Higher than ordinary radiation levels! Did you hear that? Higher than ordinary! The sky is falling!
Posted on 03/13/2011 5:17:19 AM PDT by J Aguilar
Press Release (Mar 13,2011) Plant Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (as of 0pm March 13th)
All 6 units of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station have been shut down.
Unit 1 (Shut down) - Reactor has been shut down. However, the unit is under inspection due to the explosive sound and white smoke that was confirmed after the big quake occurred at 3:36PM. - We have been injecting sea water and boric acid which absorbs neutron into the reactor pressure vessel.
Unit 2 (Shut down) - Reactor has been shut down and Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System has been injecting water to the reactor. Current reactor water level is lower than normal level, but the water level is steady. After fully securing safety, measures to lowering the pressure of reactor containment vessel has been taken, under the instruction of the national government.
Unit 3 (Shut down) - Reactor has been shut down. However, as High Pressure Core Injection System has been automatically shut down and water injection to the reactor was interrupted, following the instruction by the government and with fully securing safety, steps to lowering the pressure of reactor containment vessel has been taken. Spraying in order to lower pressure level within the reactor containment vessel has been cancelled. - After that, safety relief valve has been opened manually, lowering the pressure level of the reactor, which was immediately followed by injection of sea water and boric acid which absorbs neutron, into the reactor pressure vessel. - Currently, we do not believe there is any reactor coolant leakage inside the reactor containment vessel.
Unit 4 (shut down due to regular inspection) - Reactor has been shut down and sufficient level of reactor coolant to ensure safety is maintained. - Currently, we do not believe there is any reactor coolant leakage inside the reactor containment vessel.
Unit 5 (outage due to regular inspection) - Reactor has been shut down and sufficient level of reactor coolant to ensure safety is maintained. - Currently, we do not believe there is any reactor coolant leakage inside the reactor containment vessel.
Unit 6 (outage due to regular inspection) - Reactor has been shut down and sufficient level of reactor coolant to ensure safety is maintained. - Currently, we do not believe there is any reactor coolant leakage inside the reactor containment vessel.
Casualty - 2 workers of cooperative firm were injured at the occurrence of the earthquake, and were transported to the hospital. - 1 TEPCO employee who was not able to stand by his own with his hand holding left chest was transported to the hospital by an ambulance. - 1 subcontract worker at important earthquake-proof building was unconscious and transported to the hospital by an ambulance. - The radiation exposure of 1 TEPCO employee, who was working inside the reactor building, exceeded 100mSv and was transported to the hospital. - 4 workers were injured and transported to the hospital after explosive sound and white smoke were confirmed around the Unit 1. - Presence of 2 TEPCO employees at the site are not confirmed
Others - We measured radioactive materials inside of the nuclear power station area (outdoor) by monitoring car and confirmed that radioactive materials level is higher than ordinary level. Also, the level at monitoring post is higher than ordinary level. We will continue to monitor in detail the possibility of radioactive material being discharged from exhaust stack or discharge canal. The national government has instructed evacuation for those local residents within 20km radius of the periphery because it's possible that radioactive materials are discharged.
- We will continue to take all measures to restore the security of the site and to monitor the environment of the site periphery.
Press Release (Mar 13,2011) Plant Status of Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station (as of 2:00am March 13th)
There is no update from the release issued at 1:00 am
Unit 1 (shut down at 2:48pm on March 11th) - Reactor is shut down and reactor water level is stable. - Offsite power is available. - At 8:19am, there was an alarm indicating that one of the control rods was not properly inserted, however, at 10:43am the alarm was spontaneously called off. Other control rods has been confirmed that they are fully inserted (reactor is in subcritical status) - Status of main steam isolation valve: closed - Injection of water into the reactor is done by Make-up Water Condensate System. - At 6:08pm, we announced the increase in reactor containment vessel pressure, assumed to be due to leakage of reactor coolant. However, we do not believe there is leakage of reactor coolant in the containment vessel at this moment. - At 5:22am, the temperature of the suppression chamber exceeded 100 degrees. As the reactor pressure suppression function was lost, at 5:22am, it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in article 15, clause 1 has occurred. - We decided to prepare implementing measures to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessel (partial discharge of air containing radioactive materials) in order to fully secure safety. This preparation work started at around 9:43am and finished at 6:00pm. - Restoration work in reactor cooling function is in progress to achieve reactor cold shutdown.
