Japan Earthquake

Japan Earthquake | Page 1209

Hey folks, taking a plane to Europe tomorrow, so will be off the grid for a day and a half. Then will be on significantly less for the three weeks I am away. I'll still be on everyday, but not lurking the whole day long like I do when I am here in Japan. Just a heads up.
by bo 5/16/2011 1:30:46 PM

Also, an update. My colleague has now told me that the Asahi article was not based on wikileaded info. He said he doesn't know the reporters that obtained the TEPCO document and feels he will be very unlikely to be able to obtain a copy. I'll keep everyone updated as I find any more out.
by bo 5/16/2011 1:32:08 PM

Bo what are you referring to? I don't have the time to look back. Im getting redy to fly too.
by carabnr 5/16/2011 1:35:48 PM

My colleague had originally told me that he thought the TEPCO doc (101 pages) that informed the Asahi Shimbun article was sourced from docs on Wikileaks. Now he has corrected that. He also doubts he can obtain a copy for us.
by bo 5/16/2011 1:36:49 PM

@bo thank yu for the update it is hopeful news if it is an original doc passed to them personally because it shows that a quite large media outfit is trusted by people and people are turning to them, it may be only 1 person today but hopeful a snowball effect will follow
by elainekirk 5/16/2011 1:37:29 PM

Trouble hampered cold shutdown at Hamaoka. The Nagoya-based firm said the problem in the reactor's cooling system was found Saturday evening after a gauge indicated that around 400 tons of seawater had flowed into the condenser at around 4:30 p.m., most likely because of a piping problem. search.japantimes.co.jp
by Majj 5/16/2011 1:37:58 PM

@elainekirk I agree on that. It appears to have been passed to the Asahi by someone. Hopefully more will follow
by bo 5/16/2011 1:38:10 PM

@bo - understood. It may compromise the source to circulate it more widely.
by hudebnik 5/16/2011 1:39:16 PM

True that. Now a bit of packing, back in a while.
by bo 5/16/2011 1:39:41 PM

@bo Ssfe trip, tomodache
by marie rich 5/16/2011 1:40:08 PM

@bo I tried getting a copy of that document through some of my contacts. Asahi Shimbun is being really closed about the document and is not willing to share a copy of it. I am assuming doing so might reveal the source of the leak and put them at risk. Stinks we can't get the document but I don't want to see them expose an information source either.
by Nancy 5/16/2011 1:42:13 PM

Seems they're copping to meltdowns at 2 and 3 now...

“The findings at the No. 1 reactor indicate the likelihood that the water level readings in the other reactors aren’t accurate,” Junichi Matsumoto, a general manager at the utility known as Tepco, said today. “It could be that a meltdown similar to that in the No. 1 reactor has occurred.”

www.bloomberg.com
by Rob in SF 5/16/2011 1:42:51 PM

Fear for further explosions and leaks in Fukushima, and Greenpeace activists on the top of Germany for energy [R]evolution www.greenpeace.org
by Majj 5/16/2011 1:43:22 PM

@Rob in SF LOL I guessed it would take until Wednesday for TEPCO to admit the other two had melted down. Seems to be coming out faster.
by Nancy 5/16/2011 1:43:45 PM

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said fuel in other reactors at its damaged nuclear plant may have melted, after confirming rods in the No. 1 unit had fallen from their assembly, potentially delaying plans to resolve the crisis.

“The findings at the No. 1 reactor indicate the likelihood that the water level readings in the other reactors aren’t accurate,” Junichi Matsumoto, a general manager at the utility known as Tepco, said today. “It could be that a meltdown similar to that in the No. 1 reactor has occurred.” www.bloomberg.com
by Majj 5/16/2011 1:44:18 PM

"potentially delaying plans to resolve the crisis."

