Why not use a small explosion to break apart the reactor core to faciltate cooling
My idea is to explode the reactor core with just enough explosives to cause the reactor core to break up just enough to cause cooling by lowering the reactions.
I am not talking about blowing it so far apart as to widely scatter the core pieces just enough to cool them down so the radiation levels will drop enough for cleanup.
Look at it this way. If the reactions continue the radioactive materials will continue to escape at the present and probably escalating amounts.
By tearing the core apart with a controlled explosion it can cool and the pieces will only scatter over a small are THAT IS ALREADY CONTAMINATED but it will allow for cleanup in the future ans stopping the releases already happening!
So far nothing else has worked and just throwing water on it as they are doing is the most stupid and dangerous method that could be use.
Rip the core apart to end reaction and we will be well on our way to recovery.
rjm
"By tearing the core apart
"By tearing the core apart with a controlled explosion it can cool and the pieces will only scatter over a small are THAT IS ALREADY CONTAMINATED but it will allow for cleanup in the future ans stopping the releases already happening!"
But wouldn't it also mean even more serious breaches of the containments and the release of massive amounts of radioactive contamination? I think the releases so far have been only a tiny fraction of potential total release? I mean, even in Chernobyl, where the fuel burned in the open for several days, most of the contamination is still contained within the ruins of reactor number 4, buried in sand, boron and lead and surrounded by the sarcophagus.
I may be completely wrong so if someone can give an opinion based on some technical knowledge I'm sure it would be appreciated.
The heat being produced now
The heat being produced now is from radioactivity.
You don't lower the radioactivity by blowing the core apart.