Unit 2 (shut down at 2:48pm on March 11th) - Reactor is shut down and reactor water level is stable. - Offsite power is available. - Control rods are fully inserted (reactor is in subcritical status) - Status of main steam isolation valve: closed - Injection of water into the reactor is done by Make-up Water Condensate System. - We do not believe there is leakage of reactor coolant in the containment vessel. - At 5:32am, the temperature of the suppression chamber exceeded 100 degrees. As the reactor pressure suppression function was lost, at 5:32am, it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in article 15, clause 1 has occurred. - We decided to prepare implementing measures to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessel (partial discharge of air containing radioactive materials) in order to fully secure safety. This preparation work started at around 10:33am and finished at 10:58pm. - Restoration work in reactor cooling function is in progress to achieve reactor cold shutdown.
Unit 3 (shut down at 2:48pm on March 11th) - Reactor is shut down and reactor water level is stable. - Offsite power is available. - Control rods are fully inserted (reactor is in subcritical status) - Status of main steam isolation valve: closed - We do not believe there is leakage of reactor coolant in the containment vessel. - We decided to prepare implementing measures to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessel (partial discharge of air containing radioactive materials) in order to fully secure safety. The preparation woke started at around 12:08pm and finished at 12:13pm. - Reactor cold shutdown at 12:15pm
Unit 4 (shut down at 2:48pm on March 11th) - Reactor is shut down and reactor water level is stable. - Offsite power is available. - Control rods are fully inserted (reactor is in subcritical status) - Status of main steam isolation valve: closed - Injection of water into the reactor is done by Make-up Water Condensate System. - We do not believe there is leakage of reactor coolant in the containment vessel. - In order to cool down the reactor, injection of water into the reactor had been done by the Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System, however, At 6:07am, the temperature of the suppression chamber exceeded 100 degrees. As the reactor pressure suppression function was lost, at 6:07am, it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in article 15, clause 1 has occurred. - We decided to prepare implementing measures to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessel (partial discharge of air containing radioactive materials) in order to fully secure safety. The preparation woke started at around 11:44am and finished at around 11:52am. - Restoration work in reactor cooling function is in progress to achieve reactor cold shutdown.
Indication from monitoring posts installed at the site boundary did not show any difference from ordinary level. No radiation impact to the external environment has been confirmed. We will continue to monitor in detail the possibility of radioactive material being discharged from exhaust stack or discharge canal.
Fukushima 1 (Daiichi) reactors #4, 5, 6 are shut down and with correct and stable coolant levels
Fukushima 2 (Daini) reactors #3, 4 are shut down and with correct and stable coolant levels.
Fukushima 2 reactors #1, 2 were being cooling using a supression pool, however, as their temperature reached 100ºC this capability was lost. The operators reduced then the pressure inside the main containment building releasing the gases to the atmosphere. The operation was succesful, and even though these gases are slightly radiactive, no difference from the ordinary level at the plant has been observed. They are proceeding now to assure a cool shutdown in both units. Offsite power is available.
Fukushima 1 (Daiichi) reactors #1, 2 and 3 are shut down. Reactor #2 has lower than normal coolant levels and a procedure to release it pressure has been taken (probably emitting those gases into the atmosphere).
Fukushima 1 reactor #1, after the hydrogen explosion seen yesterday is now being filled with sea water and boric acid. BWR reactors are designed to go subcritic if steam is formed in the coolant channels, therefore, the addition of liquid water could increase its activity. A way of avoiding any risk is to add neutron absorbent boric acid, but the reactor is already shut down and no main neutron reactions should be taking place.
