The day after the storm....
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Fukushima Diaries.....
JP Gov to consider filing a suit in WTO against S. Korea for banning all fishery products from 8 prefectures
Posted by Mochizuki on September 17th, 2013 · 1 Comment
Japanese having contaminated water leaking to the Pacific cluelessly, South Korean government decided to ban all the fishery products from 8 prefectures in Japan on 9/6/2013.
On 9/17/2013, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Hayashi stated in the press conference that Japanese government hasn’t decided to file a suit in WTO against S. Korea yet, but it doesn’t mean Japanese government will not file a suit against S. Korea.
Japanese government is afraid that S. Korean policy may cause the harmful rumor for Japanese fishery products. They claim S. Korea should take the immovable measures with “scientific basis”.
[Photo] Collapsed sandbag dam of 300m3 leakage area due to the Typhoon
Posted by Mochizuki on September 17th, 2013 · No Comments
Following up this article..Sandbag to stop leaking contaminated water outflowed due to typhoon rain [URL]
On 9/17/2013, Tepco released the photo of the outflowed sandbags on 9/15/2013. From the picture, it looks more like the temporary dam of the sandbags was collapsed due to the volume of water.
By the collapse of dam, the retained water was released to the Pacific through the drain.
↓ Before collapse
![[Photo] Collapsed sandbag dam of 300m3 leakage area due to the Typhoon](http://fukushima-diary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/130917_02-450x291.jpg "[Photo] Collapsed sandbag dam of 300m3 leakage area due to the Typhoon")
↓ After collapse
![2 [Photo] Collapsed sandbag dam of 300m3 leakage area due to the Typhoon](http://fukushima-diary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/130917_03-1-450x293.jpg "2 [Photo] Collapsed sandbag dam of 300m3 leakage area due to the Typhoon")
[Photo] Overflowed tank area / Worker in the protective clothing under the typhoon
Posted by Mochizuki on September 17th, 2013 · 1 Comment
Following up this article..A tank area dam overflowed due to the Typhoon rain [URL]
On 9/17/2013, Tepco released the photo of the overflowed tank area dam. According to Tepco, they measured 37,000 Bq/m3 of all β nuclides (including Strontium-90 ) in the overflowed water.
The photo captured a worker with the protective clothing in the Typhoon, which looks unrealistically helpless.
![[Photo] Overflowed tank area / Worker in the protective clothing under the typhoon](http://fukushima-diary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/130917_01-1-450x337.jpg "[Photo] Overflowed tank area / Worker in the protective clothing under the typhoon")
Tepco discharged 1,130 tones of “rainwater” from 7 tank areas
Posted by Mochizuki on September 17th, 2013 · No Comments
Following up this article..Tepco discharged “rainwater” retained in 7 tank areas due to the Typhoon [URL]
According to Tepco, they discharged 1,130 tones of “rainwater” retained in 7 tank areas due to the Typhoon on 9/16/2013.
The discharged water is assumed to have flowed to the Pacific through drains.
About the discharged water, Tepco didn’t check Cesium-134/137 levels. (cf, Tepco skipped analyzing Cs-134/137 to discharge retained “rainwater” of 7 tank areas [URL 2])
Their discharge due to the Typhoon proved Tepco installed no drainage facility in the tank areas.
[Steam after typhoon] “Steam” observed from the top of reactor3 again / humidity was only 53%
Posted by Mochizuki on September 17th, 2013 · No Comments
Following up this article..Steam observed coming up on the top of reactor3 again[URL]
According to Tepco, from about 8:00AM to 9:40AM of 9/17/2013, they observed the “steam” coming up from the top of reactor3 building.
It was the same location as last time.
Tepco has been commenting it was the “steam” observed in the highly humid circumstance.
However, the humidity was only 53 ~ 63.3 % while the “steam” was found, which was relatively low.
Pure water underground tank overflowed to drains / Tepco “Cs-134/137 levels were low”
Posted by Mochizuki on September 17th, 2013 · No Comments
Related to this article..A tank area dam overflowed due to the Typhoon rain [URL]
According to Tepco, their employee found the pure water underground tank overflowing around 13:00 of 9/17/2013. This dam is to accept the fresh water from the near dam called “Sakashita dam”.
