According to Jiao's measurements, the rods can produce a healthy
flow of
hydrogen ions
and oxygen for many hours
and potentially much longer, for weeks or even months.
Two other students
and O'Keefe settled at a vent, measuring the temperature at the opening
and the velocity of the gases (including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,
hydrogen sulfide, methane,
and oxygen) that were
flowing out.
In fact, certain of TEPCO's actions in the aftermath of the explosions have been confused
and, some might opine, lacking discipline of purpose to the extent that expedient decisions have been made without proper forethought
and judiciousness to avoid knock - on consequences: for example, the injection of seawater may have resulted in salt deposits sufficient to foul cooling
flows in the lower regions of the RPV [reactor pressure vessel]; the liberation of
hydrogen from seawater is more rampant than from freshwater
and radiolysis of
oxygen from the cooling water could provide stoichiometric conditions
and ignition with
hydrogen in the absence of air in the containments;
and the latest
and most recent announcement to deploy a nitrogen purge to the Unit 1 reactor seems yet another ill - explained
and unjustified desperate measure».