June 26, 2014

Jun 26, 2014 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • Tepco reports that 1122 of 1533 fuel bundles have been removed from unit #4. 1100 of them are spent (irradiated) bundles, with another 331 yet to be transferred. Fuel bundle removal now stands at 73% without incident. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/decommision/index-e.html
  • The restart of Tepco’s advanced isotopic removal system marks a “major upgrade”. The Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) is back in full, three-stream operation, processing 750 tons of contaminated water per day. ALPS has been off-line for replacement of radiation-degraded filter gaskets and other technical upgrades. ALPS removes the radioactive isotopes that remain after the water is run through the Cesium absorption system (SARRY), except for Tritium. The B stream was restarted on May 23rd, the A stream on June 9th, and the C stream on June 22nd. Since ALPS installation began in October of 2012, the system has processed 86,000 tons of wastewaters. Tepco says they will begin installation of two additional similar facilities with more rugged, higher adsorption capabilities. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1238403_5892.html
  • Tepco says Tritium contamination has been found in a deep groundwater layer. A deep sample taken June 4th has shown 4,700 Becquerels per liter of Tritium. This is well-below Japan’s limit of 60,000 Bq/liter and the World Health Organization’s suggested standard of 10,000 Bq/liter. However, this is higher than had been previously found in any of the other deep wells. The deep groundwater layer is about 25 meters below the surface. The pressure in the layer is actually lower than the groundwater flowing above it, which Tepco says may make it possible for contaminated waters above to mix with uncontaminated below. The shoreline barriers along the shoreline go down about 100 meters, so the company says the deep layer’s lower pressure may be due to barrier construction. NHK World; Contamination could spread in deep water; June 25, 2014
  • Tepco has posted radioactive concentrations in the unit #3 and #4 basements. In unit #3, Cesium-134 concentration is 5,600 Becquerels per milliliter, Cs-137 16,000 Bq/ml, and “total Beta activity” is 52,000 Bq/ml. In unit #4, Cs-134 is 840 Bq/ml, Cs-137 is 2,300 Bq/ml, and total Beta is 5,500 Bq/ml. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2014/images/tb_water_140624-e.pdf
  • Muon-detection may be used to find the location of the damaged cores at F. Daiichi. The system was used earlier this year to identify the exact location of the core of the Toshiba test reactor in Kawasaki. The Toshiba Company is expected to coordinate with Los Alamos National Laboratory to use the system at F. Daiichi. Los Alamos developed the dtechnology which uses Muons in cosmic rays to create x-ray-like images of extremely dense materials. Uranium is one of the densest known elements, and is much denser than the thick concrete walls surrounding the reactor vessels of the three damaged units. Until this year, the technology was used to screen shipping containers for smuggled uranium or plutonium that could be used in weapons. The lab’s new version is much more ambitious and focuses on mapping rather than mere detection. Muons are generated in the upper atmosphere and rain down on our entire planet’s surface, penetration a hundred feet or more. The bombardment of Muons is constant with a concentration of about 10,000 per square meter. When a Muon hits a massive atom, like Uranium, it changes direction. The process of mapping these deflections is called “Muon tomography”. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/18/world/asia/measuring-damage-at-fukushima-without-eyes-on-the-inside.html?_r=1
  • Tokyo estimated what the radiation levels will be for Okuma and Futaba in seven years. These are the two “host” communities for F. Daiichi and experienced the highest concentrations of contamination from the nuke accident. Both communities will likely have radiation levels below the 20 millisievert per year threshold for repopulation by 2021, if planned decontamination is as effective as planned; locations now reading 100 mSv/yr will be at 9-19 mSv/yr for people living in wooden houses and spending 6.5 hours per day outdoors. Even without cleanup work the doses will reduce to 37 mSv/yr due to the effects of time and weathering. NHK World; Govt. estimates efficacy of decontamination; June 24, 2014 — http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201406240055
  • The delay in assessing Sendai restart applications means Japan will have a “no-nukes” summer. The two Sendai units in Kagoshima Prefecture are thought to be the front-runners for restarts. The original plan was to resume operations in August, but Kyushu Electric Company had to re-submit its applications on June 24th with additional information mandated by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority. The NRA says they will not be able to process the 800-plus pages of the applications before the end of July. http://fukushimaupdate.com/japan-to-be-nuclear-free-this-summer-for-first-time-since-2011/
  • Antinuclear petitions were rejected at all nine nuclear utility annual shareholder meetings. There was a sparsely-attended antinuclear protest in Tokyo with heavy Press coverage. A few dozen people chanted antinuclear mantras and professed anger with restarts. A minority of shareowners inside called for a ban on resuming nuclear operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa station, and demanded its dismantlement. Futaba’s fanatic former mayor, Katsutaka Idogawa, garnered considerable Press. He bought a few Tepco shares in order to be allowed into the meeting. Idogawa joined with members of the group called “Nuclear Phase-Out TEPCO Shareholder’s Movement” before the meeting and spouted, “Why did we have to leave Futaba? It is a crime not to take responsibility.” Once inside, he lashed out at the company saying, “Why don’t you get exposed to radiation yourself? Why don’t you lose your homeland? You don’t pay enough compensation and don’t take responsibility. I can’t forgive you!” http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/06/26/business/corporate-business/tepco-shrugs-activist-investors/#.U6wQgaNOUdU — http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/angry-scenes-as-tepco-shareholders-demand-end-to-nuclear — http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140626p2g00m0bu056000c.html — http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140626p2a00m0na017000c.html