Overflowed water flowed to the near drain but Tepco states the Cesium-134/137 density was lower than the detectable level (Cs-134 : <650 Bq/m3, Cs-137 : < 750 Bq/m3).
Typhoon Man - Yi items.....
Tepco discharged “rainwater” retained in 7 tank areas due to the Typhoon
Posted by Mochizuki on September 16th, 2013 · 1 Comment
Related to this article..A tank area dam overflowed due to the Typhoon rain [URL]
According to Tepco, they discharged the retained water in the local dams of 7 tank areas at 14:30 of 9/16/2013. (JST)
The water is going out of the local dams of each tank area, which was installed to stop leaked water spreading.
Tepco states the retained water possible could have overflowed the local dams due to the Typhoon, but they didn’t address the difference of discharging and overflowing.
Tepco didn’t announce the Cesium-134/137 density of the retained “rainwater”, but because the announced Strontium-90 density is lower than the safety limit (30,ooo Bq/m3) limit, they discharged it as the emergency measures.
The highest all β nuclides (including Strontium-90) was 9,000 Bq/m3 according to Tepco.
Tepco skipped analyzing Cs-134/137 to discharge retained “rainwater” of 7 tank areas
Posted by Mochizuki on September 16th, 2013 · No Comments
Following up this article..Tepco discharged “rainwater” retained in 7 tank areas due to the Typhoon [URL]
Tepco stated they did not analyze Cesium-134/137 of the discharged water in 7 tank areas.
According to Tepco, the contaminated water stocked in the tanks are treated by Cesium removal facilities, so the Cesium level is about 1/10,000 of all β nuclides density.
Additionally, even if they analyze the low level of Cesium-134/137, they can’t distinguish it from the fallout of the accident.
Tepco states this is why it was rational not to analyze the “rainwater” for Cs-134/137.
Tepco re-announced to raise contamination levels of “rainwater” after the discharge
Posted by Mochizuki on September 16th, 2013 · No Comments
Related to this article..Tepco reannounced to raise all β density data by 12 times after discharge [URL]
It seems like Tepco confusingly announced the contamination levels of “rainwater” to be lower than actual before discharge.
Due to the Typhoon, Tepco discharged the “rainwater” retained in 7 tank areas. However, all β nuclide readings were announced to be higher than before discharge in 4 of 7 tank areas according to their announcement after the discharge. Both of the readings were based on the samples taken before the discharge, so logically they should be the same level.
The largest increase was from 2,000 Bq/m3 (announced before discharge) to 20,000 Bq/m3 (announced after discharge). The second largest increase was from 3,000 Bq/m3 (announced before discharge) to 6,000 Bq/m3 (announced before discharge).
(announced before discharge) → (announced after discharge)
2,000→20,000 Bq/m3
6,000→10,000 Bq/m3
3,000→6,000 Bq/m3
8,000→15,000 Bq/m3
6,000→10,000 Bq/m3
3,000→6,000 Bq/m3
8,000→15,000 Bq/m3
Among the rest of 3 tank areas, the readings of 2 tank areas were not changed.
As to this increase, Tepco has made no announcement.
JP Gov “There is no technology to remove Tritium from contaminated water”/Appeal international world for technology
Posted by Mochizuki on September 16th, 2013 · No Comments
On 9/12/2013, NRA (Nuclear Regulation Authority) reported there is no technology to remove Tritium from the significant volume of the contaminated water.
They held the working group meeting for the contaminated water in Fukushima nuclear plant on 9/12/2013. In this meeting, they stated Tepco is expecting the multiple nuclides removing system (ALPS) to purify the contaminated water clean enough to discharge.
However, even after the treatment by ALPS, radioactive water Tritium remains in the water. The density is approx. 100,000,000,000 Bq/m3.
The working group concluded it is impossible to remove Tritium with the existing technology, they decided to appeal the world for the new technology.
