A Look At The Power That Failed At Fukushima
[Translate] UPDATE: Some additional images and diagrams found by Peter Melzer in the IAEA reports on Fukushima have been added below. These reference the incoming power system and failures at Fukushima Recent images taken by the media on their tour of Fukushima Daiichi turned up this image of the mangled incoming power line tower, a contributor to the station blackout. The next tower down the line can be seen to the right of the vent stack for units 5 & 6. The large high voltage towers to the left are the outgoing lines that send the generated power out to the grid. TEPCO had previously commented about soil liquifecation around at least one tower on this incoming power line system as a cause of power loss. As can be seen in the full … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
620 mSv/h Found In Unit 3
[Translate] TEPCO announced that they have found 620 mSv/h in unit 3 by robots. These levels are high enough to restrict entry. No reason for the extremely high readings was given. The high reading was near a containment lock but readings closer to the lock were 215 mSv/h. TEPCO has had ongoing problems with high levels in unit 3 but no specific reasons have been given. Map of the hot spot can be found on the last page of this TEPCO handout. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
TEPCO Backpeddles On Criticality, Provides Questionable Reasons For Cause
[Translate] TEPCO has changed their stance on the incidents recently at Fukushima Daiichi. Now they are claiming that the re-criticalities are actually spontaneous fissions. They state that the radiation levels seen have not increased enough to be from criticalities. While the concept of the problem being spontaneous fission is probable, TEPCO’s reason given is less so. “The amount of xenon-135 detected almost matched the amount that would have been produced if the radioactive curium in the fuel had undergone spontaneous fission.” This claim doesn’t seem likely or clear. TEPCO does not provide any detail on how they came to this conclusion or full disclosure of what was found in whatever testing was done. Some have questioned how TEPCO could make such an assertion. Others that if it was spontaneous fission TEPCO would have known how to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
TEPCO And Contractors Fail To Pay Some Workers Proper Danger Pay
[Translate] TEPCO and the contractors working at the plant have not been paying some workers the proper danger pay. These workers are doing their work in shelter buildings that are the same distance from the reactors as other areas designated as radiation zones. Due to the way labor laws are written it is not clear who or how these additional payments should be administered. Currently TEPCO is blaming the contractors and the contractors blaming TEPCO for who should determine the danger level. Meanwhile workers again lose out while the work situation at the plant goes on without proper oversight. This is just another work related problem at the plant, we have been reporting for months on everything from forcing workers to pay for lunch to problems with contracts and serious preventable safety … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
Fukushima Unit 2 Xenon Found Indicating New Fission
[Translate] NHK is reporting that Xenon and other substances are being detected at unit 2 indicating some amount of fission is going on. TEPCO claims the levels are low and they think that the fuel has not begun to re-melt. TEPCO began injecting boron to try to combat this. Unit 2 has lost pressure the last 4 days, temps have been steady with a slight rise. As seen in our live Fukushima Daiichi reactor data graphs. UPDATE: There was a 5.6 degree temp increase in the RPV support skirt at unit 2 as of 10am JST UPDATE: TEPCO is now telling the media there have been no pressure or temperature changes at unit 2 – Maybe they need to look at their own data?? This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
Two Workers Injured In Crane Accident At Fukushima Daiichi
[Translate] Two workers were injured when dismantling a crane. One required airlift to an emergency room and was operated on at the hospital. No details of his injuries were given. The second worker was treated on site and taken to a hospital in Iwaki City for a check up later in the day. Workers were dismantling a crane when the large metal upright seen in the image fell. TEPCO has details of the location and nature of the accident. The accident took place on October 29th. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
Unit 4 Still Poses Considerable Risk, Expert Calls For Independent Safety Inspection
[Translate] A Canadian nuclear expert is calling for an independent review of unit 4 at Fukushima Daiichi where inspectors from outside Japan would do a safety analysis. He cites a similar process used in Canada to have US experts do an independent review of facilities to ensure no bias is involved. Currently the safety of unit 4 relies on promises from TEPCO that all is well. A collapse of the fuel pool or damage to the pool causing it to no longer hold water could quickly escalate into a major nationwide disaster. A NES report said that it would only take 2.3 hours for the pool to begin discharging substances if cooling was knocked out. TEPCO initially claimed there were no structural concerns with the heavily damaged building and fuel pool. NES … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
