The buildup of Hydrogen in Fukushima Dai-Ichi?
Is it correct that for hydrogen to be present inside a nuclear reactor, the zircaloy has to melt off the fuel rods and come into contact with the water, thus, oxidizing and forming hydrogen?
Is it correct that for hydrogen to be present inside a nuclear reactor, the zircaloy has to melt off the fuel rods and come into contact with the water, thus, oxidizing and forming hydrogen?
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Favorite Answer
Many different paths lead to the breakdown & corrosion of these metal coatings at high temperature,
and hydrogen gas is a product. That is indeed what exploded.
The explosions indicate high temperatures- a dry reactor exposed to air.
The other radiation indicates a meltdown, in 4 reactors and more spent fuel pools.
Re-ignition- a fission reaction starting again- is indeed imminent.
Then metal explodes- including the zirconium casings, now part of molten pools.