Typhoon Causes Tank Barriers To Overflow At Fukushima Daiichi
Concrete barriers intended to hold back tank leaks in the radioactive water storage have filled with rainwater and began to overflow today. Jiji via Ex-SKF reports that TEPCO is checking to see if the overflowing water contains contamination from the tanks. Any water leaving the barriers would have an open path to the sea via the drainage canal nearby that TEPCO has refused to deal with. … Read entire article »
“Dump It In The Sea” Says TEPCO’s New US Consultant
TEPCO’s new US based consultant, Lake Barrett declared Friday that the solution to the massive contaminated water problem at Fukushima Daiichi is to dump it all in the Pacific Ocean. Barrett who worked for the US Department of Energy but now operates his own private consulting business is not an official representative of the US. He declared that “public understanding” … Read entire article »
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Energy news .......
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Typhoon Man-yi hits Japan raising fears about Fukushima nuclear plant
Typhoon Man-yi has hit central Japan as officials issued a “special warning” of heavy rain, amid fears the storm could go on to hit the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
The typhoon is generating heavy rain and wind gusts of more than 140 kilometres per hour.
It is tracking north-east along the main Japanese island of Honshu at a speed of 45 kilometres per hour and was expected to pass over Fukushima this afternoon.
TEPCO workers at the plant are battening down the site as the typhoon approaches.
NHK: Trouble from heavy rain already at Fukushima — Fence over-topped at plant — Workers trying to keep highly contaminated water in reactor basements and tunnels from overflowing
http://rt.com/news/japan-typhoon-fukushima-plant-914/
Workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant have braced for a powerful incoming typhoon. Japan is struggling and failing to keep radiation leaks from the facility, crippled by the 2011 quake and tsunami, under control.
Typhoon Man-Yi hit southern Japan on Monday morning, bringing heavy rains and strong winds and sparking fears that it might further deteriorate the situation at Fukushima.
Workers at the site are using large weights to try and prevent cranes used to move debris from toppling over from the wind, reports Japanese broadcaster NHK. They also attached ropes to external piping and pumps, which are used to pump cooling water to and from the reactors.
Staff members have increased patrols ahead of the storm to make sure that radiation-contaminated water doesn’t overflow from storage tanks. At least one overflow has already been discovered.
The typhoon has been increasing in size and strength as it traveled over the Pacific, with wind speeds rising to as much as 162kph.
Man-Yi is the 18th typhoon to hit Japan this season and is one of the strongest so far, leading officials to issue warnings of possible floods and landslides to citizens in different parts of the country. In three prefectures - Kyoto, Fukui and Shiga - the national Meteorological Agency forecaster issued highest level emergency alert.
Railways in central Japan have suspended services in response to the typhoon’s arrival. About 800,000 residential buildings were without electricity in western and central Japan.
The Fukushima plant remains a source of much concern, as Japanese authorities and operator TEPCO have so far failed to prevent leakage of radioactive water used to keep reactors under control into the environment.
The disaster triggered a wave of rejection of nuclear power both in Japan and in some other countries. Japan is soon to become a nuclear-free nation after shutting down its only operational reactor on September 15. This however is expected to be temporary situation, with facilities going back online after passing safety checks and winning approval from municipal authorities.
http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2013/09/monju-fast-breeder-reactors-emergency.html
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
Monju Fast Breeder Reactor's Emergency Response Support System Was Down for One Hour, Cause Unknown, Plant Site Not Accessible Due to Landslides
According to an emergency email from Nuclear Regulatory Authority that independent journalist Ryuichi Kino shares, the cause of the system stoppage is not likely to be known anytime soon as the maintenance staff cannot reach Monju because of landslides caused by Typhoon 18's heavy rain.
From Kino's tweets:
本日（16日）、原子力規制庁は、独立行政法人原子力安全基盤機構（JNES）より、日本原子力研究開発機構もんじゅの緊急時対策支援システム(ERSS)のプラント情報表示システムからのデータ伝送が停止している旨の連絡を受けました。
Today (September 16), we at Nuclear Regulatory Authority received correspondence from Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES) that data transfer from the plant parameter display system of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) for Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)'s Monju Fast-Breeder stopped.
