Wordsmithing is of the utmost importance around the nuclear industry. I am floored by nice words that have been used to describe degrading the environment like: "Clean Skies Initiative." I found this phrase, following, particularly well crafted:
"Prompt Critical Rapid Disassembly"
what exactly does that mean? According to writer and MIT Engineering Grad Michael DiMercurio (also with training in the Navy's nuclear power program) it is:
"The disappointing condition in which a nuclear reactor has so much reactivity in it that its chain reaction can be sustained on prompt neutrons alone, which means that it is highly supercritical and its power level will escalate severely to the point that the coolant will be unable to accept the high levels of thermal energy transfer from the core, and the result is the coolant “flashing” from liquid to vapor with consequent rapid pressure rise, and the pressure rises much higher than the mechanical strength of the core and piping systems, and the system rapidly comes apart (disassembles)."
"The above description is by definition an “explosion,” but nuclear engineers hate that word because the media keeps trying to say that nuclear reactors can explode like nuclear weapons, so the disassembly term is used."
DiMercurio Glossary
2 comments:
It is so sad that the general population is too busy making their schedules work for them to stop and really absorb what happens in the world of double speak.
It is all about 'spin'. These days 'spin' is the rule rather than the exception.
Government officials 'spin' from the grass roots level all the way to the White House. Your business people 'spin' in your estimates and in their advertising. Your children 'spin', your spouse 'spins' and if the dog could talk, he would be 'spinning' a tale about the puddle on the living room floor.
No one feels guilty. They are simply 'spinning' a fact. Just dressing the facts up. Softening the edges a bit to lessen impact of your reaction to the hard facts. Truth wrapped in the sin of omission.
Back when I was a kid, that was deemed lying. It was worthy of time in the penalty box.
Have the rules changed or what?
Naw, the rules are the same. The fact is, some days you have to simply make roses out of shit. Too bad we buy them.
Post a Comment