Fukushima Diary ...
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2014
#Fukushima I NPP Reactor 3 Water Leak from MSIV Room: It's Most Likely the Water from Inside the Pressure Vessel
This is today's update on the water leak from the MSIV (Main Steam Isolation Valve) Room of Reactor 3 at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. (Previous posts on the subject are here and here.)
TEPCO says they did the nuclide analysis of the water sample that the robot collected. The temperature and the levels of contamination indicate it is the water that comes out of the Pressure Vessel/Containment Vessel.
TEPCO's way of saying it is that "the water is not the one that goes into the reactor."
However, the levels of contamination of this water is one to two orders of magnitude smaller than the highly contaminated water in the reactor building basements, which seems to me to indicate that this leaking water is diverted out of the Pressure Vessel it comes in full contact with the corium (wherever it is - part at the bottom of the PV, part buried into the concrete floor of the Containment Vessel).
From TEPCO's alert for the press, 1/19/2014:
【漏えい水の放射能分析結果：採取日１月19日】
・セシウム134 ：7.0×10^2 Bq/cm3
・セシウム137 ：1.7×10^3 Bq/cm3
・コバルト60 ：2.5×10^1 Bq/cm3
・全ベータ ：2.4×10^4 Bq/cm3
Nuclide analysis of the leaked water: sample taken on 1/19/2014
Cesium-134: 7.0×10^2 Bq/cm3 (700 Bq/cm3)
Cesium-137: 1.7×10^3 Bq/cm3 (1,700 Bq/cm3)
Cobalt-60: 2.5×10^1 Bq/cm3 (25 Bq/cm3)
All-beta: 2.4×10^4 Bq/cm3 (24,000 Bq/cm3)
【漏えい水の温度測定結果：１月19日午後５時頃測定
約20℃
※漏えい確認箇所における雰囲気温度は約７℃（１月19日午前10時頃測定)
原子炉に注水している水の温度は約７℃（１月19日午後５時頃測定
Temperature of the leaked water: measured at 5PM on 1/19/2014
About 20 degrees Celsius
*Atmospheric temperature at the location of the leak: 7 degrees Celsius (measured at 10AM, 1/19/2014)
Temperature of the water being injected: 7 degrees Celsius (measured at 5PM, 1/19/2014)
【原子炉に注水している水の至近の放射能分析結果：採取日平成25年12月10日】
・セシウム134 ：検出限界値未満
・セシウム137 ：検出限界値未満
・コバルト60 ：検出限界値未満
・全ベータ ：2.8 Bq/cm3
Latest nuclide analysis of water being injected into reactors: sample taken on 12/10/2013
Cesium-134: below detection level
Cesium-137: below detection level
Cobalt-60: below detection level
All-beta: 2.8 Bq/cm3
当該漏えい水は、原子炉に注水している水に比べて放射能濃度が高く、水温も高いことから、原子炉に注水している水の直接漏えいによるものではないと考えています。引き続き、漏えい原因等について調査を実施してまいります。
The leaked water is higher in density of radioactive materials than the water being injected into the reactors. The temperature of the water is also higher. Therefore we believe this is not the leak of water that is being injected into the reactor. We will continue to investigate the cause of the leak.
TEPCO's alert has a link to the latest nuclide analysis of water samples taken at different stages of contaminated water treatment (published on 1/17/2014).
According to that analysis, the highly contaminated water that sits in the reactor building basement (supposedly after having come to full contact with the corium) has:
Cesium-134: 1.0×10^4 Bq/cm3 (10,000 Bq/cm3)
Cesium-137: 2.5×10^4 Bq/cm3 (25,000 Bq/cm3)
Cobalt-60: 1.4 Bq/cm3 (after treatment with SARRY)
All-beta: 2.3×10^4 Bq/cm3 (23,000 Bq/cm3, before RO treatment)
While the Japanese media continues to not see much significance of this leak, the workers who have been tweeting from Fukushima I NPP from the beginning of the accident seem to worry. The issue here is NOT whether this water is currently leaking into the surrounding environment. The issue is whether the MSIV and/or its ancillary systems failed in the March 2011 accident.