Remember that roadmap? Well, don't.
by Rob in SF 5/16/2011 1:46:34 PM

It is literally "all coming out"
by hudebnik 5/16/2011 1:47:15 PM

@Nancy I don't know which is worse, TEPCO witholding data (100 page document) or Asahi Shinbon witholding the same data and critizing TEPCO for doing so. TEPCO for coverup (possible) and Asahi Shimbun to maintain exclusivity (possible).
by RBeaner 5/16/2011 1:51:28 PM

@RBeaner I don't think they are holding back for exclusivity. I think they are holding back to protect the leaker of the document.
by Nancy 5/16/2011 1:56:18 PM

Another example of hiding worker identity is the most recent batch of images on Cryptome from late April. The photo date and face of all workers were blurred out. Those images were not released by TEPCO. I would assume the date and workers faces would tip off who took the images.
by Nancy 5/16/2011 1:57:37 PM

@rbeaner if asahi released that doc there would be no more leaks!! Japanese have great pride in their country, men have been ostracised for sending their families away from the area. The original document being shown would risk it's leaker being identified
by elainekirk 5/16/2011 1:58:30 PM

Morning all! Heads up to all those who use Yakult................Yakult to enhance radiation checks on resuming Fukushima plant in June
TOKYO, May 16, Kyodo
by LM 5/16/2011 1:59:53 PM

@mods Please see and respond to my recent request on the other board (10 mins back). Thanks.
by es 5/16/2011 2:00:12 PM

…
Here are the graphs depicting the evolution of the main parameters of Fukushima NPP1 reactors (unit1 to unit3) since the accident. You can find similar and additional interesting graphs on this other website from a Brazilian University. dgr4quake.wordpress.com
by Majj 5/16/2011 2:01:50 PM

C
an also be retrieved on the following online Excel workbook. cid-0b14c7ab35e39ebd.office.live.com
by Majj 5/16/2011 2:04:21 PM

A government body conducted analyses on the damage tsunamis of various scale would inflict on a nuclear power plant, according to documents made public on Sunday, adding to allegations that Japan and its largest utility failed to heed warnings.

The institution affiliated with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, however, analyzed the dangers of tsunamis ranging from 3 meters to 23 meters in a report originally published in December.

"Our analysis shows that a tsunami of a certain height (some 7 meters in the absence of a seawall and some 15 meters if one were present) or higher would have almost a 100 percent chance of damaging the reactor core...," the Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization said in the report.

"We presume a tsunami of at least 7 meters would destroy the functions of a seawater pump and that of at least 15 meters would destroy outside equipment such as an electrical transformer."

The government and TEPCO have explained that the Fukushima plant that leaked radiation following the disaster was designed to handle roughly a 6-meter wall of water.

www.reuters.com
by Rob in SF 5/16/2011 2:04:52 PM

Test results of radioactive material in food (Part 68)
(Nuclear power plant accident-related Fukushima) translate.google.com
by Majj 5/16/2011 2:06:04 PM

2) Temperature is noticeably down (~10C) on #FNPP1-1 after rising injection flow from 8 to 10T/h yesterday; all sensors now bellow 100C........
by Majj 5/16/2011 2:08:41 PM

From article...TEPCO also says the gauges at the No.2 and 3 reactors might not be showing the actual water levels and that both reactors are likely to have undergone meltdowns.
The utility says the situation makes it difficult to fill the containment vessels of the reactors with water as planned, and that an alternate cooling method will have to be found. www3.nhk.or.jp
by LM 5/16/2011 2:10:00 PM

@elainekirk Alls I have seen from that 100 page document is 2 or 3 data points, that's less of a leak than either pit:)
by RBeaner 5/16/2011 2:10:03 PM

Meltdown may have occurred also at Nos. 2, 3 reactors
TOKYO, May 16, Kyodo

An adviser to Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Monday that the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant had failed to inject water into the Nos. 2 and 3 reactors for more than six hours after the March 11 massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami.

Goshi Hosono, tasked with handling the nuclear crisis, said at a press conference that Tokyo Electric Power Co. had not been able to cool down the reactors' cores due to loss of external power for a long time after the quake, acknowledging that fuel in the vessels might have largely melted ''in the worst-case scenario.''

