Worker error may have led to meltdown

The just released story shows just how confusion over guideline procedures can cause disaster, especially when workers are in a hurry to do 'something' to correct a situation.

"The emergency cooling system for reactor No. 1 a the Fukishima No. 1 nuclear plant may have been shut down manually before the tsunami hit...according to Tepco spokesman and documents recently released by the utility."
These documents were in the building and were not available until now because of high radioactivity.
Part of the cooling system, the isolation condenser, was down for about 3 hours, which could have contributed to the reactor core's meltdown.
The finding upends the government's assumption that the condenser was functioning normally.
The chief cabinet secretary said he had just learned about it today.

The isolation condenser injects water into the reactor for at least 8 hours after the main coolant system loses power.
"It is possible that a worker may have manually closed the condenser valve to prevent a rapid decrease in temperature, as is stipulated by a reactor operating guideline....... "
The worker may have done it to prevent cold water from coming in contact with the hot steel of the reactor to prevent it becoming damaged. However, the reactor is designed to withstand the procedure in case of an emergency.

The above shows how an emergency can cause actions that are damaging when very complicated equipment is involved, and communications are cut preventing flow of advice and instructions.

"Mistakes," or misinterpretion of emergency procedures, or lack of guidelines for unforseen events, can happen anytime- these are problems that can happen anywhere- no nuclear reactor (or any complex system) are proof against them.

All of this lends support to Charley's thesis that nuclear power is dangerous and its use should be stopped and replaced by other means of generating energy.