Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Expanded NRC Questions and Answers related to the March 11, 2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami (May 20, 2011)
Expanded NRC Questions and Answers related to the March 11, 2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami (May 20, 2011)
Fukushima: NRC's basis for 50-mile evacuation recommendation 05/27/11
Fukushima: NRC's basis for 50-mile evacuation recommendation
05/27/11
Fukushima Daiici Video; Dust Inhibitor
Fukushima Daiici Video; Dust Inhibitor
Tokyo Electric Power Company has released a new video showing the first extensive coverage of the dust inhibitor operations on site.FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI DUST INHIBITOR OPERATIONS ON APR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Gundersen Gives Testimony to NRC ACRS by Fairewinds Associates plus
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) held a special ACRS meeting Thursday May 26, 2011 on the current status of Fukushima. Arnie Gundersen was invited to speak for 5 minutes concerning the lessons learned from the Fukushima accident as it pertains to the 23 Mark 1 Boiling Water Reactors (BWR's) in the US and containment integrity. Mr. Gundersen was the first engineer to brief the NRC on the implication of Main Steam Isolation Valve (MSIV) Leakage in 1974, and he has been studying containment integrity since 1972. The NRC has constantly maintained in all of its calculations and reviews that there is zero probability of a containment leaking. For more than six years, in testimony and in correspondence with the NRC, Mr. Gundersen has disputed the NRC's stand that containment systems simply do not and cannot leak. The events at Fukushima have proven that Gundersen was correct. The explosions at Fukushima show that Mark 1 containments will lose their integrity and release huge amounts of radiation, as Mr. Gundersen has been telling the NRC for many years. * Updates on Fukushima: The Implications of the Fukushima Accident on the World's Operating Reactors
Updates on Fukushima:
http://www.fairewinds.com/
More from The Thorium Alliance Conference
More from The Thorium Alliance Conference
http://nucleargreen.blogspot.com/2011/05/more-from-thorium-alliance-conference.html
Issa Presses NRC’s Jaczko on Failing to Respond in Japan Inquiry
Issa Presses NRC’s Jaczko on Failing to Respond in Japan Inquiry
Friday, May 27, 2011
Japanese scientist: Fukushima meltdown occurred within hours of quake
Japanese scientist: Fukushima meltdown occurred within hours of quake
Uranium could reach $80/lb this year, says UEC boss
Uranium could reach $80/lb this year, says UEC boss
* MAY 27, 2011, 5:30 A.M. ET Low-carbon Power Would Deliver Just Half Required CO2 Cuts -IEA
Low-carbon Power Would Deliver Just Half Required CO2 Cuts -IEA
Tepco Failed to Disclose Scale of Fukushima Radiation Leaks, Academics Say
Tepco Failed to Disclose Scale of Fukushima Radiation Leaks, Academics Say
Nuke plant issues aired Fairfield County facility inspected after Japan quake
Nuke plant issues aired
Fairfield County facility inspected after Japan quake
Intl. Energy Agency: Transforming Electrical Generation is Key to Fighting Climate Change
Intl. Energy Agency: Transforming Electrical Generation is Key to Fighting Climate Change
IAEA International Fact-Finding Mission Updates 5/27
UPDATE: Fact-Finding Mission Visits Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (27 May 2011)
The IAEA's Fact-Finding Mission in Japan visited the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on 27 May 2011, the final site visit of the team's programme to identify lessons from the Japanese nuclear accident that could help improve global nuclear safety.
The team's international experts from 12 nations held discussions with top plant operating officials and toured the six-reactor facility.
"Visiting Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was a once-in-a-lifetime experience - once in 10 lifetimes, I suspect. Our team left with great admiration for the extraordinary workers who have been undertaking such immensely difficult tasks," said team leader Mike Weightman, the United Kingdom's chief inspector of nuclear installations.
Next for the team are continuing discussions with Japanese officials from a variety of agencies as part of an exchange of technical data that will assist the mission in drafting its report, which will be presented to the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety at IAEA headquarters in Vienna on 20 to 24 June.