Fukushima 1 reactor #3 overheated. In order to pump sea water into it to restore correct coolant levels, its pressure had to be reduce opening a relief valve. Since the reactor's core might have been overheated, chemical reactions between zirconium and steam may have produced hydrogen, which when realeased into the containment building or into the atmosphere can trigger and explosion, as yesterday's. The ignitors used to burn safely this hydrogen are out of order due to power outage.
On a meltdown:
The release of iodine and cesium, carried out when the reactors' building were depressurized, means that some damage has occured to the fuel rods inside the reactors, that is, that the fuel rods have been uncovered by the coolant and overheated. However, that does not mean that the reactor's core is melting or that the reactor's vessel has failed.
The similarities with Chernobyl accident, in which the entire vessel was blown out. or other rumours spread by the media are, at this moment, not founded on facts.
Interesting, thanks.
I have noticed Fox frequently shows pictures of other areas while talking about the reactors. Things like the refinery fire. Could easily lead viewers to think the fire is at the nuclear plant.
BTTT
Thanks for post real information about the reators.
Thank you. Finally a good summary of the status with (and that’s very important with all the news flashes flying around) time stamps.
Good to hear that the situation at least for now seems to be under control.
This old Japanese nuclear reactor design cannot handle an earthquake and a tsunami. Or could it and the blame should fall on the backup diesel power? Either way, all nuclear plants should take a lesson from this disaster and retrofit if necessary
Thanks for the brief.
I think you are stepping on the hopes of those that wallow in despair and the worst case scenario imaginable.
Thanks!
So they are gonna start bleeding reactor steam on #2 now.
Thank you for posting this good summary. Accurate and realistic info is welcome amongst the hype and fear mongering.
There doesn’t appear to be a lot of smoke and dust being produced which is where radiation exposure would come from at a distance. Chernobyl burned for days before the even admitted there was a problem and by then the damage was done.
Radiation itself isn’t the same as fallout. Fallout is radiated particulate matter which is carried by the wind. You could run a nuclear reactor exposed to the open air as long as people were kept outside the radiation zone.
In a worst case scenario they’ll the reactors under sand and concrete like they did chernobyl.
I think the most important thing to remember is that reporters aren’t nuclear physicists.
Higher than ordinary radiation levels! Did you hear that? Higher than ordinary! The sky is falling!
It seems that after beginning the injection of sea water and boric acid in #1 they depressurized #3 opening a relief valve communicating the reactor vessel and the reactor building. This triggered rapid boiling of the remaining water in the reactor before sea water could be injected. Coolant levels plummeted before starting to rise again. The core was uncovered and hydrogen might have been formed.
Probably they would try the same procedure in #2 if coolant level remains below normal and all goes well in #3 .
I can check your closet and under your bed for monsters if you would like.
Personally I think we’ve regulated ourselves into danger. Here in the USA we’re running nuclear plants well past their intended service life.
Its nearly impossible to build a new state of the art nuclear plant in America so we’re stuck with retrofits that are never as safe or efficient as a whole system.
In a lot of ways we’re in a similar situation with our aging gas and oil pipelines. Excessive regulation has made risk the cost effective option.
ping
Japan Earthquake: before and after
Go to Fukushima nuclear plant and move your mouse of the image. Also looks like intakes were damaged.
Yes, I correct. Fukushima 2 (Daini) reactor #4 followed the same procedure. #3 seems to have already been declared shut down and cooled.
No thanks. I live in a world where unicorns poop skittles everywhere. Never anything at all to worry about.
radiation detected at a 2nd nuclear plant, they are trying to blame it on the other plant but that is a decent distance away
http://english.kyodo...1/03/77339.html
*Meanwhile, radiation monitored at the Onagawa nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture on the Pacific coast shot up on Sunday, Tohoku Electric Power Co. said, adding that it was likely caused by radioactive substances let out at the troubled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture.Radiation levels were very low but about 400 times as high as in normal times, the power supplier said, dismissing the possibility that the Miyagi plant was to blame.
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