http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/11/column-x-day-when-fukushima-plant-discharges-millions-of-tones-of-the-contaminated-water-to-pacific-ocean/
[Column] X-day – when Fukushima plant discharges millions of tones of the contaminated water to Pacific ocean
Posted by Mochizuki on November 27th, 2012 · No Comments
The biggest threat of Fukushima plant is believed to be the SFP of reactor4.
They say, the pool is set in the really unstable situation, it might not be able to stand another aftershock.
They say, the pool is set in the really unstable situation, it might not be able to stand another aftershock.
However, some of the problems are already promised to happen almost. One is the lack of nuclear workers, and another one is the deterioration of the equipment and storage of contaminated water.
All the coolant system were built provisionally. Actual Fukushima worker Happy11311 comments like this,
“many of these are improvised preparation made of roughly collected parts from all over Japan.
They didn’t even consider maintenance to build the equipment. Tepco was in a hurry, they only made it last for one year. The parts are not particularly for nuclear plants, they are for general usage. The parts will need to be replaced from now otherwise troubles will keep happening though I think Tepco won’t change it until it gets disordered.” [Link]
They didn’t even consider maintenance to build the equipment. Tepco was in a hurry, they only made it last for one year. The parts are not particularly for nuclear plants, they are for general usage. The parts will need to be replaced from now otherwise troubles will keep happening though I think Tepco won’t change it until it gets disordered.” [Link]
They are trying to renew the system, but due to the lack of resource, it’s not improving fast as it should be.
The parts of coolant system are dropping off one by one.
The parts of coolant system are dropping off one by one.
Since the beginning of September, coolant water injected to reactor1~3 has been decreasing and it’s not settled even by now. [Link]In the beginning, Tepco stated they fixed it by eliminating the suspended materials in the strainer but soon after that, water started decreasing again. [Link] The reason is not known and the problem is still on-going. Even on 11/24/2012, Tepco increased the water amount for reactor1, 2 and 3 to cover the decrease of injection water. Tepco has made no explanation about when to solve this problem. [Link]
On the other hand, the water level of RPV (Fuel area) in reactor1 has also been in the decreasing trend.
At 5:00 of 7/12/2012 5:00, it was -1.24m. On 8/12/2012, it was -1.30m, it decreased to be -1.44m on 9/12/2012 and it dropped to be -1.60m on 10/12/2012. It’s -1.74m on 11/12/2012 and it marked the lowest level on 11/25/2012, which was -1.86m. There are some ups and downs, but it’s in the decreasing trend for sure. This fact has never been reported by Tepco or any official “news” site. The reason is not clear, but probably the crippled pressure vessel is leaking the water. [Link]
At 5:00 of 7/12/2012 5:00, it was -1.24m. On 8/12/2012, it was -1.30m, it decreased to be -1.44m on 9/12/2012 and it dropped to be -1.60m on 10/12/2012. It’s -1.74m on 11/12/2012 and it marked the lowest level on 11/25/2012, which was -1.86m. There are some ups and downs, but it’s in the decreasing trend for sure. This fact has never been reported by Tepco or any official “news” site. The reason is not clear, but probably the crippled pressure vessel is leaking the water. [Link]
Where does the leaked water go ?
Fukushima Diary has been reporting the increasing radioactive density in seawater around Fukushima plant since mid November.
On 11/16/2012, radiation level of the seawater at reactor2 reached the highest level since August 2012. [Link] On 11/26/2012, Fukushima Diary reported radiation level at water intake of reactor1~4 is slowly increasing as well. [Link] and Today, we found out radioactivity density of the seawater is increased at 57% of tested locations offshore Fukushima. [Link]
About this problem, Tepco has made no statement.
Fukushima Diary has been reporting the increasing radioactive density in seawater around Fukushima plant since mid November.
On 11/16/2012, radiation level of the seawater at reactor2 reached the highest level since August 2012. [Link] On 11/26/2012, Fukushima Diary reported radiation level at water intake of reactor1~4 is slowly increasing as well. [Link] and Today, we found out radioactivity density of the seawater is increased at 57% of tested locations offshore Fukushima. [Link]
About this problem, Tepco has made no statement.
Officially, most of the leaked water is supposed to be stocked in storage tank, but it’s becoming harder and harder to find a place to put tanks. In addition to the leaked water, about 400 tones of underground water flows to the plant every single day.
From the research of Fukushima Diary, 89.2% of contaminated water tank is already full. Newly extended tank will be full by 2016 too. [Link] Decommissioning Fukushima plant is told to take up to 40 years. However, contaminated water storage tank will be full in the first 5 years.
