranium core to generate power; you need just exactly the right amounts of uranium and water to “go critical” and generate power. The uranium in a water-moderated power reactor will never, never cause a nuclear explosion, no matter what happens!
(Anyone who disagrees with me should explain his/her qualifications.)
- Norman R. Williamsen, Jr.,
Camarillo
- The writer is a registered nuclear engineer in the state of California. -- Editor
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/15/nuclear-fears-japan/#ixzz1Gghxvpov
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