Earthquake

I found out the other day that part of the reason why Japan suffers blackouts during these times is because you have two separate energy grids. One in the west running at US 60Hz and one in the east running at European 50Hz. So when you have to S.C.R.A.M. power plants, the load cannot be taken over from the other side of the country because the grids are incompatible.

That must be super annoying even when lives aren't at risk (electronics blowing up, flicker on camera recordings, coil whine).

Yes, that seems to be the case.

History says that German generators and American generators that were imported long time ago set the differences in the East and the West. There were talks to unify the frequency, but it never happened.

Sounds like something that needs addressing, it seems crazy! Has there at least been legislation in place to ensure that all equipment renewals are dual-phase, so after a period of attrition the changing of the phase will be easier?


Sorry that we couldn't get the robotic arm out to you in time - http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14059716

Check it OUT!

About the robotic arm: Ah... Oh well... Let's blame it on the pandemic.

I don't know if there is a legislation, but many years back, some electronics were not dual-AC-frequency (50/60Hz) in Japan. I think those were electronics with fans / motors etc.





Edited by stingraze 2021-02-15 4:09 AM

You don't sound convinced? lol

No, it's just that I don't really have the position to comment on the subject.

Edited by stingraze 2021-02-16 4:04 AM

From that link: "Japan approached Britain to develop a special robotic arm because it has more experience in this field." Must admit I found that a surprising statement. In the field of robotics I didn't think anyone had more expertise than the Japanese with the possible exception of the awesome and borderline fearsome agility of some of the Boston Dynamics creations. Not meant as a slight to British technology.
Are some of the British companies more specialized in radiation shielding?

We've been busily performing nuclear decommissioning of our 1940's and 1950's experimentation sites for the last 10-20 years. This includes all of the dumping pools in Cumbria at Sellafield ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46301596 ) and of course Windscale ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windscale_fire ). With that experience, we have been helping the Japanese to clean up Fukushima pretty much since the day it happened ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-cumbria-28272680 & https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-33847598 )

Good deal, the U.S. has many 'ticking time bombs' that need to be cleaned up but it's probably not going to happen in my lifetime, at least not till something bad happens.

That was basically the thinking, given that most of the 1940's and 50's material that didn't go into our A-bomb and H-bomb programmes was sitting in open air ponds on the coast of Cumbria. Despite that, as it is such a painfully slow process, it'll still take the entire lifetime of someone born today to see if finished, but at least we've started and are dealing with the most dangerous things now before someone tried to drop a 747 into it.

If you're old enough to be aware of the Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am flight 103:





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Spent fuel is so weird, on the one hand we pile it up and bury it, on the other, here's xkcd: https://what-if.xkcd.com/29/

hahaha, probably for the best TBH

Another big earthquake (M7.2) hit Tohoku area of Japan. I am okay and my area seems alright, but seems like tsunami is coming in Miyagi area. Please pray for Japan.

Edited by stingraze 2021-03-20 10:50 AM

Oh, stingraze, I'm so sorry to hear that this refuses to stop. I just read that the tsunami warning has been downgraded to "forecast" and I hope they're right, that the waves never build. Fingers crossed for good news.

Jake