Bob Blick wrote:
> I know the rods were very hot and needed to cool down from operational
> temperature, but that shouldn't take more than a few days. So it does
> seem that passive cooling will never be enough.

It's not about the existing heat in the rods, but the heat from secondary
radioactive decay.  Uranium fission causes radioactive byproducts that last
a few days.  These cause heat as they decay, which is what must be
dissipated to keep the rods below melting temperature.  At least that's wha=
t
the article said.  Makes sense though.


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