The No. 4 reactor of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant contains large quantities of radioactive material that presents a hazard due to the threat of aftershocks like the one (6.7 magnitude) recorded Thursday morning off the Tohoku-Pacific coast.
It is impossible to erect a conventional containment dome over a spent-fuel storage reactor due to the highly radioactive exposure risk to the workforce.
I have designed a special type of dome and would like to help to contribute to the cost of its construction. The containment dome is a Geodesic Coanda lift body made from light interlocking heat-shield ceramic sections.
The dome is shaped like an airfoil that produces vertical lift when air is forced to flow over its surface. A Vortex Cup attaches to helicopter skids. Air is blown from a compressed air tank through the side of the cup. The tetrahedral sectioned dome would be suspended beneath the cup.
When the compressed air swirls down and around the cup, the containment dome would begin to generate its own lift.
We could fly this light ceramic heat-shield containment dome over the hazardous reactor. The geodesic dome would have twin ducts: one to blow cold air over the fission reaction, and the other to filter the exhaust. The lift body dome and overhead vortex cup would evenly distribute the heavy load. And inertial stability would be added by inducing a slight spin.
Worst case assessments forecast a massive evacuation if a strong aftershock causes more damage.
We must act now to prevent further contamination from harming people.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
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