By Quetzalcoatl.Kanjirou 2011-03-11 22:29:53
I'm really spending the time going through the details (<3 google) and trying to understand the processes involved, but my physics has gotten rusty.
If I'm understanding what I'm reading, though, it sounds like -- assuming the housing hasn't been damaged or something -- they just have to get the coolant pumps back up and running and keep the cores covered for a long enough period of time for everything to cool back down, and, voila, crisis averted.
I'm guessing the relief systems you're describing are time-saving measures to keep the coolant levels high and keep the cores covered while they install those emergency batteries and get the pumps running again.
Does this sound about right? (If so, I'd like to understand how releasing the steam helps this. I'm reading the link you gave about DNB and I'm not sure I understand why lowering the pressure in the boiler helps that.)
I have a feeling I'm still confused.
Edit: Actually, it sounds like even the batteries are a time-saving measure, since they don't run the pumps, they just run the RCIC, which just keeps the water levels high?