For the rest of 35 years, they must find new places for water storage but because land is limited, ground is weak, it’s becoming harder and harder to find a space. Also, the further they put the tanks, the more likely the pipe gets damaged because it runs long.Some people question the seismic stability of the tanks as well.[Link] All We could do it just to hope the spilt water from the fallen tanks extinguish the fire of reactor4 like Pythagora Switch in case of aftershock.
From the research of Fukushima Diary, 89.2% of contaminated water tank is already full. Newly extended tank will be full by 2016 too. [Link] Decommissioning Fukushima plant is told to take up to 40 years. However, contaminated water storage tank will be full in the first 5 years.
For the rest of 35 years, they must find new places for water storage but because land is limited, ground is weak, it’s becoming harder and harder to find a space. Also, the further they put the tanks, the more likely the pipe gets damaged because it runs long.Some people question the seismic stability of the tanks as well.[Link] All We could do it just to hope the spilt water from the fallen tanks extinguish the fire of reactor4 like Pythagora Switch in case of aftershock.
Even massmedia is not in the mood of joking unusually. On 11/26/2012, Nikkei newspaper reported the serious situation of contaminated water storage situation.
They reported,
They reported,
“At this moment, the tank for 240,000 tones of contaminated water is already full. Tepco is going to add the storage facility of 700,000 tones of water in three years. It’s already more than a half of Tokyo dome. Tepco started the construction to bypass underground water to avoid flowing into the reactors but the bypassed water has to be stocked as well.
The pipe to circulate contaminated water runs for 10km. Scattered debris, trucks and heavy machinery damaged the vinyl chloride pipe to cause contaminated water leakage.
They were relieved to fix them by last Autumn in 2011, but water started leaking again in late January. It leaked at 10 locations in the same day at the most due to the frozen water in the pipe.
Tepco is supposed to have changed most of the pipe to polyethylene one and attached heat insulating material before the second winter.
They could shorten the pipe by making it circulate at each reactor, but they are postponing the construction due to the shortage of resource. Managing contaminated water is an endless process.” [Link]
Nobody has estimated how much contaminated water will be produced by the time of decommissioning.
The pipe to circulate contaminated water runs for 10km. Scattered debris, trucks and heavy machinery damaged the vinyl chloride pipe to cause contaminated water leakage.
They were relieved to fix them by last Autumn in 2011, but water started leaking again in late January. It leaked at 10 locations in the same day at the most due to the frozen water in the pipe.
Tepco is supposed to have changed most of the pipe to polyethylene one and attached heat insulating material before the second winter.
They could shorten the pipe by making it circulate at each reactor, but they are postponing the construction due to the shortage of resource. Managing contaminated water is an endless process.” [Link]
Nobody has estimated how much contaminated water will be produced by the time of decommissioning.
and......
http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/11/contaminated-water-storage-240000-tones-of-tank-is-full-pipe-runs-for-10km-finding-storage-place-getting-harder-and-harder/
[Contaminated water storage] 240,000 tones of tank is full, pipe runs for 10km, finding storage place getting harder
Posted by Mochizuki on November 26th, 2012 · 4 Comments
Nikkei reported the shortage of contaminated water storage in Fukushima plant, which is going worse.
10月中旬、報道陣への公開で原発の敷地内に事故後、初めて入った。バスで回ると、木が切り倒され青や白のタンクが並ぶ異様な光景が飛び込んできた。汚染水をためるタンクだ。
１～３号機から出る放射性物質の量は事故直後に比べ、約8000万分の１に減った。しかしメルトダウン（炉心溶融）で溶け落ちた、汚染源の燃料は手つかずのまま。再び炉が暴走しないよう毎時約17トンの水を炉内に流して冷やしている。
水は循環させて使っているが、炉が損傷しており漏れ出る。１日400トンもの地下水も原子炉周辺に流れ込む。増え続ける汚染水から、放射性物質をある程度除去してタンクにためている。
「来月はどこに水を入れるか。そんなことばかり考えている」。水処理対策を練る東電の福島第１対策プロジェクトチーム課長、新井知行（44）は頭を悩ませる。
既に約24万トン分のタンクがほぼ満杯で、東電は３年内に約70万トン分を追加する。東京ドームの半分を超える。地下水の流れを原子炉から遠ざける工事も始めたが、迂回させた水も当面はためておく。
循環水を流す配管は総延長10キロメートル近い。事故後しばらくは散乱するがれきやトラック、重機によって塩化ビニール管が傷つき水漏れが多発、対応に追われた。
昨秋までに一通り補修を終え安堵したのもつかの間、今年１月下旬には再び漏水が続出。多い日には10カ所以上で見つかった。原因は凍結だ。同じ過ちは繰り返せない。配管の大部分を耐久性が強いポリエチレン管に換え、２度目の冬を前に保温材も取り付けた。冷却水を原子炉ごとに循環・浄化して配管を短くすれば不安は減るが、工事の余力もなく実施は遅れている。水との闘いは終わりが見えない。