"Sunny" (from tweets here and here) fears the worst, that the MSIV itself is broken:
MSIV・主蒸気隔離弁 原子力発電所の原子炉建屋とタービン建屋を繋ぐ主蒸気配管にある非常に大きなバルブ。これが閉じると言う事は炉心でとんでもないことが起きていることである。逆に言えば、そんなときに閉じないと困る。それが、そこからも水が漏れている。つまり、閉じていないか壊れたか。
MSIV (Main Steam Isolation Valve) is a huge valve attached to the main steam pipe that connects the reactor building and the turbine building. When this valve closes, it means there is some extraordinary incident happening in the reactor core. Conversely, one might say that it would be a problem if this valve did not close in such an incident. Now, the water is leaking from there [from the MSIV]. In other words, the valve was not shut, or it broke.
炉心がスクラムするような状態でMSIVが閉まらないか壊れたか漏洩するか、これがどんなに恐ろしいこ事か。再稼働どころか、スリーマイルアイランド後のPWRのように対策の為世界中の炉心を止める必要性がある。いや、もっと恐ろしいのは事態の重大さをどれだけの人が受け止めているか。
The reactor core is scrummed, but the MSIV doesn't close or it breaks and [the coolant=water] leaks. Do you know how terrifying this is? Instead of talking about restarting [the nuclear power plants in Japan], we would need to stop all reactors in the world to deal with the problem, just like [when we stopped] PWRs after the Three Mile Island accident. Wait, what is more terrifying is, how many people are aware that this could be a serious problem?
Someone expressed his surprise to "Sunny" that TEPCO announced the incident at all, if this was such a serious incident. (People in Japan also love to say "TEPCO lies.") "Sunny"'s answer was:
この事象がそうなら世界中の全事業者とメーカーに情報共有するレベル
If this incident is what it is [the MSIV didn't close or broke in a severe emergency that necessitated the scrum], it should be shared with all nuclear plant operators and nuclear manufacturers in the entire world.
"Happy" hopes it is not the MSIV itself but ancillary pipe(s) that broke:
ＭＳＩＶ室は、主蒸気隔離弁だけじゃなく他系統や細い配管も沢山あって炉内に直結している配管も多いんだ。室内を詳しく調べ原因を掴まないとダメなんだけど、かなり困難な作業になると思う。線量が高くて人が作業するのも難しいし、室内は機器や配管が多く狭いし複雑で、ロボット作業も困難なんだ。
In the MSIV Room, other than the Main Steam Isolation Valve there are other systems and many small pipes, many of which connects directly to the reactor. We need to closely investigate inside the room to find out the cause [of the leak], but I'm afraid it will be a rather difficult task. The radiation level is high for workers to work inside, and it would be difficult for robots to navigate because of numerous pieces of equipment and pipes in a narrow space.
"Sunny" says he sure hopes it is a minor pipe that broke.
So was it a LOCA (Loss of Coolant Accident) because of either the failure of the MSIV or the ancillary system that is not supposed to fail, in addition to the water boiling off by the decay heat?
But as Happy says, the radiation levels are particularly high near the area of the leak (amounting to Sieverts/hour), and how TEPCO is going to "further investigate", as reported by happy-go-lucky media like NHK, is unknown.
This is a follow-up on yesterday's post.
TEPCO released the video which was being taken by the robot on the first floor of Reactor 3 and which was being monitored by a TEPCO employee who noticed the water.
The flow looks significant and fast.
From TEPCO's photos and video library, 1/18/2014:
Energy News.....
23,800,000,000 Bq/m3 of Cs-134/137 was measured from retained water in reactor2
Posted by Mochizuki on January 24th, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
High level of contaminated water is still retained in the basement floor of reactor2.
Tepco measured 23,800,000,000 Bq/m3 of Cesium-134/137 from the retained water. The sample was taken on 1/15/2014. 69,000,000,000 Bq/m3 of All β (including Strontium-90) was also measured from the same sample.
From the retained water in reactor1, they also measured 3,700,000,000 Bq/m3 of Cesium-134/137, but it was lower than reactor2.
Reactor2 building remains relatively sound. It is not known what happened in 311, but the contamination level can be worse than other reactors.
(cf, Tepco to investigate the operating floor of reactor2 by drilling from the top of the building [URL])
Tepco to investigate the operating floor of reactor2 by drilling from the top of the building
Posted by Mochizuki on January 24th, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
From 1/27/2014, Tepco is going to drill 12 locations on the top of reactor2 so that they will investigate the operation floor of reactor2. Reactor2 building remains relatively sound. It is not known what actually happened in 311.