UPDATE 1-G8 leaders want tougher nuclear safety rules
UPDATE 1-G8 leaders want tougher nuclear safety rules
Japan Seeks Lead Role in Nuclear Safety Guidelines
Japan Seeks Lead Role in Nuclear Safety Guidelines
US Nuclear Industry's Response To Fukushima Shaped By BP Oil Spill
US Nuclear Industry's Response To Fukushima Shaped By BP Oil Spill
UPDATE 1-Westinghouse sees no change in AP1000 nuclear design
UPDATE 1-Westinghouse sees no change in AP1000 nuclear design
Westinghouse Press Release Clarifyin Facts Regarding NRC Statement on AP1000
Westinghouse Clarifies Facts Regarding NRC Statements On AP1000
- Believes statements about discovery and severity of issues are being misinterpreted
- Emphasizes high level of testing, analysis and independent endorsements
- Will work with NRC and remains confident of final approvals this fall
- Emphasizes high level of testing, analysis and independent endorsements
- Will work with NRC and remains confident of final approvals this fall
PITTSBURGH, May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Officials of Westinghouse Electric Company today said they are disappointed that recent U.S. NRC statements regarding the discovery of new issues relating to the approval of design amendments for the AP1000® nuclear power plant are being misinterpreted and sensationalized.
The company also said the NRC statements, including a news release issued May 20, do not reflect Westinghouse’s transparent and cooperative approach to the handling of the discovery and severity of the few remaining issues that need to be resolved before receiving approval from the NRC.
“The AP1000 nuclear energy plant is a highly robust and safe plant that has undergone an extremely intensive series of tests and reviews by the NRC, the independent Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, university experts and numerous other independent third parties,” said Ric Perez, president of Operations for the company. ”The AP1000 is very likely the most closely scrutinized nuclear energy plant in history, now having undergone several years of exhaustive system and component testing, public debates, design reviews and multi-national regulatory oversight. We are confident that it is extremely safe.”
The company is aware of only three issues remaining to be validated, none of which are safety significant. The issues involve the final submittal of confirmatory calculation in the areas described below. All three issues have undergone preliminary analyses which have been seen by the NRC for familiarity and clarity. All preliminary analyses results support the positions and bases taken by the staff in their advanced safety evaluation made in February 2011. None of the three issues is anticipated to lead to any design change in the plant as submitted by Westinghouse in December 2010 (DCD-18).
- In December 2010, the NRC and Westinghouse agreed that containment vessel internal pressure calculation would need to be revised. It was determined late in April that documentation of the calculation was required prior to the design certification amendment. The revised calculation will be reviewed with the NRC in a public forum on June 2.
- In April 2011, the NRC challenged the analytical guidelines used by Westinghouse in its comprehensive Shield Building Design Report submitted in May 2010. Specifically, the NRC challenged the position that climatic thermal loads (e.g. sunshine) need not be combined with seismic loads in structural design calculations due to their small impact and based on prior U.S. building code practice. Westinghouse disagreed with the NRC position that the load combination was a strict code compliance issue due to the shield building’s steel-composite structure and clear treatment in the design report. Nevertheless, Westinghouse agreed to perform the detailed load combination calculations to provide additional assurances to the NRC. To date, Westinghouse has completed preliminary calculations which, as expected, require no change to the shield building design. This information was presented to the NRC during a public meeting last week
- The third issue relates to what design model was used for the design of the passive containment cooling system (PCS) tank. There are two technically acceptable models but each treat differently the hydrodynamic forces from water in the tank. The May 2010 Shield Building Design Report references the specific model to be used for each structure contacting the PCS tank. However, during the confirmatory work on loads discussed above, Westinghouse self-identified that it did not use the specific model outputs for one corner structure of the tank. The specific model loads and structural analysis have now been used, and Westinghouse is working to verify preliminary conclusions that indicate that there is no reason to change the tank design.
