March 31, 2014

Mar 31, 2014 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • The reason for stoppage of the unit 4 fuel crane was human error. It automatically stopped just as the crane operator began lifting the spent fuel cask from the pool. As it turns out, the operator did not release the auxiliary brake which is engaged as a safety measure while the crane is not being used. He immediately noticed his error, released the brake, and tried to restart the crane’s motor. But, the automatic shutdown circuitry would not allow it to happen. Tepco says there has been no damage to the crane or its lifting motor. They will resume spent fuel transfer from the unit #4 pool as soon as preventative measures are instituted so that this doesn’t happen again. Tepco resumed crane operation on Sunday. F. Daiichi staff inspected the crane motor and lifting mechanism for damage, but found none. NHK World; Fuel removal resumes at Fukushima plant; March 30, 2014
  • As of this morning, 550 fuel bundles have been removed from the unit #4 fuel pool. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/decommision/index-e.html A
  • F. Daiichi contract worker died in a construction accident on Friday. He was working in a trench excavated along the basement on a warehouse about 200 meters from the nearest reactor building. The earthen walls and some of the basement material collapsed on top of the worker and killed him. A two meter trench had been dug to effect the repair of the warehouse’s foundation piles. The warehouse had been emptied before the trench was dug. A Tepco spokesman said, “When he was checking underneath the foundation, a mass of concrete collapsed along with the earth around it and fell on him.” He worked for one of the many subcontractors at F. Daiichi. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1235120_5892.html — http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/fukushima-worker-dies-after-being-buried-in-landslide
  • The release of uncontaminated groundwater could begin as early as May. Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said that the company will wait until the sand launce fishing season has finished at the end of April. Motegi announced the timetable at a meeting with Soma fishermen. He said the government will support all requests that have been submitted by the local fisheries including testing of the groundwater by a third party institution and compensating fishermen for any lost income due to radiation fears in the marketplace. Tetsu Nozaki, the head of the fishermen’s federation, said that since answers were given to their requests, he wants all federation members to support acceptance of the plan.  http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2014033000187 – NHK World; Groundwater dumping requests accepted; March 31, 2014
  • The sole operating ALPS isotopic removal unit was stopped briefly on Saturday night. The reason was a lower-than-desired flow rate at the intake of the pump that moves contaminated water from storage and sends it into the system. Technicians washed the pump internals after it was shut off. Another attempt for full rated flow failed. Later that evening, after repeated washings, the flow had risen to the desired level and the unit’s operation was restored. NHK World; Water treatment system halted with pump trouble; March 30, 2014
  • Researchers have found another way to reduce F. Daiichi groundwater contamination – freezing. Professor Masao Matsuyama of the university’s Hydrogen Isotope Research Center and professor emeritus Katsutoshi Tsushima, Japan’s leading glaciology researcher, headed the team. They put 10 liters of water with 1,500 Becquerels per liter of Cesium in a freezing apparatus. As it slowly froze, a 5.4 kilogram “icicle” formed. The icicle was melted and found to have only 61 Bq/l of Cesium. The outer part of the icicle had only about 5.6 Bq/l. Professor Matsuyama said, “I recalled icicles in nature, (and how pure they are even in mud), and though I was skeptical, our experiment produced results. This method should be able to assist the ALPS system [at F. Daiichi].” http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140330p2a00m0na008000c.html