The purpose of this investigation is to research the radiation level, check the soundness of crane, refueling machine and the building.
Drilling and monitoring will be operated by remote-control, however, the necessary machines will be installed by human workers. According to Tepco, the highest reading on the top of the building is 4.0 mSv/h.
Tepco also have robots enter the operating floor from blow-out panel. The robots are to drill 3 parts of the floor and wall to take 3 concrete core samples.
The highest reading on the operation floor is 880 mSv/h. They are to analyze how deep the contamination penetrated into floor and wall concretes.
Tepco “Don’t know where the rest of coolant water is escaping from reactor3″
Posted by Mochizuki on January 23rd, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
Following up this article.. Reactor3 coolant water leakage → 1/3 of injected water was leaking / Tepco doesn’t know when it started [URL]
In the press conference of 1/22/2014, Fukushima chief Ono stated that the rest of 2/3 injected water must be leaking out from somewhere of reactor3, but they can’t identify the specific location.
Tepco is injecting 5.5 m3 of coolant water into reactor3 vessel per hour. 1.5 m3/h of the water was found leaking out to the building possibly after touching the molten fuel.
Where and how the rest of 4.0 m3/h of coolant water leaks are not investigated because of the high level of contamination.
Direct leakage of reactor3 coolant water → Door blasted due to the 311 explosion, no robots can enter
Posted by Mochizuki on January 23rd, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
Following up this article.. Reactor3 coolant water leakage → 1/3 of injected water was leaking / Tepco doesn’t know when it started [URL]
The area called “MSIV room”, where the vessel coolant water is leaking out to the building from, can’t be investigated even by robots, according to Tepco.
Tepco assumes the coolant water is coming from the inside of the vessel to this room. However,the access door is severely destroyed inward due to the explosion of 311, even the robots cannot enter.
Currently they have no specific strategy to identify the leaking point, but they are searching the possibility to lift down a camera from the room above MSIV room.
The area above MSIV room is relatively less contaminated, Tepco reports.
The video below captures the leaking water flowing from MSIV room to the drain outside of the room. The volume of water decreased on 1/21/2014, when the video was taken.
Tepco assumes it is because another drain inside of MSIV room was accidentally cleared, the water started flowing into this drain instead of coming out of the room.
The drain is connected to the basement floor of the reactor3 building.
220 fuel assemblies removed from reactor4 pool by 1/22/2014
Posted by Mochizuki on January 23rd, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
Following up this article.. Tepco doesn’t have the enough room to accept all the spent fuel in the common pool [URL]
In the press conference of 1/22/2014, Tepco announced they have completed transferring 220 assemblies of spent / new fuel from reactor4 pool.
They have transferred 10 casks. On 1/23/2014, they are to transfer the 11th cask to the common pool.
Ex - SKF
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2014
#Fukushima I NPP Reactor 3 Water Leak from MSIV Room: It's Most Likely the Water from Inside the Pressure Vessel
This is today's update on the water leak from the MSIV (Main Steam Isolation Valve) Room of Reactor 3 at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. (Previous posts on the subject are here and here.)
TEPCO says they did the nuclide analysis of the water sample that the robot collected. The temperature and the levels of contamination indicate it is the water that comes out of the Pressure Vessel/Containment Vessel.
TEPCO's way of saying it is that "the water is not the one that goes into the reactor."
However, the levels of contamination of this water is one to two orders of magnitude smaller than the highly contaminated water in the reactor building basements, which seems to me to indicate that this leaking water is diverted out of the Pressure Vessel it comes in full contact with the corium (wherever it is - part at the bottom of the PV, part buried into the concrete floor of the Containment Vessel).