While Westinghouse strongly believes that safety is the utmost priority and that a transparent review process involving the public is critical, it also believes that it has already proven to the NRC that the AP1000 pressurized water reactor is a highly robust design that will take nuclear safety to an even higher level. In any case, the company has pledged to work cooperatively and transparently with the NRC to address any outstanding technical issues.
“We have defended openly our claims of safety for the past six years, starting with the original design certification of the AP1000. We have always reiterated to the staff that getting things right is our first priority. Our behaviors towards these last few issues continue to reinforce that practice.” Mr. Perez said. “We are confident that we will resolve any legitimate and objective concerns and receive final approval of the design amendments as planned this fall.”
Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502), is the world’s pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Westinghouse supplied the world’s first pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world’s operating nuclear plants, including 60 percent of those in the United States.
WordpressURL Westinghouse Clarifies Facts Regarding NRC Statements on AP1000
Westinghouse Clarifies Facts Regarding NRC Statements on AP1000
Shale Gas Market $26.66bn in 2011 - New Study Available on ASDReports.com
Shale Gas Market $26.66bn in 2011 - New Study Available on ASDReports.com
Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes Modeling meltdowns in reactors and the media
Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes
Modeling meltdowns in reactors and the media
Computer predictions of failure at FukushimaU.S.- Russia Reaffirm Commitment to Cooperation on Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Technology
U.S.- Russia Reaffirm Commitment to Cooperation on Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Technology
Aggressive Efficiency and Electrification Needed to Cut California Emissions
Aggressive Efficiency and Electrification Needed to Cut California Emissions
Berkeley CA (SPX) May 27, 2011 - In the next 40 years, California's population is expected to surge from 37 million to 55 million and the demand for energy is expected to double. Given those daunting numbers, can California really reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, as required by an executive order? Scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory who co-wrote a new report on Calif ... more
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Aggressive_Efficiency_and_Electrification_Needed_to_Cut_California_Emissions_999.html
Berkeley CA (SPX) May 27, 2011 - In the next 40 years, California's population is expected to surge from 37 million to 55 million and the demand for energy is expected to double. Given those daunting numbers, can California really reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, as required by an executive order? Scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory who co-wrote a new report on Calif ... more
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Aggressive_Efficiency_and_Electrification_Needed_to_Cut_California_Emissions_999.html
Russia hopes for nuclear safety rules progress at G8
Russia hopes for nuclear safety rules progress at G8
Deauville, France (AFP) May 26, 2011 - Russia said Thursday it was likely to win agreement from its G8 partners for its proposals for new legally-binding nuclear safety rules after Japan's Fukushima disaster. "The likelihood is very high because there is simply no alternative to that," said Nikolai Spassky, deputy head of state nuclear body Rosatom. Spassky told reporters on the sidelines of the G8 summit that France supporte ... more
Deauville, France (AFP) May 26, 2011 - Russia said Thursday it was likely to win agreement from its G8 partners for its proposals for new legally-binding nuclear safety rules after Japan's Fukushima disaster. "The likelihood is very high because there is simply no alternative to that," said Nikolai Spassky, deputy head of state nuclear body Rosatom. Spassky told reporters on the sidelines of the G8 summit that France supporte ... more
Using the energy in oil shale without releasing carbon dioxide in a greenhouse world
Using the energy in oil shale without releasing carbon dioxide in a greenhouse world
Stanford CA (SPX) May 27, 2011 - New technology that combines production of electricity with capture of carbon dioxide could make billions of barrels of oil shale - now regarded as off-limits because of the huge amounts of carbon dioxide released in its production - available as an energy source in a greenhouse world of the future. That's the conclusion of a report on "electricity production with in situ carbon capture" ( ... more
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Using_the_energy_in_oil_shale_without_releasing_carbon_dioxide_in_a_greenhouse_world_999.html
Stanford CA (SPX) May 27, 2011 - New technology that combines production of electricity with capture of carbon dioxide could make billions of barrels of oil shale - now regarded as off-limits because of the huge amounts of carbon dioxide released in its production - available as an energy source in a greenhouse world of the future. That's the conclusion of a report on "electricity production with in situ carbon capture" ( ... more
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Using_the_energy_in_oil_shale_without_releasing_carbon_dioxide_in_a_greenhouse_world_999.html
A Gas Power Plant to Make Renewables More Practical
A Gas Power Plant to Make Renewables More Practical
GE says its new gas-plant design can address the sudden drops that occur with renewable forms of energy.