TEPCO Confirms Steam Leaking Out Of Ground
[Translate] TEPCO has admitted to the issue of steam leaking out of the ground around Unit 1. Water in the basement of the building was cited as the source of the steam. Extremely high radiation levels were also reported including a 5 sV reading on the 2nd floor of unit 1 in August. Readings over 4 sV were also found at unit 1 previously. There has been considerable speculation that the melted fuel has escaped the containment structure. These concerns have been backed up by various high radiation readings in the suppression chamber of unit 1. These readings also spike after each earthquake at the plant. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
TEPCO Maintenance, Repairs With Duct Tape, Bailing Wire And More Orphaned Shoes
[Translate] This TEPCO photograph of the pedestal area of unit 5 at Fukushima Daiichii. Unit 5 is the same design as units 1-4 and was built last of the BWR units at Fukushima Daiichi. The photograph is interesting in that it shows a rarely photographed area below the reactor vessel. This area is likely heavily damaged in units 1-3 as the fuel melted out of the reactor vessels. The equipment seen within the pedestal is the underside of the control rod systems. Some repairs have been made. One section of pipe is patched with a piece of plastic sheeting and duct tape. Another with some sort of patch and some sort of clear plastic film or tape. The patched section is then supported with wire. The systems inside the pedestal are the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
New Images And Video Inside Units 2 And 3
[Translate] TEPCO released two crane videos. One viewing in the hole of unit 2 and the other some views of the top of unit 3. The images of unit 3 show what looks like at least a portion of the reactor well concrete plug still in place adjacent to the equipment pool. There is also a rust colored stain on the concrete where a steam path has been. We have found rust stained areas in other places where highly radioactive steam or water are leaking in large quantities. Ian Goddard has an illustration showing that this may be due to cesium rather than iron oxide. Unit 2 images show the wall panel that blew out was a removable panel. The bracket appears to be what the wall panel connected to. There … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
VIDEO: Crane topples at Fukushima Daiichi
[Translate] One of the cranes fell over during the storm today. Nuckelchenblogde has the video on YouTube of it falling. It appears to have been picked back up already. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting our work, please do so with respect to the large amount of effort and time that goes into our research and analysis. Referring to something or a quote is great, copying it all or in substantial parts is not so great. If you wish to reproduce any of our content in full … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
Researcher Says Recriticality In July & August At Fukushima
[Translate] EX-SKF found a very interesting article regarding the disaster is a rather unusual place, The Weekly Playboy Japan, link to the article in Japanese (may not be safe for work). Yoyo Hinuma, of University of California San Diego has detected what he thinks is recurring recriticality at Fukushima Daiichi. He cites increased radiation levels in Tokyo and Yokohama City as evidence of these events. He also mentions high levels of iodine 131 in sewage sludge in Tokyo and Kanagawa in July and some sandboxes showing high radiation that showed safe in the area before. Read all of the details at EX-SKF This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
TEPCO Progresses On Unit 1 Cover
[Translate] TEPCO has a considerable portion of the work done towards installing a cover over the unit 1 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi. You can watch the ongoing work live on their video feed from the plant. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting our work, please do so with respect to the large amount of effort and time that goes into our research and analysis. Referring to something or a quote is great, copying it all or in substantial parts is not so great. If you wish to reproduce … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
Time Lapse Video Of Unit 1 Cover Construction
[Translate] This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting our work, please do so with respect to the large amount of effort and time that goes into our research and analysis. Referring to something or a quote is great, copying it all or in substantial parts is not so great. If you wish to reproduce any of our content in full or in more than a phrase or quote, please contact us first to obtain permission. If you are viewing this content on any website other than www.simplyinfo.org … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
Nuclear Expert Warns Unit 1 Fuel May Be Out Of The Reactor Building
[Translate] We documented in mid-August that the melted reactor fuel (corium) may have relocated and could be leaving the unit 1 reactor building. Now Hiroaki Koide of Kyoto University’s Research Reactor Institute also states this theory is the likely scenario at unit 1. “At the No. 1 reactor, there’s a chance that melted fuel has burned through the bottom of the pressure vessel, the containment vessel and the floor of the reactor building, and has sunk into the ground. From there, radioactive materials may be seeping into the ocean and groundwater.” Koide also expresses concerns about the ongoing watering tactic at units 2 and 3, that it could lead to steam explosions if the melted fuel reheats itself and moves into an area full of water. There is also the same risk if the fuel … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
TEPCO To Begin Removing Debris From Unit 3 Deck
[Translate] TEPCO will begin the process to remove debris from the top of unit 3. Since the work would expose workers to high levels of radiation the work will be done by remote control heavy equipment. A platform 8 meters wide by 30 meters tall will be used to access the deck. There is approximately 3500 cubic meters of debris on the deck that will be sorted by radiation level. The work at unit 3 will take until next summer. The debris removal is a significant event as it will finally allow a clear view of the reactor well. The condition of the various plugs and caps in the well will add important new information about the events leading to the explosion at unit 3. By mid-September TEPCO plans to start similar … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, TEPCO, The Latest
Specialists Have New Theory On Fukushima Daiichi Meltdowns
[Translate] Many thanks to Ob_Li for translating this for us! The original website : http://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newseye4822557.html Nuclear energy specialists team analyzed Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant data and put together their opinions. It said “Although tsunami caused the power plants blackout, it wouldn’t have caused severe crisis like meltdown if it had been handled properly.” The massive tsunami attacked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. #1 reactor completely lost the AC source. In the crisis like that, the isolation condenser, aka IC, which enables to cool off steam throughout the coolant inside of the tank and changes it into water, then put the water back into the reactor had to be utilized. The specialist team of Professor Narabayashi of Hokkaido University and nuclear power plant product maker OB of 34 members started analyzing the publicized data provided by the government and TEPCO on their own terms and found … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, Technical Documents, TEPCO, The Latest
Fukushima Daiichi, The First Hours
[Translate] English language blog Gakuranman chronicled the early events after the great east earthquake. This included the melt downs at Fukushima Daiichi. It is proving to be a valuable document of what happened and when. He also takes the extra step to document the source of his information for each entry. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting our work, please do so with respect to the large amount of effort and time that goes into our research and analysis. Referring to something or a quote is great, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, Technical Documents, The Latest
Kan Interview, TEPCO Planned To Abandon Fukushima Daiichi
[Translate] Sense of Crisis – Possible Catastrophe in Metropolis Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan, stepped down his position as of September 2, 2011, accepted the exclusive interview offer from Tokyo Shinbun and talked about the anxiously he had felt while series of hydrogen explosion happening at TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Energy Plant. “This accident may cause serious disaster to make Metropolitan area dead zone” – He disclosed that he felt this sense of crisis. He’s changed his mind and determined to shift “Stop relying on nuclear energy power” since Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Energy Plant accident, as he used to be very confident about Japanese nuclear technology. He explained the reason why he went to TEPCO headquarters on March 15, 2011, 4 days after the accident, was the words from Former Minister of METI … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Plant Status, TEPCO, The Latest
Fukushima Reactor Building Detail Solved
[Translate] There were questions early on about possible large access doors in the top building sections of the reactors at Fukushima Daiichi. In this press photo released by TEPCO details can be seen that show this to be a removable panel in the building wall. Early reports said the blast at unit 3 blew this hole into unit 2. It is clear that at least some of the buildings have a removable hatch panel above the refueling floor. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting our work, please … Read entire article »
Filed under: Plant Status, The Latest
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