From TEPCO's alert for the press, 1/19/2014:
【漏えい水の放射能分析結果：採取日１月19日】
・セシウム134 ：7.0×10^2 Bq/cm3
・セシウム137 ：1.7×10^3 Bq/cm3
・コバルト60 ：2.5×10^1 Bq/cm3
・全ベータ ：2.4×10^4 Bq/cm3
Nuclide analysis of the leaked water: sample taken on 1/19/2014
Cesium-134: 7.0×10^2 Bq/cm3 (700 Bq/cm3)
Cesium-137: 1.7×10^3 Bq/cm3 (1,700 Bq/cm3)
Cobalt-60: 2.5×10^1 Bq/cm3 (25 Bq/cm3)
All-beta: 2.4×10^4 Bq/cm3 (24,000 Bq/cm3)
【漏えい水の温度測定結果：１月19日午後５時頃測定
約20℃
※漏えい確認箇所における雰囲気温度は約７℃（１月19日午前10時頃測定)
原子炉に注水している水の温度は約７℃（１月19日午後５時頃測定
Temperature of the leaked water: measured at 5PM on 1/19/2014
About 20 degrees Celsius
*Atmospheric temperature at the location of the leak: 7 degrees Celsius (measured at 10AM, 1/19/2014)
Temperature of the water being injected: 7 degrees Celsius (measured at 5PM, 1/19/2014)
【原子炉に注水している水の至近の放射能分析結果：採取日平成25年12月10日】
・セシウム134 ：検出限界値未満
・セシウム137 ：検出限界値未満
・コバルト60 ：検出限界値未満
・全ベータ ：2.8 Bq/cm3
Latest nuclide analysis of water being injected into reactors: sample taken on 12/10/2013
Cesium-134: below detection level
Cesium-137: below detection level
Cobalt-60: below detection level
All-beta: 2.8 Bq/cm3
当該漏えい水は、原子炉に注水している水に比べて放射能濃度が高く、水温も高いことから、原子炉に注水している水の直接漏えいによるものではないと考えています。引き続き、漏えい原因等について調査を実施してまいります。
The leaked water is higher in density of radioactive materials than the water being injected into the reactors. The temperature of the water is also higher. Therefore we believe this is not the leak of water that is being injected into the reactor. We will continue to investigate the cause of the leak.
TEPCO's alert has a link to the latest nuclide analysis of water samples taken at different stages of contaminated water treatment (published on 1/17/2014).
According to that analysis, the highly contaminated water that sits in the reactor building basement (supposedly after having come to full contact with the corium) has:
Cesium-134: 1.0×10^4 Bq/cm3 (10,000 Bq/cm3)
Cesium-137: 2.5×10^4 Bq/cm3 (25,000 Bq/cm3)
Cobalt-60: 1.4 Bq/cm3 (after treatment with SARRY)
All-beta: 2.3×10^4 Bq/cm3 (23,000 Bq/cm3, before RO treatment)
While the Japanese media continues to not see much significance of this leak, the workers who have been tweeting from Fukushima I NPP from the beginning of the accident seem to worry. The issue here is NOT whether this water is currently leaking into the surrounding environment. The issue is whether the MSIV and/or its ancillary systems failed in the March 2011 accident.
"Sunny" (from tweets here and here) fears the worst, that the MSIV itself is broken:
MSIV・主蒸気隔離弁 原子力発電所の原子炉建屋とタービン建屋を繋ぐ主蒸気配管にある非常に大きなバルブ。これが閉じると言う事は炉心でとんでもないことが起きていることである。逆に言えば、そんなときに閉じないと困る。それが、そこからも水が漏れている。つまり、閉じていないか壊れたか。
MSIV (Main Steam Isolation Valve) is a huge valve attached to the main steam pipe that connects the reactor building and the turbine building. When this valve closes, it means there is some extraordinary incident happening in the reactor core. Conversely, one might say that it would be a problem if this valve did not close in such an incident. Now, the water is leaking from there [from the MSIV]. In other words, the valve was not shut, or it broke.
炉心がスクラムするような状態でMSIVが閉まらないか壊れたか漏洩するか、これがどんなに恐ろしいこ事か。再稼働どころか、スリーマイルアイランド後のPWRのように対策の為世界中の炉心を止める必要性がある。いや、もっと恐ろしいのは事態の重大さをどれだけの人が受け止めているか。
The reactor core is scrummed, but the MSIV doesn't close or it breaks and [the coolant=water] leaks. Do you know how terrifying this is? Instead of talking about restarting [the nuclear power plants in Japan], we would need to stop all reactors in the world to deal with the problem, just like [when we stopped] PWRs after the Three Mile Island accident. Wait, what is more terrifying is, how many people are aware that this could be a serious problem?
Someone expressed his surprise to "Sunny" that TEPCO announced the incident at all, if this was such a serious incident. (People in Japan also love to say "TEPCO lies.") "Sunny"'s answer was:
この事象がそうなら世界中の全事業者とメーカーに情報共有するレベル
If this incident is what it is [the MSIV didn't close or broke in a severe emergency that necessitated the scrum], it should be shared with all nuclear plant operators and nuclear manufacturers in the entire world.
"Happy" hopes it is not the MSIV itself but ancillary pipe(s) that broke:
ＭＳＩＶ室は、主蒸気隔離弁だけじゃなく他系統や細い配管も沢山あって炉内に直結している配管も多いんだ。室内を詳しく調べ原因を掴まないとダメなんだけど、かなり困難な作業になると思う。線量が高くて人が作業するのも難しいし、室内は機器や配管が多く狭いし複雑で、ロボット作業も困難なんだ。
In the MSIV Room, other than the Main Steam Isolation Valve there are other systems and many small pipes, many of which connects directly to the reactor. We need to closely investigate inside the room to find out the cause [of the leak], but I'm afraid it will be a rather difficult task. The radiation level is high for workers to work inside, and it would be difficult for robots to navigate because of numerous pieces of equipment and pipes in a narrow space.
"Sunny" says he sure hopes it is a minor pipe that broke.
So was it a LOCA (Loss of Coolant Accident) because of either the failure of the MSIV or the ancillary system that is not supposed to fail, in addition to the water boiling off by the decay heat?
But as Happy says, the radiation levels are particularly high near the area of the leak (amounting to Sieverts/hour), and how TEPCO is going to "further investigate", as reported by happy-go-lucky media like NHK, is unknown.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2014
#Fukushima I NPP Reactor 3: Water Leak from MSIV Room Could Be a Huge Problem for Nuclear Reactor Safety
This is a follow-up on yesterday's post.
TEPCO released the video which was being taken by the robot on the first floor of Reactor 3 and which was being monitored by a TEPCO employee who noticed the water.
The flow looks significant and fast.
From TEPCO's photos and video library, 1/18/2014:
Location of the MSIV Room:
Radiation levels on the 1st floor of Reactor 3, from yesterday's post:
The main steam isolation valve (MSIV) is one of the two most important safety systems in a nuclear reactor (the other one being the control rod drive mechanism). It seals off the water/steam from the Pressure Vessel in case of an emergency (like a big earthquake). This MSIV system is not supposed to fail.
If the MSIV of Reactor 3 was damaged during the March 11, 2011 earthquake/tsunami (either one) and the water has been leaking ever since, the safety standard for nuclear reactors around the world may be impacted, says one nuclear researcher that I follow on Twitter.
(Oh wait... Does it mean then that part of the reason why the water (coolant) inside the Reactor 3 Pressure Vessel dried up was because it was leaking through the damaged MSIV?)
To get a feel for the size of the MSIV, here's a photo and a video from one of the top manufacturers, Flowserve:
If the MSIV of Reactor 3 was damaged during the March 11, 2011 earthquake/tsunami (either one) and the water has been leaking ever since, the safety standard for nuclear reactors around the world may be impacted, says one nuclear researcher that I follow on Twitter.
(Oh wait... Does it mean then that part of the reason why the water (coolant) inside the Reactor 3 Pressure Vessel dried up was because it was leaking through the damaged MSIV?)
To get a feel for the size of the MSIV, here's a photo and a video from one of the top manufacturers, Flowserve:
The 1st floor of Reactor 3 is where the human workers ventured in in June 2011 for the first time since the start of the accident on March 11, 2011 and took the smear samples from the floor. The result of the analysis of the smear samples, if it was ever done, hasn't been released.
The location of the floor drain funnel is near the equipment hatch shield plug that was found slightly open, through which highly radioactive steam/water had been leaking. (TEPCO finally admitted the shield plug had been open on April 19, 2012, more than one full year after the start of the accident.)
Packbot was sent on November 18/19, 2011 to clean the hatch rail with what looked like a white towel. The result of the analysis of what the towel caught, if it was ever done, hasn't been released.
(Now I think about it, the towel Packbot was using was soaking-wet, and even on the next day after the cleaning the guide rails were very wet. I have assumed the water on the guide rails was from inside the Containment Vessel, but is it possible that it has been coming from the MSIV Room?)
From @BB45_Colorado, one of the nuclear researchers that I follow:
The location of the floor drain funnel is near the equipment hatch shield plug that was found slightly open, through which highly radioactive steam/water had been leaking. (TEPCO finally admitted the shield plug had been open on April 19, 2012, more than one full year after the start of the accident.)