（16日2時56分から伝送停止。同日3時46分から順次受信）。JNES及び日本原子力研究開発機構においてデータ伝送停止の原因を調査中ですが、台風18号の大雨による土砂崩れのため、保修担当者がもんじゅ構内に通行不能であり、伝送停止の原因判明には時間を要する模様です。
(The data transfer stopped at 2:56AM on September 16, and partially resumed after 3:46AM.) JNES and JAEA are currently investigating the cause of the data transfer stoppage. However, because of landslides from heavy rain from Typhoon No.18, maintenance and repair staff cannot get to the Monju Plant compound. Therefore, it may take a while to determine the cause of the stoppage.
なお、ERSS伝送装置復旧までの間に原子力施設でトラブルが発生した場合には、電話、FAX、電子メール等の代替手段によりデータを入手でき、データ提供を確実なものとするよう、日本原子力研究開発機構に指示済みです。
We have already instructed JAEA to secure the collection and transfer of data via alternative means such as telephone, FAX, email if a problem arises at the nuclear facility before the ERSS data transfer system is fully restored.
According to Asahi Shinbun (9/16/2013), there were two landslides near Monju, with one of them at the entrance of a tunnel 1 kilometer from the plant.
There are several nuclear power plants in Japan which are only accessible by one road and/or a tunnel - Monju, Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant, and Ooi Nuclear Power Plant.
Here's how Monju is situated: accessible via a tunnel, or a narrow road hugging the coastline:
There are several nuclear power plants in Japan which are only accessible by one road and/or a tunnel - Monju, Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant, and Ooi Nuclear Power Plant.
Here's how Monju is situated: accessible via a tunnel, or a narrow road hugging the coastline:
Accessibility to the site in case of a problem is not included in the conditions for restarting the nuclear power plants in Japan.By the way, in terms of accessibility, TEPCO's nuclear plants including Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plants are one of the best nuclear plants in Japan, and still the earthquake and tsunami led to the disaster we continue to face at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.
http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2013/09/ot-typhoon-no18-with-strong-wind-and.html
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013
(OT, UPDATED) Typhoon No.18 with Strong Wind and Rain Wrecking Havoc in Japan, Set for Direct Hit on Kanto Region
(UPDATE-3) It looks like Typhoon No.18 will miss Fukushima I Nuke Plant. It is expected to pass south of Koriyama City and continue its north-eastern path.
(UPDATE-2) 100 millimeters/hour rain in Shizuoka and Aichi Prefectures. Tornado warning in Kanagawa Prefecture. Heavy rain and wind to intensify in Kanto and Tohoku in the afternoon of 9/16/2013.
(UPDATE) According to NHK, Kyoto City issued an order to evacuate to 146,000 residents in the four Special Wards (Minami, Ukyo, Nishikyo, Fushimi) at 8AM, September 16, 2013.
==========================
Fukushima on course afterwards, it looks.
From Japan Meteorological Agency, as of 6AM, September 16, 2013:
(Click to enlarge)
NHK reports that Kyoto City government has issued "recommendation to evacuate" to more than 40,000 people in one Ward alone (Fushimi Ward) in Kyoto City.
This is Uji River in Kyoto, from a tweet about 45 minutes ago:
This is Uji River in Kyoto, from a tweet about 45 minutes ago:
Even before the typhoon lands, Kanto Region and southern Tohoku have been experiencing heavy wind and rain since September 15.
At Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, the rainwater that had rapidly accumulated inside the 30-centimeter-high barrier around the RO waste water tanks went over the barrier in the afternoon of September 15. TEPCO is examining the water to see if it contains radioactive materials, according to Jiji Tsushin (9/15/2013).
At Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, the rainwater that had rapidly accumulated inside the 30-centimeter-high barrier around the RO waste water tanks went over the barrier in the afternoon of September 15. TEPCO is examining the water to see if it contains radioactive materials, according to Jiji Tsushin (9/15/2013).
Hi Fred, I got a laugh from your comment about Tepco's ineptness though I know it's not funny. With this typhoon it's looking like my doom meter has been kicked up a notch.
ReplyDeleteI hope Merkel's party is in trouble, that would be awesome. A lot going on these past few days, kinda surprised that the PM's are dropping on the Summers news but hey, they seem to go down on both bad and good news.