Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire: FEPC Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake 3/23

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office

As of 10:00AM (EST), March 23, 2011

At 6:30PM (JST) on March 23, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 249 micro Sv/hour.
Measurement results of environmental radioactivity level around Fukushima Nuclear Power Station announced at 7:00PM on March 23 are shown in the attached PDF file. English version is available at: http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/detail/1303962.htm
For comparison, a human receives 2,400 micro Sv per year from natural radiation in the form of sunlight, radon, and other sources. One chest CT scan generates 6,900 micro Sv per scan.

At 2:33AM on March 23, amount of seawater injection has increased by using water supply system in addition to water extinction system (from 2 cubic meter per hour to 18 cubic meter per hour).
At 2:00PM on March 23, pressure inside the reactor core: 0.376MPa.
At 2:00PM on March 23, water level inside the reactor core: 1.7 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
At 2:00PM on March 23, pressure inside the primary containment vessel: 0.345MPaabs.
As of 2:00PM on March 23, the injection of seawater into the reactor core continues.
As of 7:00PM on March 23, external power generation is connected through Unit 2 and the functionality of the electric devices is being checked.

At 4:07PM on March 22, TEPCO began to inject seawater into the spent fuel storage pool, until 5:01PM (approximately 18 tons in total)
At 4:20AM on March 23, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 123.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
At 2:00PM on March 23, pressure inside the reactor core: -0.036MPa.
At 2:00PM on March 23, water level inside the reactor core: 1.25 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
At 2:00PM on March 23, pressure inside the primary containment vessel: 0.11MPaabs.
As of 2:00PM on March 23, the injection of seawater into the reactor core continues.
As of 7:00PM on March 23, approximately 58 tons of water in total has been injected into the spent fuel storage pool.
As of 7:00PM on March 23, external power generation is connected and the functionality of the electric devices is being checked.

At 10:46PM on March 22, lighting was restored in the Central Control Room.
At 9:10AM on March 23, pressure inside the reactor core: -0.104MPa.
At 9:10AM on March 23, water level inside the reactor core: 1.8 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
At 9:10AM on March 23, pressure inside the primary containment vessel: 0.1MPaabs.
At 11:00AM on March 23, TEPCO began to inject water into the spent fuel pool, until 1:20PM (approximately 35 tons in total).
At 4:20PM on March 23, black smoke was emitted from the secondary containment building. (Under investigation)
As of 2:00PM on March 23, the injection of seawater into the reactor core continues.
As of 7:00PM on March 23, approximately 3,927 tons of water in total has been shot to the spent fuel storage pool.

At 5:17PM on March 22, TEPCO began to shoot water aimed at the spent fuel pool, until 8:32PM, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping concrete (approximately 150 tons in total).
At 10:00AM on March 23, TEPCO began to shoot water aimed at the spent fuel pool, until 1:02PM, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping concrete (approximately 130 tons in total).
As of 7:00PM on March 23, approximately 535 tons of water in total has been shot to the spent fuel storage pool.
As of 7:00PM on March 23, external power generation is connected and the functionality of the electric devices is being checked.

At 7:41PM on March 22, it was confirmed that power supply was completely switched form diesel generator to external power.
At 2:00PM on March 23, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

At 7:41PM on March 22, it was confirmed that power supply was completely switched form diesel generator to external power.
At 2:00PM on March 23, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 67.1 degrees Fahrenheit.

From: Taro Ishida [ishida@denjiren.com]
Sent: 03/23/2011 10:17 AM AST
To: Taro Ishida <ishida@denjiren.com>
Cc: Samuel Lederer <lederer@denjiren.com>
Subject:

Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake (from FEPC Washington Office)

Dear Friends,

Please find the updated information sheet below and attached that summarizes the events from Update-10 sent at 10:33AM on 3/22.

For your reference, JAIF (Japan Atomic Industrial Forum) has been posting the translation of news reports on their website.

Please direct any questions regarding this document to me, Ishida@denjiren.com or Samuel Lederer, Researcher of FEPC at lederer@denjiren.com.

Our official sources are:

Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire