July 13, 2015

Jul 13, 2015 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • Sendai unit #1 Fuel loading was completed just after midnight on Friday. Now, pre-operational testing has begun. The plant’s staff will also run a four-day long accident-response drill and inspect emergency facilities, all under the scrutiny of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority. Kyushu Electric Co., the station owner, said it will continue to sincerely cooperate with the NRA and put safety first throughout the process. Kyushu Elec. Was the first to file for restart consideration after the new safety regulations were handed down in July, 2013. It was also reported that Sendai #1 may restart as early as August 10th.  http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html — http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002279085 — http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201507110054
  • Four utilities are actively pursuing Boiling Water Reactor restarts. The safety requirements for BWRs are more complicated than with Pressurized Water Reactor systems, largely because Fukushima Daiichi is a BWR station. The main issues are with depressurization (venting) systems and prevention of releases of airborne contamination during a nuclear accident. The large, domed containments at PWRs are far more forgiving than the BWR-type used across Japan. The NRA will select which BWR unit(s) will be given priority for restart reviews, just as the two Sendai units were given primacy with PWRs. Five BWRs have jointly had their applications for restart examined by Tokyo’s watchdog; Onagawa unit #2 (Tohoku Elec.), Kashiwazaki-Kariwa units#6&7 (Tepco), Hamaoka unit 4 (Chubu Elec.), and Shimane unit 2 (Chugoku Elec.). One of the current review hold-ups is whether or not each plant’s seismic design meets the new regulations. The NRA says the first plant to be examined will be the one whose staff best responds to severe accident issues concerning protection of containment integrity. http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/nra-hears-from-power-companies-on-bwr-countermeasures/
  • Tepco has posted the current status of filling the unit #2 equipment tunnels shafts with concrete. Of the four vertical shafts, it appears that three are completed and one (shaft “B”) is still in process. All contaminated water was removed from the tunnels by June 30th. The linked Press handout has pictures of the concrete supply vehicle used for the filling of the shafts. Though not close-ups, it appears that none of the workers are required to wear full face-masks and anti-contamination suits. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2015/images/handouts_150710_01-e.pdf