Packbot was sent on November 18/19, 2011 to clean the hatch rail with what looked like a white towel. The result of the analysis of what the towel caught, if it was ever done, hasn't been released.
(Now I think about it, the towel Packbot was using was soaking-wet, and even on the next day after the cleaning the guide rails were very wet. I have assumed the water on the guide rails was from inside the Containment Vessel, but is it possible that it has been coming from the MSIV Room?)
From @BB45_Colorado, one of the nuclear researchers that I follow:
主蒸気隔離弁;近傍からの漏洩が発災直後からのものなら、主蒸気隔離弁は、地震や内部異常加圧に耐えられなかった事になります。BWRの安全設計の心臓部でこれは極めてまずいです。場合によっては、世界中のBWRの安全審査がひっくり返ります
If the leak from (or from near) the Main Steam Isolation Valve is from the start of the accident, that means the MSIV couldn't withstand the earthquake and/or internal abnormal pressurization. This is bad in the heart of the BWR safety design. It could affect the safety reviews worldwide.
Browsing the articles by the mainstream media in Japan (eg. Yomiuri, Mainichi/Kyodo) on this incident, it seems to me that they don't know what MSIV is or its importance.
Energy News.....
Radio: US Navy sailors had radioactive snow ball fights off Fukushima — Crew “pretty well toast” after weeks on Pacific… significant cancers, incessant bleeding from anus or vagina, blindness — Debris from USS Reagan sent to Hanford nuclear waste site (AUDIO)
Simply Info.....
Alaska & Washington Salmon Tested For Radiation
A Seattle fish company had some of their fish privately tested in late 2013. With all the US government agencies refusing to test anything and growing consumer anxiety due to the lack of information, Loki Fish company paid for private testing. This is some of the only North American seafood testing done. While the current findings of these limited samples is … Read entire article »
Torus Ultrasound Inspection Being Done On Unit 2
TEPCO has done test runs with the ultrasound robot intended to detect the water level inside the torus tubes at Fukushima Daiichi. Tests done at unit 5 and unit 4 gave some information about the best way to obtain readings. They did run into issues in unit 4 where there was a thin layer of oil on the water. This … Read entire article »
US Congress Requests Data From USS Ronald Reagan Fukushima Response
US Congress has requested data related to the exposures. “Lawmakers requested not only an inventory of any adverse medical conditions experienced by Ronald Reagan sailors, they want a detailed account of actions taken by the service to prevent radiation exposure, minimize it or treat it among affected personnel.” The US Navy has insisted nobody received dangerous exposures but has only referenced … Read entire article »
Two New Pacific Radiation Monitoring Programs Launch
Woods Hole has officially launched their program to continue testing the Pacific for cesium concentrations due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The website http://ourradioactiveocean.com/ has information on how people or communities can sponsor testing or supply samples. Currently the testing completed to date by Woods Hole has been put online on an interactive map. The interactive map can be viewed directly here. … Read entire article »
ALPS Still Not Meeting Targets, Operation Date Uncertain
NRA is saying that ALPS is still not meeting the radiation removal targets claimed for the system. A problem with the removal of radioactive iodine is still unsolved. A target date for full operation is still not being set due to the setbacks. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/news/20140114-OYT1T01083.htm?from=tw This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at … Read entire article »
NRA Releases New Radiation Zone Maps
The NRA has released new radiation “fly over” maps. The newest scans were done in September of 2013. They showed a slight reduction in the highest level zones. This is likely due to the decrease in shorter lived radiation like cesium 134 and migration of contamination by natural processes. NRA cited the more recent changes in the shape of the … Read entire article »
TEPCO Releases More Details About Frozen Wall
TEPCO released a short video (in Japanese) giving more information about the test run of the frozen wall technology. The test location has been running for at least a month according to previous reports. The video provided a few more views of the equipment being used and the sealing capability. The test location appears to have been running successfully. This … Read entire article »
Fukushima Diary......
Reactor3 coolant water leakage → 1/3 of injected water was leaking / Tepco doesn’t know when it started
Posted by Mochizuki on January 22nd, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
Following up this article.. [Video] Possible direct leakage of reactor3 coolant water to the building [URL]
1.5 L/h of possible coolant water was directly leaking from the PCV (Primary Containment Vessel) of reactor3, according to Tepco.
They inject 5.5 L of coolant water per hour. This means approx. 27% of the coolant water was leaking out of the vessel.
Tepco also stated they got to see the leakage because they removed the debris, so they don’t know since when it has been leaking.
It is reported that the volume of leakage significantly decreased on 1/21/2014, however it is not known what caused the change of volume, such as because the molten fuel moved inside of PCV.
Contamination level in seaside of reactor2 still skyrocketing / 2,700,000,000 → 3,100,000,000 Bq/m3
Posted by Mochizuki on January 22nd, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
Following up this article.. Contamination level in seaside of reactor2 skyrocketing / 2,400,000,000 → 2,700,000,000 Bq/m3 [URL]
All β nuclide density is still rapidly increasing in the groundwater of seaside of reactor2. It was 2,700,000,000 Bq/m3 on 1/16/2014, but it jumped up to be 3,100,000,000 Bq/m3 on 1/20/2014.
This is 3.4 times much as the density of 2 months ago.
875,000,000,000,000 Bq of Tritium contained in
total contaminated water / Over 60 times much
as safety limit
Posted by Mochizuki on January 18th, 2014 · 1 Comment
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
Following up this article.. [Column] Contaminated water will be discharged to the Pacific[URL]
The total volume of Tritium contained in the stocked contaminated water is 875 trillion Bq. Tepco submitted the data to Tritium task force of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Currently 400,000 tonnes of contaminated water is stocked in the tanks. 817 trillion Bq of Tritium is contained in it.
Additionally contaminated water is also stocked in reactor buildings etc.. The part of contaminated water outside of the tanks contain 58 trillion Bq of Tritium.
Tritium is not going to be filtered.
This is 59 times much as the annual safety limit of 4 reactors to discharge to the sea. This means, they would take over 59 years to resolve the current water problem even if they choose to discharge it to the sea. In reality, the volume of contaminated water is increasing by over 400m3 per day.
Radiation level in another boring well in
seaside of reactor2 increasing since November
2013
Posted by Mochizuki on January 18th, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
Related to this article.. Contamination level in seaside of reactor2 skyrocketing / 2,400,000,000 → 2,700,000,000 Bq/m3 [URL]
Tritium and All β (including Strontium-90) density have been increasing in another boring well in the seaside of reactor2.
According to Tepco’s data, both of Tritium and All β started increasing around 11/6/2013. In these 2 months, both of the density increased approx. 10 times.
Tepco has made no explanation about this trend.
Contamination level in seaside of reactor2
skyrocketing / 2,400,000,000 → 2,700,000,000
Bq/m3
Posted by Mochizuki on January 18th, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
Following up this article.. Contamination level in seaside of reactor2 still increasing / 2,100,000,000 → 2,400,000,000 Bq/m3 [URL]
All β nuclide density (including Strontium-90) is still increasing in the seaside of reactor2 (As graph below). On 1/13/2014, it was 2,400,000,000 Bq/m3 but it spiked up to be 2,700,000,000 Bq/m3 on 1/16/2014.
Tepco is still repeating the same explanation that it is possibly because the groundwater pump is gathering highly contaminated water underground and denying the possibility of the new leakages.
1.6 Sv/h on the first floor of reactor1 / Highly
radioactive source is in the vent pipe
Posted by Mochizuki on January 18th, 2014 · No Comments
Note : If you are from the international mass media, Don’t read this site before having a contact with me.
1.6 Sv/h was measured on the first floor of reactor1, according to Tepco.
From 12/22 ~ 12/24/2013, Tepco attempted to survey the radiation dose in the south part of reactor1 first floor. They used a remote controlling robot with gamma camera supported by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
As a result, highly radioactive parts were found near the inert gas pipes, which were used to venting in 311.
The radiation dose was higher at 150cm than 5cm from the floor. The highest reading of 1.6 Sv/h was measured near the vent pipe going up to the second floor.
The second highest reading was 1.1 Sv/h. It was also near the vent pipe.
This is also where they measured 5.15 Sv/h in “vapor” coming up. (cf, [Reactor1] 5.2 Sv/h on the first floor [URL])
Tepco is planning to take the concrete core sample from around the issued area in order to check if contamination has penetrated into the concrete.
↓ The photos taken by the robot with gamma camera. The warmer the color goes, the higher the dose is.
Related article.. 2Sv/h detected on the 1st floor of reactor1 [URL 2]
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