Westinghouse Develops a System to Keep Spent Nuclear Fuel Cool in Emergency Situations
Westinghouse Develops a System to Keep Spent Nuclear Fuel Cool in Emergency Situations
Third Thorium Energy Alliance marks rapid progress toward fulfillment of dreams
Third Thorium Energy Alliance marks rapid progress toward fulfillment of dreams
IAEA UPDATE: Fact-Finding Mission Review Tsunami Damage at Tokai Daini and Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plants (26 May 2011)
UPDATE: Fact-Finding Mission Review Tsunami Damage at Tokai Daini and Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plants (26 May 2011)
The IAEA's Fact-Finding Mission in Japan visited two nuclear power plants in northeastern Japan on 26 May 2011 as part of the team's effort to identify lessons from the Japanese nuclear accident that could improve global nuclear safety.
Team members spent the morning at the Tokai Daini Nuclear Power Plant and then visited the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant. The team's experts from 12 nations examined the Tokai Daini Nuclear Power Plant and then visited the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant to review the damage at both sites and held technical talks with plant operators.
TEPCO Press Releases 5/27
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Scientific Estate: The Whale and the Reactor Redux
The Scientific Estate: The Whale and the Reactor Redux
Reassessing California's Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in a post-Fukushima world
By G. Pascal Zachary / May 2011
A quake could cut Diablo access, escape
A quake could cut Diablo access, escape
The NRC says state highways and roads by the reactors are vulnerable but provides no answersBY DAVID WEISMAN
'Bright future' for nuclear power
'Bright future' for nuclear power
If thorium had been used instead of uranium as the fuel in Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant, there would have been no risk of a meltdown after the country's devastating earthquake and tsunami. And South Africa has 18 000 tonnes of the material, according to John Prior of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation.
Nuclear meltdown and revolution boost renewables – E&Y
Nuclear meltdown and revolution boost renewables – E&Y
26 May 2011
Japan’s nuclear disaster and political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa have spurred momentum in the global renewables sector, but declining incentives and access to finance remain obstacles to growth, according to Ernst & Young.
US, Russia reset faces new challenges
US, Russia reset faces new challenges
Deauville, France (AFP) May 26, 2011 - Despite diplomatic payoffs and a "free-flowing" dialogue with the Kremlin, the legacy of Cold War history and suspicion sometimes still challenges the "reset" US-Russia relationship. Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev met Thursday on the sides of the G8 economic summit in France, and there were the usual professions of friendship, cooperation and praise for how far they have come in ... more
Deauville, France (AFP) May 26, 2011 - Despite diplomatic payoffs and a "free-flowing" dialogue with the Kremlin, the legacy of Cold War history and suspicion sometimes still challenges the "reset" US-Russia relationship. Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev met Thursday on the sides of the G8 economic summit in France, and there were the usual professions of friendship, cooperation and praise for how far they have come in ... more
Greenpeace warns of radioactive sea life off Japan
Greenpeace warns of radioactive sea life off Japan
Tokyo (AFP) May 26, 2011 -
Environmental group Greenpeace warned Thursday that marine life it tested more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) off Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant showed radiation far above legal limits. The anti-nuclear group, which conducted the coastal and offshore tests this month, criticised Japanese authorities for their "continued inadequate response to the Fukushima nuclear crisis" sparked by ... more
Tokyo (AFP) May 26, 2011 -
Environmental group Greenpeace warned Thursday that marine life it tested more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) off Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant showed radiation far above legal limits. The anti-nuclear group, which conducted the coastal and offshore tests this month, criticised Japanese authorities for their "continued inadequate response to the Fukushima nuclear crisis" sparked by ... more
G8 'fully confident' Japan will recover from nuke disaster
G8 'fully confident' Japan will recover from nuke disaster
Deauville, France (AFP) May 26, 2011 -
G8 leaders meeting in France are to express complete confidence that their partner Japan will make a full recovery from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, according to a draft statement Thursday. "In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, we expressed heartfelt sympathy for the victims and solidarity with the people and government of Japan," said the proposed ... more
Deauville, France (AFP) May 26, 2011 -
G8 leaders meeting in France are to express complete confidence that their partner Japan will make a full recovery from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, according to a draft statement Thursday. "In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, we expressed heartfelt sympathy for the victims and solidarity with the people and government of Japan," said the proposed ... more
Expert discovers simple method of dealing with harmful radioactive iodine
Expert discovers simple method of dealing with harmful radioactive iodine
by Staff Writers Sheffield UK (SPX) May 27, 2011 Iodine radioisotopes are produced by fission of uranium fuel in a nuclear reactor. Radioactive iodine is of concern because it is highly mobile in the environment and selective uptake by the thyroid gland can pose a significant cancer risk following long term exposure.
Iodine-131 was the harmful gas emitted from the Fukushima power plant in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami last month, and was a significant contributor to the health effects from open-air atomic bomb testing in the 1950s, and was also emitted during the Chernobyl disaster. |
Fitting wind onto the electricity grid (part 2)
ANS Nuclear Cafe
Fitting wind onto the electricity grid (part 2)
By Ulrich DecherFukushima Faces ‘Massive’ Radioactive Water Problem
Fukushima Faces ‘Massive’ Radioactive Water Problem
Reportlinker Adds Power Market in Western Europe to 2020 - Government Policies Downplaying the Nuclear Energy Industry and Spurring the Growth of Renewable Energy
Reportlinker Adds Power Market in Western Europe to 2020 - Government Policies Downplaying the Nuclear Energy Industry and Spurring the Growth of Renewable Energy
Altmire & Murphy Promote Nuclear Reactor Act By Abhinav Parameshwar, Contributing Writer
Altmire & Murphy Promote Nuclear Reactor Act
By Abhinav Parameshwar, Contributing WriterSarkozy to Kan: Energy policy not just a choice of nuclear power
Sarkozy to Kan: Energy policy not just a choice of nuclear power
SA still going nuclear
SA still going nuclear
May 26, 2011 3:10 PM | By Sapa
Energy Minister Dipuo Peters reiterated government's commitment to nuclear and renewable energy as part of the integrated resources plan (IRP).
Tepco's handling of Japan's nuclear crisis under severe scrutiny
Tepco's handling of Japan's nuclear crisis under severe scrutiny
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s visit to Japan this week coincides with unprecedented criticism of the Tokyo Electric Power Company's handling of Japan's nuclear crisis following the March 11 earthquake.
Nuclear debate should include hazards of sticking with fossil fuel
Nuclear debate should include hazards of sticking with fossil fuel
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Nuclear+debate+should+include+hazards+sticking+with+fossil+fuel/4475720/story.html#ixzz1NVlrQYDX
UPDATE 4-EU finalises "stress tests" for nuclear reactors
UPDATE 4-EU finalises "stress tests" for nuclear reactors
South Texas Project plans for 2011 hurricane season
South Texas Project plans for 2011 hurricane season
Japanese refuse to bow to authority Furious public demands truth about meltdown
Japanese refuse to bow to authority
Furious public demands truth about meltdown
Shaw Power Group taps small nuclear reactor industry
Shaw Power Group taps small nuclear reactor industry
Charlotte Business Journal - by John Downey
Read more: Shaw Power Group taps small nuclear reactor industry | Charlotte Business Journal
Fukushima May Become Graveyard for Radioactive Waste From Crippled Plant
Fukushima May Become Graveyard for Radioactive Waste From Crippled Plant
Three Reactors at Japanese Plant Have Melted Fuel, NRC Says
Three Reactors at Japanese Plant Have Melted Fuel, NRC Says
GE Vice Chairman Sees Nuclear Sector Delays After Japan Crisis
GE Vice Chairman Sees Nuclear Sector Delays After Japan Crisis
Fukushima's Limited Impact On The Global Nuclear Industry
Fukushima's Limited Impact On The Global Nuclear Industry
Did Fukushima Kill the Nuclear Renaissance in the U.S.?
Did Fukushima Kill the Nuclear Renaissance in the U.S.?
UPDATED ANALYSIS: The Costs of Canceling Japan's Plans for Nuclear Power
UPDATED ANALYSIS: The Costs of Canceling Japan's Plans for Nuclear Power
NEI Weekly Intelligence Brief
Business Intelligence for the nuclear industry
Weekly Intelligence Brief
Weekly Intelligence Brief 19 May – 26 May 2011
Post Fukushima - Investigations, Recriminations and Squabbling in Tokyo but Cautious Optimism Elsewhere in Asia
Business Intelligence for the nuclear industry
Industry Insight
Post Fukushima - Investigations, Recriminations and Squabbling in Tokyo but Cautious Optimism Elsewhere in Asia
Classified documents turned over related to leaking McMurdo nuclear plant and cancer claims
Classified documents turned over related to leaking McMurdo nuclear plant and cancer claims
Business Travel Day
Dear Readers
I am on business travel today. Will resume posting this evening.
Michele Kearney
I am on business travel today. Will resume posting this evening.
Michele Kearney
Are major “environmental” groups paid to help oil and gas interests make more money?
Are major “environmental” groups paid to help oil and gas interests make more money?
Fukushima reactor had meltdown 3.5 hours after cooling system collapsed: U.S. researcher
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/
Fukushima reactor had meltdown 3.5 hours after cooling system collapsed: U.S. researcher
Fukushima reactor had meltdown 3.5 hours after cooling system collapsed: U.S. researcher
Agency stops giving projections of radioactive substance spread
Agency stops giving projections of radioactive substance spread
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
TEPCO release of interest
TEPCO release of interest
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/
Three Reactors at Japanese Plant Have Melted Fuel, NRC Says
Three Reactors at Japanese Plant Have Melted Fuel, NRC Says
Fukushima Station Considered as Site for Nuclear Graveyard
Bloomberg
Fukushima Station Considered as Site for Nuclear Graveyard
May 25, 2011, 8:34 PM EDTFEPC Update to Information Sheet Regarding Tohoku Earthquake 5/25
Please find the updated information sheet below and attached that summarizes the events from Update-45 on 5/18.
For your reference, JAIF (Japan Atomic Industrial Forum) has been posting the translation of news reports on their website. http://www.jaif.or.jp/english/
Please direct any questions regarding this document to me, Ishida@denjiren.com or Samuel Lederer, Researcher of FEPC at lederer@denjiren.com.
Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake
The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office
As of May 25, 2011
All times listed below are Japan Standard Time (JST) unless otherwise noted.
- Reactor Core Status of Unit 2 and 3 at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
- On May 24, TEPCO announced the analysis result of the reactor core status of Unit 2 and 3 at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
- According to the analysis, TEPCO proposed a more severe situation in which the water level gauges of reactor pressure vessels have not indicated the actual water level. In such case, TEPCO estimates that fuel pellets of Unit 2 and 3 melted and fell down to the bottom of reactor pressure vessel approximately 101 hours and 60 hours after the earthquake, respectively.
- TEPCO also estimates that most of the melted fuel is submerged and cooled with water at the bottom of reactor pressure vessel and damage to the reactor pressure vessels of Units 2 and 3 is limited.
- TEPCO believes that a large-scale release of radioactive materials is unlikely to occur in the future.
- The details are available at:
- Installation of Circulating Cooling System for Spent Fuel Pool at Unit 2
- On May 21, TEPCO submitted a report to the Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency (NISA) regarding the installation of a circulating cooling system at the spent fuel pool of Unit 2 to remove decay heat of the spent fuel continuously in order to maintain the water level and ensure the cooling of water in the pool.
- Currently, freshwater is being injected from time to time in order to compensate for the evaporated water.
