February 8, 2012

Feb 8, 2012 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • On Tuesday, TEPCO increased water injection to RPV #2 to try and reduce the temperature. One monitor on the Primary Containment Vessel continued to indicate high temperature, so the operators raised flow through the core spray line from 3.8 to 6.8 tons per hour. After a few hours, the temperature dropped from 71oC to 69oC. Meanwhile, the two temperature monitors on the RPV dropped from 44oC to 40oC. It seems the RPV is being cooled faster as a result of the higher injection rate, but the PCV monitor is not dropping in temperature as quickly. As of this morning (Wednesday), the TEPCO says the problematic monitor reading had slid down to 66oC. (Mainichi Shimbun) Some of the Japanese Press maintains that if the temperature increases beyond 80oC, they will no longer be able to say unit #2 is in cold shutdown, but there seems to be no official foundation for the claim. NISA says they want the temperature to stay below 80oC so there will be a sufficient margin below the 100oC cold shutdown criteria. Nuclear disaster minister Goshi Hosono told reporters that TEPCO is making every effort to lower the temperature. He mentioned the recent plumbing changes on the water injection system, saying, “This was a process to enhance stability, but it has become clear that there is a possibility (the replacement work created) an unstable situation temporarily. We have to consider matters in an even more careful way.” In addition, some Press says there are fears of recriticality because TEPCO reported that the increased water flow includes boric acid, a fission inhibitor. Actually, the possibility of recriticality is almost zero, with or without the boric acid.
  • TEPCO says a contractor company has discovered the overflow of a temporary water pool next to unit #2 at Fukushima Daiichi. Upon the discovery, pumps feeding the pool were stopped, terminating the overflow. Investigation of nearby drainage ditches revealed none of the water in them. There was no leakage to the sea. The pool was receiving water being pumped out of several sub-drains at the plant site. The contamination level of the water is less than one Becquerel per cubic centimeter.
  • Because of the Fukushima accident, all nuclear plant operating companies have agreed to install “hardened” containment venting systems. The decision was announced by the Federation of Electric Power Companies, which represents all Japanese utilities. This includes pressurized water reactor systems surrounded by huge domed containment structures. The Japanese boiling water reactor containments, like Fukushima Daiichi, are much, much smaller and already have venting systems that need electricity to operate as designed. But, the new commitment will insure that vents will be operable by hand from remote sites in case power is lost. Operators will also write accident procedures to cover a prolonged full-station blackout, similar to what Fukushima Daiichi experienced. (NHK World)
  • The Tokyo government wants to restart two of KEPCO’s Oi nuclear plants in April. Why? Because another nuke will be shut down at the end of February and place the nation’s thin electric supply on the crucial edge. When 97% of the nation’s available power supply is being consumed, there is little margin for error and sudden loss of one large power plant’s output could cause widespread blackouts. The anticipated nuke shutdown in 2-3 weeks will bring the numbers above 97%. Hopefully, the current unprecedented cold wave gripping Japan will subside by the end of the month and lower national electricity consumption. The problem with the gov’t plan is local opposition the Oi reactors restarting. Disaster Minister Edano says he will soon meet with Fuku Prefecture Governor Nishikawa to fully explain the safety of the Oi systems and the critical need the rest of the nation has for their electricity. Sources close to Edano say they are not optimistic toward getting local consent. Both units have submitted satisfactory stress test data. (Yomiuri Shimbun)
  • Is the tide turning? 17% of the municipalities that host nukes have said they support restarts! 72% are either opposed or have not made a firm decision. The other 10% did not respond to the survey run by NHK World. When asked what, in addition to stress tests, is needed for restart approval, 48% cited a firm understanding of the Fukushima accident and 38% said the government needs improved national safety standards. Most of the opposed communities say their main concern is persuading residents the reactors are really safe. (NHK World) Up to this point the Japanese Press has made it seem that only one local community supports a nuke restart. There are at least five. Has the Press been making the situation seem worse than it is because bad news sells better than good news? Hmmm…
  • One of former P.M. Kan’s advisors in his March emergency task force says the Fukushima accident is not really over. Hiroshi Tasaka, nuclear engineering professor at Tama Universtity, warns the condition is far from resolved, “I would say (the crisis) just opened Pandora’s box.” He also said the March 25 worst case scenario submitted to Kan on March 25 showed him how dangerous spent fuel pools can be. “The storage capacities of the spent fuel pools at the nation’s nuclear power plants are reaching their limits,” Tasaka wrote in a new book, The Truth About the Nuclear Accident as Viewed From the Prime Minister’s Office. Tasaka is also concerned about the “groundless optimism” of bureaucrats and business leaders rushing to restart dozens of reactors idled since March 11. (Japan Times)
  • Glencore International’s $62 billion takeover of Xstrata will put a further financial squeeze on Japan’s already-shaky economy. “The coal market will likely tighten because the merger accelerates market domination by suppliers,” Hidetoshi Shioda, a senior analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc., said, “Japan will increase coal imports because of energy issues after the Fukushima accident.” Yuuki Sakurai, chief executive officer at Fukoku Capital Management Inc. in Tokyo said, “Fewer suppliers through mergers and acquisition activities may oligopolize (sic) the market.” (Bloomberg)