１～３号機から出る放射性物質の量は事故直後に比べ、約8000万分の１に減った。しかしメルトダウン（炉心溶融）で溶け落ちた、汚染源の燃料は手つかずのまま。再び炉が暴走しないよう毎時約17トンの水を炉内に流して冷やしている。
水は循環させて使っているが、炉が損傷しており漏れ出る。１日400トンもの地下水も原子炉周辺に流れ込む。増え続ける汚染水から、放射性物質をある程度除去してタンクにためている。
「来月はどこに水を入れるか。そんなことばかり考えている」。水処理対策を練る東電の福島第１対策プロジェクトチーム課長、新井知行（44）は頭を悩ませる。
既に約24万トン分のタンクがほぼ満杯で、東電は３年内に約70万トン分を追加する。東京ドームの半分を超える。地下水の流れを原子炉から遠ざける工事も始めたが、迂回させた水も当面はためておく。
循環水を流す配管は総延長10キロメートル近い。事故後しばらくは散乱するがれきやトラック、重機によって塩化ビニール管が傷つき水漏れが多発、対応に追われた。
昨秋までに一通り補修を終え安堵したのもつかの間、今年１月下旬には再び漏水が続出。多い日には10カ所以上で見つかった。原因は凍結だ。同じ過ちは繰り返せない。配管の大部分を耐久性が強いポリエチレン管に換え、２度目の冬を前に保温材も取り付けた。冷却水を原子炉ごとに循環・浄化して配管を短くすれば不安は減るが、工事の余力もなく実施は遅れている。水との闘いは終わりが見えない。
<Translate>
In mid-October of 2011, NIkkei entered Fukushima plant for the first time, when Tepco opened it for press. As the bus took us around, we saw the bizarre scenery of blue and white tanks. They are the contaminated water storage tanks.
The radiation level leaking from reactor1 ~ 3 reduced to be 1 in 80 million, but melted fuel remains there. Tepco keeps giving 17 tones of water every single hour so the cripple reactors don’t go out of control again.
They circulate the coolant water, but because the reactors are crippled, it keeps leaking. Even 400 tones of underground water flows to around the reactors. The contaminated water keeps increasing. They filter it out to an extent, and keep it in the tanks.
“Where to stock the water next month. It always gives me a headache.” Mr. Arai, the project team manager of water processing talks.
At this moment, the tank for 240,000 tones of contaminated water is already full. Tepco is going to add the storage facility of 700,000 tones of water in three years. It’s already more than a half of Tokyo dome. Tepco started the construction to bypass underground water to avoid flowing into the reactors but the bypassed water has to be stocked as well.
The pipe to circulate contaminated water runs for 10km. Scattered debris, trucks and heavy machinery damaged the vinyl chloride pipe to cause contaminated water leakage.
They were relieved to fix them by last Autumn in 2011, but water started leaking again in late January. It leaked at 10 locations in the same day at the most due to the frozen water in the pipe.
Tepco is supposed to have changed most of the pipe to polyethylene one and attached heat insulating material before the second winter.
They could shorten the pipe by making it circulate at each reactor, but they are postponing the construction due to the shortage of resource. Managing contaminated water is an endless process.
In mid-October of 2011, NIkkei entered Fukushima plant for the first time, when Tepco opened it for press. As the bus took us around, we saw the bizarre scenery of blue and white tanks. They are the contaminated water storage tanks.
The radiation level leaking from reactor1 ~ 3 reduced to be 1 in 80 million, but melted fuel remains there. Tepco keeps giving 17 tones of water every single hour so the cripple reactors don’t go out of control again.
They circulate the coolant water, but because the reactors are crippled, it keeps leaking. Even 400 tones of underground water flows to around the reactors. The contaminated water keeps increasing. They filter it out to an extent, and keep it in the tanks.
“Where to stock the water next month. It always gives me a headache.” Mr. Arai, the project team manager of water processing talks.
At this moment, the tank for 240,000 tones of contaminated water is already full. Tepco is going to add the storage facility of 700,000 tones of water in three years. It’s already more than a half of Tokyo dome. Tepco started the construction to bypass underground water to avoid flowing into the reactors but the bypassed water has to be stocked as well.
The pipe to circulate contaminated water runs for 10km. Scattered debris, trucks and heavy machinery damaged the vinyl chloride pipe to cause contaminated water leakage.
They were relieved to fix them by last Autumn in 2011, but water started leaking again in late January. It leaked at 10 locations in the same day at the most due to the frozen water in the pipe.
Tepco is supposed to have changed most of the pipe to polyethylene one and attached heat insulating material before the second winter.
They could shorten the pipe by making it circulate at each reactor, but they are postponing the construction due to the shortage of resource. Managing contaminated water is an endless process.
and......
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