how hot a fuel rod in the nuclear reactor can get?

Clad surface temperature Tc controlled by coolant velocity is taken between certain operation temperatures (Tc=200, 300, 400, 500 and 600°C). The best Cumulative Fissile Fuel Enrichment (CFFE) grade of the nuclear fuel calculated as the sum of the isotopic ratios of all fissile materials (233U, 235U, 239Pu, and 241Pu) is obtained in Flibe (Li2BeF4) coolant blankets, followed by Gas (He, CO2), whereas natural lithium (Li) coolant shows a poor rejuvenation performance in all fuels. CFFE reaches the maximum value (CFFE=10.6200%) in blanket cooled with Li2BeF4 coolant, followed by gas coolant with 9.0319% and natural lithium coolant with 7.9863% without reaching the melting point (Tmax=Tm>2830°C) of the fuel materials. At this point, the maximum temperature in centerline of the fuel rod (Tm) reach to 2727.57°C in blanket cooled with Li2BeF4 coolant. However, in the blanket fueled with pure UO2 fuel and cooled with Flibe, CFFE and Centerline Temperature of the fuel rods (Tm) are reached to 9.7277% and 2811.13°C respectively at the end of 39 months. In the blanket fueled with pure UO2 and cooled with gas, CFFE and Centerline Temperature of the fuel rods (Tm) are reached to 7.8115% and 2814.57°C at the end of 38 months and 7.2777% and 2724.34°C at the end of the 43 months in the blanket cooled with natural Li. In the blanket fueled with pure ThO2, CF

it may be particularly risky, if it have been real. If capability went out, (the two the community capability grid and the main considerable generator on the capability plant) and the back-up emergency diesel turbines (2 self sufficient turbines) and the transportable generator maximum flora have. The spent gas pool could desire to be manually cooled by way of the addition of water from the provider water, city water, fireplace extinguisher water or pumper automobiles from the community fireplace branch. If all of that have been unavailable, we might basically have some weeks before we might could desire to stumble on a thank you to relax the water or the gas assemblies could soften.

It has been reported that the fuel rods in Japan will melt down at 4600°C.

Here is a good article explaining the situation: http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-si...