Posted on 05/25/2011 7:42:21 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Two damaged reactors may have holes in their containment vessels: TEPCO data
At least two reactors at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant may have holes in their containment vessels, according to a report released by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) on May 24, a finding that could hamper efforts to meet a government-sanctioned timetable to end the crisis.
TEPCO, the operator of the troubled nuclear power plant, said in the report that meltdowns had occurred at the No. 1, 2 and 3 reactors. The report revealed for the first time the possibility of the No. 1 and 2 reactors having a hole about 7 centimeters in diameter and multiple holes about 10 centimeters in diameter in their respective containment vessels.
TEPCO said the damage caused by meltdowns to the pressure vessels of the No. 2 and 3 reactors was "limited." But experts had questioned the status of their pressure vessels as well as their containment vessels because highly contaminated radioactive water was leaked into their turbine buildings. Therefore, it has become increasingly unclear whether the utility and the government can deliver on the roadmap that seeks to bring the nuclear power plant under control within six to nine months.
(Excerpt) Read more at mdn.mainichi.jp ...
P!
Excellent
What would tepco like me to do about it
Excellent
What would tepco like me to do about it
I thought the containment vessels were designed for this sort of event (meltdown).
I’m getting my tin foil hat back out. This stuff gives me the heebie jeebies.
Expect more of these type of reports. I’m sure we will not know the whole truth for some time. It is the ultimate disgrace to the Japanese to lose face or respect.
The 2 events surpassed the design parameters of the plant.
The containment vessel/building is 3rd part of a reactor’s defense in depth. The first is the fuel rod cladding, then the reactor pressure vessel, then the containment building.
It is the reactor pressure vessel’s integrity that would be of most concern as it holds the fuel rods, which have melted to varying degrees.
The result of melt down right through the containment concrete.
There is no way to sop it.
Better with your lead foil hat and other things than tin foil. Tin doesn't block enough radiation.
Good point. LOL!
“I thought the containment vessels were designed for this sort of event (meltdown).”
Nope. A containment vessel is meant to contain the situation if the pressure vessel is compromised, say, if the melted fuel rods puddle in the bottom of the pressure vessel and then melt on through that. Not good if the containment vessel has been breached, because the next thing after that is dirt.
The pressure vessels weren't compromised?
TEPCO, the operator of the troubled nuclear power plant, said in the report that meltdowns had occurred at the No. 1, 2 and 3 reactors.-——
meltdowns had occured..
Can’t be right, too many ‘freepers’ attacked anyone (other freepers) who posted even a concern about this....
“The pressure vessels weren’t compromised?”
According to this article, and several others, the pressure vessels were indeed compromised, hence the references to 7cm and 10cm holes in them in this article.
Presumably, the melted puddle of fuel rods in the bottom of the pressure vessel melted those holes and then at least some of the puddle continued to leak out the holes into the bottom of the containment vessel, which by the way, is a large, hollow concrete structure that houses the much smaller stainless steel pressure vessel.
Now it’s also looking like the containment vessel is compromised too, though I haven’t seen any details as to the nature of the damage, e.g., cracks from the earthquake, broken pipe fittings, and/or melted-down fuel rods melting through the bottom of the containment vessel.
Well, those details would certainly help.
It's difficult to believe that an earthquake would put (relatively small) holes in a monolithic concrete structure without cracks being present also.
Depends on what you mean by "meltdown." Everyone knew that the fuel rods had been damaged and melted, that was evident from very early on. If you take "meltdown" to mean the same thing as the mythological "China Syndrome" BS, then there's a failure of communication here.
The core melted and puddled at the bottom of the TMI reactor, and only made it through a quarter-inch of the 5-inch-thick steel. Unless they've changed the laws of physics since then, I would expect the same result at Fukushima.
Chernobyl’s melted core couldn’t even melt a steel steam plenum
Chernobyl exploded and spread the nuclear material all over the country side. There was no nuclear explosion here,just a big pool of super hot melted fuel rods and nuclear fuel material.
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