- TEPCO plans to install the system by the end of May and evaluated that the water temperature will decrease to approximately 149.0 Fahrenheit 1.5 days after full operation and further decrease to 105.8 Fahrenheit one month later.
- The full version of the report is available at:
- Major Activities
- On May 21, the artificial floating island called “Mega-Float” which can accommodate approximately 10,000 tons of water arrived at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station to temporarily receive low-level radioactive water which has accumulated in site buildings.
- Other countermeasures such as injecting water into reactor cores, injecting Nitrogen gas into primary containment vessels, shooting water aimed at spent fuel pools, transferring accumulated water, and dispersing dust inhibitor over the ground continue to be implemented.
- Radiation Levels
- On May 21, TEPCO announced results of the analysis of the water entering the ocean from a pit (a vertical portion of an underground structure for housing electric cables) of Unit 3. TEPCO estimated the total amount of water that entered the ocean was approximately 250m3 and that the total radiation content was approximately 2.0 x 1013 Bq. (As previously reported, the water was observed entering the ocean on May 11 and terminated on the same day.)
- The concentration of radioactive nuclides from the groundwater sampled at sub-drain pits at Unit 1 to 6 of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station were as follows:
| | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 | Unit 6 |
| Samples taken at | 5/23 11:40AM | 5/23 11:45AM | 5/23 11:50AM | 5/23 11:31AM | 5/23 11:30AM | 5/23 11:20AM |
| Nuclides (half-life) | Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3) | |||||
| I-131 (8 days) | 4.4 x 10-1 | 2.0 x 101 | 1.8 x 10-2 | Not Detectable | Not Detectable | Not Detectable |
| Cs-134 (2 years) | 6.2 x 100 | 1.9 x 101 | 1.6 x 10-1 | 4.7 x 10-2 | Not Detectable | 1.4 x 10-2 |
| Cs-137 (30 years) | 7.4 x 100 | 2.2 x 101 | 1.8 x 10-1 | 5.1 x 10-2 | Not Detectable | 1.5 x 10-2 |
- The concentration of radioactive nuclides from the seawater sampled at the screen device (installed to remove waste before the intake of seawater) of Unit 2 and sampled near the seawater discharge point (south side) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station were as follows:
| Nuclides (half-life) | Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3) | Ratio | |||||
| Sampled inside the silt fence at the screen of Unit 2 | Sampled outside the silt fence at the screen of Unit 2 | Sampled at south side discharge point | Maximum Permissible Water Concentration (d) | a / d | b / d | c / d | |
| 5/24 6:40AM (a) | 5/24 6:38AM (b) | 5/24 1:40PM (c) | |||||
| I-131 (8 days) | 7.9 x 100 | 4.7 x 10-1 | Not Detectable | 4.0 x 10-2 | 200 | 12 | - |
| Cs-134 (2 years) | 4.4 x 100 | 1.2 x 100 | 5.3 x 10-2 | 6.0 x 10-2 | 73 | 20 | 0.88 |
| Cs-137 (30 years) | 4.6 x 100 | 1.3 x 100 | 5.5 x 10-2 | 9.0 x 10-2 | 51 | 14 | 0.61 |
- At 9:00PM on May 25, radiation level at west gate (approximately 3,609 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 15.5 micro Sv/hour. Other monitoring data at the site are available at:
- Measurement results of environmental radioactivity level around Fukushima Nuclear Power Station announced at 7:00PM on May 25 are shown in the attached PDF file. Previous data are available at: http://www.mext.go.jp/
english/incident/1304082.htm
- Plant Parameters (As of 6:00AM on May 25)
- Plant Status (As of May 16)
Our official sources are:
- Office of The Prime Minister of Japan
- Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
- Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Press Releases
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
- Ministry of Defense (MOD)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Taro Ishida
The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan
1901 L Street, NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
1901 L Street, NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Mobile (202) 253-2579
Phone (202) 530-0769 (Direct)
Phone (202) 466-6781
Fax (202) 466-6758
Phone (202) 466-6781
Fax (202) 466-6758
email: ishida@denjiren.com
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