But he added the utility, known as TEPCO, has been succeeding in preventing the reactor's fuel from overheating so far and reiterated the government will stick to the timetable set by the firm, which announced April 17 it aims to bring the crisis there under control in six to nine months. english.kyodonews.jp
by LM 5/16/2011 2:11:42 PM

@rbeaner it is an enormous leak because it has backfooted tepco , they now know that at anytime their lies could be revealed, it will make them a little more cautious about lying
by elainekirk 5/16/2011 2:13:43 PM

@elainekirk It also's mean that TEPCO have had to revise their timetable for 'breaking bad news gently' - making tomorrow's news conference more important -although it appears that info on 2 & 3 already coming out
by UKVal 5/16/2011 2:21:00 PM

@ukval thinking about it the insurers and investors will be more worried than the arrogant bods in tepco management so tepo's are probably being arm wrestled and we need to make sure they don't break loose
by elainekirk 5/16/2011 2:22:56 PM

'reiterated the government will stick to the timetable set by the firm, which announced April 17 it aims to bring the crisis there under control in six to nine months.' love it -It reminds me of the 'Road Map for preace in the Middle East'
by UKVal 5/16/2011 2:23:58 PM

@elainekirk agree that TEPCO is being arm wrestled. Not so sure about the arrogance though -at least in this situation. They may have covered a lot up in the past, but they are faced with an unparalleled situation & probably under orders not to create panic in the markets or the public. No wonder the Chief was hospitalised in the early days
by UKVal 5/16/2011 2:26:25 PM

@Nancy @elainekirk I'll agree to disagree, This is all the "leak" from 100 pages.."Tokyo Electric Power Co. concealed data showing spikes in radiation levels at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in March, one day before a hydrogen explosion injured seven workers....The unpublished information shows that at 1:17 p.m. on March 13, 300 millisieverts of radiation per hour was detected inside a double-entry door at the No. 3 reactor building. At 2:31 p.m., the radiation level was measured at 300 millisieverts or higher per hour to the north of the door....The TEPCO data also showed high levels of hydrogen may be emitting from the damaged core of the No. 3 reactor on March 13, when TEPCO started injecting seawater to cool the reactor."
1. Now I don't know if rad data spikes at #1 are even correct or bad, cause it doesn't say, it refers to #3 levels.
2. We found out when #3 exploded that Hydrogen had been leaking.
3. This Leak came out on the 14th, you protect a source by releaseing data in differing format and prehaps omitting details.
by RBeaner 5/16/2011 2:28:16 PM

16 May 6:00 vs. 15 May 12:00. #1 increased injection to 10 cubic meters/hr (from 8), RPV pressure continues slow rise, bit of a drop in RPV and drywell temps. #2 stable/decreasing, S/C B CAMS down to about 62 Sv/hr. #3 they're injecting 15+ cubic meters/hr via two lines, RPV feedwater nozzle stable at 141, while bottom temp down 3 at 136C, DW RPV bellows temp down 70 197, while HVH decreased almost 30C to 168C, CAMS still low and decreasing.
by Markfm 5/16/2011 2:28:38 PM

I do actually feel quite sorry for TEPCO officials. I suspect that they behaved no differently to others, & were swayed by unbridled optimism about the likelihood of such an event.
by UKVal 5/16/2011 2:28:39 PM

oopsadaisy they had their inspection on the 10th March had the work been completed and casks moved in ?

Approval of the construction plan of Unit 4 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (additional spent fuel dry storage containers)

December 27, 2010

There's application dated October 22, 2010, pertaining to the expansion plans for the construction of a spent fuel dry storage containers, Unit 4 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Tokyo Electric Power Company, an Electricity Business Act, Article 47 Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 to 27 approved 2010.

[Contact]
NISA
Division of Nuclear Safety Review ,3501 -6289 (direct)
translate.google.com
by elainekirk 5/16/2011 2:37:57 PM

@RBeaner 'Data taken by workers entering the No. 1 reactor building at the crippled plant on the night of March 11 showing the radiation level was as high as 300 millisieverts per hour suggest a large amount of radioactive materials from nuclear fuel in the reactor was already released.' news.xinhuanet.com
by UKVal 5/16/2011 2:40:46 PM

Not sure what I'll post in News links today. All varieties of "whoops, starting to catch up to us, yup looks like stuff melted, likely across the board, looks like those gauges may all be toast with rods exposed everywhere"
by Markfm 5/16/2011 2:45:44 PM