On 3/17/2011 8:01 AM, Larry Jaques wrote:
On Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:06:23 -0500,
wrote:


"Lew wrote in message
b.com...
Subject

It appears that one of the back up safety controls is to use back up
diesel engine/generator sets to provide control power during emergency
reactor shut downs.

In Japan, these engine/generator sets have been wiped out by the tsunamis.

So much for that back up.

Here in SoCal, we have the San Onofre nuclear generating station right on
the shore line about half way between Los Angeles and San Diego.

This is residential country with some high priced SoCal real-estate less
than 2 miles away.

It also has a diesel engine/generator sets to provide control power during
emergency reactor shut down.

Earlier this week the plant mgr was interviewed one of the local TV
stations.

Plant mgr was very proud of the San Onofre design improvements in recent
years including the construction of a 30 ft high wall and underground
diesel storage tanks.

A couple of thoughts:

1) Are the diesels automatically started by a clutch and spinning flywheel
approach used by the Las Vegas casinos 50+ years ago, or are they
depending on a standard cranking motor and battery?

Cranking motor and battery is less costly.

2) I personally question whether a 30 ft retaining wall is enough,
probably needs at least another 5-7 ft.

3) How do you build a safe diesel fuel storage vessel underground in
earthquake country?

As we are finding out, there is a lot of uncharted nuclear energy
territory out there.

I think California should shut down all nuclear facilities and go back to
conventional ways of generating elecricity. I suspect it is only a matter
of time before this polution cutter will bite you in the ass like all of the
others have. California seems to believe it can live in a cleaner
environment than the rest of the country but obviousely cannot afford or
engeneer methods support those wishes.

Yeah, let's see how those idiot greenies like living with coalfired
plants spewing godawful amounts of heat and pollution all over them
while mile-long trains of coal run hourly to the plants to keep them
operating.

Coal-fired power plants already produce half of USA's electricity.
EPA-mandated scrubbers make the plants low polluters. They are already
running near capacity. They, and all other sources for generating
electricity combined, don't have enough reserve capacity to pick up the
slack if the nuclear power plants were all taken off line. And it takes
years not months to build new plants.

One thing most people don't realize is that radioactive materials are
present in fossil fuels. Coal and oil fired power plants release more
radiation into the environment than a nuclear power plant does.

Let's see how long Arizona and Nevada put up with the acid rain from
them.

Boy, howdy! This oughta be _good_!

--
A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what's going on.
-- William S. Burroughs