expand, eventually to rupture, and first to release the gas that s already accumulated within spent fuel, and then as the uranium pellets in the fuel continue to heat up, more and more radioactive material will be squeezed out of the pellets, mostly in the form of cesium 137, which would be a gas at those temperatures. so if the fuel pool has gone dry, that would be a very hard condition to reverse. is there at that point a risk of explosion and do either of those matter at that point? well, there would be presumably a fire, because the metal around the fuel rods, which is zirconium will burn once it reaches a certain ignition temperature. so there could be a zirconium fed fire that would only serve to increase heat up of the rods and accelerate radioactive release. this wouldn t typically result in an explosion of the fuel, but the reaction with zirconium does
more radioactive material will be squeezed out of the pellets, mostly in the form of cesium 137, which would be a gas at those temperatures. so if the fuel pool has gone dry, that would be a very hard condition to reverse. is there at that point a risk of fire or explosion and do either of those matter at that point? well, there would be presumably a fire, because the metal around the fuel rods, which is zirconium will burn once it reaches a certain ignition temperature. so there could be a zirconium fed fire that would only serve to increase heat up of the rods and accelerate radioactive release. this wouldn t typically result in an explosion of the fuel, but the reaction with zirconium does produce hydrogen which could
release. this wouldn t typically result in an explosion of the fuel, but the reaction with zirconium does produce hydrogen which could lead to hydrogen explosion if it got concentrated. since these are now well ventilated spaces, since the roof and walls have blown off, probably hydrogen explosions aren t much concern at this point. well ventilated is a happy way to say it. i m sorry. no, it s true. i mean, to be clear, there s essentially no effective containment of any kind around these spent fuel pools in reactors three and four, right? well, the sad truth is even if the walls and ceiling were still in place, that still wouldn t be effective containment. it might have provided some delay, but now, of course, there s nothing. radioactive material emitted from the fuel will go right into the atmosphere. the radiation levels have gotten so high that as you noted, there is a question of
being emitted from the damaged fuel rods. they did that in order to relieve pressure so the reactor wouldn t explode. they also at one point had a huge hydrogen bubble they were worried could blow up. risk of explosion is that all the radioactivity being mixed up because of the hot fuel rods would be sent into the skies over middleton, pennsylvania. they were worried it would blow up, but it did not blow up and cause explosion and the containment vessel held, and the only big release of radiation in the three mile island accident รง was what they released on purpose when they felt they had to do it to relieve pressure to prevent an explosion. that s what happened at three mile island. no deaths and no injuries to anyone that worked at the plant. there was some exposure to radioactivity by people that lived in the vicinity of the plant. for years, local residents beg to differ. that s the three mile island
they did that in order to relieve pressure so the reactor wouldn t explode. they also at one point had a huge hydrogen bubble they were worried could blow up. risk of explosion is that all the radioactivity being mixed up because of the hot fuel rods would be sent into the skies over middleton, pennsylvania. they were worried it would blow up, but it did not blow up and cause explosion and the containment vessel held, and the only big release of radiation in the three mile island accident was what they released on purpose when they felt they had to do it to relieve pressure to prevent an explosion. that s what happened at three mile island. no deaths and no injuries to anyone that worked at the plant. there was some exposure to radioactivity by people that lived in the vicinity of the plant. for years, local residents beg to differ. that s the three mile island