Talk about nuclear power, energy issues, and cookies. There will by typos, I gaurentee it.
Jul 19, 2019 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
For clarity, total gamma dose levels are not actually that high, you can find places on earth with significantly higher dose levels that aren't evacuations zones. 2 isotopes, however, are in excess compared to most other places on earth. Specifically Pu239-240.
This is because Chernobyl and Fukushima spread their contamination by lower energetic means, notably a meltdown/fire/conventional explosions. This means it is harder to transport high mass atoms. Low mass atoms, however, still get enough juice kicked into them to be transported.
Jun 4, 2019 • 23 tweets • 5 min read
Ok, so #ChernobylHBO is over. Let's talk reactor kinematics! This will be a summary of the INSAG report, the most authoritative work on the matter.
So, let us start with the beginning. #Chernobyl is unlike many reactors. It uses both graphite AND water.
In a nuclear reactor, we need neutrons to cause a chain reaction. When born from fission, neutrons are going way to fast for low enriched uranium to handle. We have to slow them down. This is done with water for most modern reactors, but sometimes also graphite.
Dec 12, 2018 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
When it was fresh, it was about 1740Sv/hr ish at 6 inches. That...that...that is very intense.
