Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Friday, April 1, 2011
New Arms in Reactor Fight: Mega-Barge, Sticky Resin
New Arms in Reactor Fight: Mega-Barge, Sticky Resin
Experts: Scrapping Fukushima plant could take decades
Experts: Scrapping Fukushima plant could take decades
Japan Nuclear Meltdown: Fukushima Dai-ichi Workers May Not Have Proper Protection
Japan Nuclear Meltdown: Fukushima Dai-ichi Workers May Not Have Proper Protection
Preventing Nuclear Meltdown: Assessing Regulatory Failure in Japan and the United States
Preventing Nuclear Meltdown: Assessing Regulatory Failure in Japan and the United States
Energy Secretary Chu: Japan Meltdown Not a Classic Nuclear Meltdown
Energy Secretary Chu: Japan Meltdown Not a Classic Nuclear Meltdown
NucNet: Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Plant Status Update
Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Plant Status Update
1 Apr (NucNet): The following is a summary of the status of all six reactor units and the spent fuel pools (SFPs) at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant.
Unit Status Summary At Fukushima-Daiichi: 16:00 Japan time, 1 April 2011 (pressures and temperatures 31 March):
Unit 1
Core and fuel integrity: damaged.
Reactor pressure vessel integrity: unknown.
Core cooling requiring AC power: not functional.
Building integrity: severely damaged by hydrogen explosion.
Water level in the rector pressure vessel (RPV): fuel partially or fully exposed.
Pressure of the RPV: now decreasing after initial increase (3–5 bar).
Temperature of the RPV: slight decrease (250 degrees Celsius at feedwater nozzle; 128 degrees Celsius at bottom head).
Water injection to core: continuing. Now using fresh water instead of seawater.
Water injection to containment vessel: to be confirmed.
Containment venting: temporarily stopped.
Unit 2
Core and fuel integrity: severely damaged.
Reactor pressure vessel integrity: damage suspected (suppression chamber).
Core cooling requiring AC power: not functional.
Building integrity: slightly damaged.
Water level in the rector pressure vessel: fuel partially or fully exposed.
Pressure of the RPV: decreasing (0.2 bar).
Temperature of the RPV: slight increase (181 degrees Celsius at feedwater nozzle; unknown at bottom of head).
Water injection to core: continuing. Now using fresh water instead of seawater.
Water injection to containment vessel: to be confirmed.
Containment venting: temporarily stopped.
Unit 3
Core and fuel integrity: damaged.
Reactor pressure vessel integrity: unknown.
Core cooling requiring AC power: not functional.
Building integrity: severely damaged by hydrogen explosion.
Pressure of the RPV: decreasing (0.1–0.2 bar).
Temperature of the RPV: slight increase (89 degrees Celsius at feedwater nozzle; 114 degrees Celsius at bottom of head).
Water injection to core: continuing. Use of fresh water under consideration.
Water injection to containment vessel: to be confirmed.
Containment venting: temporarily stopped.
Unit 4
Shut down at the time of the earthquake, no damage to fuel (which had already been removed from the reactor and transferred to the pool), core or containment. Building integrity severely damaged by hydrogen explosion.
Unit 5
Shut down at the time of the earthquake, no damage to fuel, core or containment. Vent hole opened in roof as precaution against hydrogen explosion. Unit in cold shutdown.
Unit 6
Shut down at the time of the earthquake, no damage to fuel, core or containment. Vent hole opened in roof as precaution against hydrogen explosion. Unit in cold shutdown.
Spent Fuel Pool Status At Fukushima-Daiichi 31 March 2011:
Fuel integrity: unknown at units 1 and 2; possibly damaged at units 3 and 4; safe at units 5 and 6, and in the common spent fuel pool.
Unit 1
Spraying with fresh water began on 31 March.
Unit 2
Water injection carried out periodically since 20 March; switch from seawater to fresh water on 29 March; water temperature 46 degrees Celsius.
Unit 3
Water level low, water injection continues; switch from seawater to fresh water on 29 March.
Unit 4
Water level low, water injection continues; switch from seawater to fresh water on 29 March. Reactor building damaged by explosion and fire on 15 March.
Units 5 & 6
Pool cooling capability recovered.
Common Spent Fuel Pool
Seawater was sprayed over this pool on 21 March. Pool cooling was restarted after successful installation of an external power supply line on
24 March.
More details:
Major Parameters: www.nisa.meti.go.jp/english/
Conditions of Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Plant:
Reactor Status and Major Events: www.jaif.or.jp/english
Dan Yurman
Email: dan.yurman@usa.net
Mobile: 208-521-5726
Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office April 1
Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake
The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office
As of 11:00AM (EST), April 1, 2011
· Radiation Levels
o On March 31, TEPCO announced that radioactive nuclides were detected from the groundwater sampled around the turbine buildings of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station on March 30. The results of the analysis are as follows:
Nuclides (half-life) | Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3) | ||||
Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 5 | Unit 6 | |
I-131 (8 days) | 4.3 x 102 | 8.0 x 101 | 2.2 x 101 | 1.6 x 100 | 2.0 x 101 |
I-132 (2 hours) | 8.3 x 100 | UDL | 1.3 x 101 | UDL | 5.8 x 10-1 |
Cs-134 (2 years) | 5.2 x 100 | 7.0 x 10-1 | 1.0 x 101 | 2.5 x 10-1 | 4.7 x 100 |
Cs-136 (13 days) | 3.9 x 10-1 | 6.5 x 10-2 | 9.4 x 10-1 | 2.7 x 10-2 | 3.9 x 10-1 |
Cs-137 (30 years) | 5.9 x 100 | 6.3 x 10-1 | 1.0 x 101 | 2.7 x 10-1 | 4.9 x 100 |
UDL: under the detection limit
o At 7:00PM (JST) on April 1, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 141 micro Sv/hour.
o At 7:00PM on April 1, radiation level at west gate (approximately 3,609 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 90.0 micro Sv/hour.
o Measurement results of environmental radioactivity level around Fukushima Nuclear Power Station announced at 7:00PM on April 1 are shown in the attached PDF file. English version is available at: http://www.mext.go.jp/
o 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.
· Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor
o At 10:00AM on April 1, pressure inside the reactor core: 0.295MPa.
o At 10:00AM on April 1, water level inside the reactor core: 1.65 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
o At 10:00AM on April 1, pressure inside the primary containment vessel: 0.165MPaabs.
o At 10:00AM on April 1, the temperature of the reactor vessel measured at the water supply nozzle: 479.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
o As of 3:30PM on April 1, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
o As of 7:00PM on April 1, preparation to recover and transfer the accumulated water at the turbine building continues.
o As of 7:00PM on April 1, approximately 90 tons of water in total has been injected into the spent fuel storage pool.
· Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 reactor
o At 10:00AM on April 1, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
o At 10:00AM on April 1, pressure inside the reactor core: -0.007MPa.
o At 10:00AM on April 1, water level inside the reactor core: 1.5 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
o At 10:00AM on April 1, pressure inside the primary containment vessel: 0.11MPaabs.
o As of 3:30PM on April 1, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
o As of 7:00PM on April 1, preparation to recover and transfer the accumulated water at the turbine building continues.
· Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 reactor
o At 4:30PM on March 31, TEPCO began to shoot freshwater aimed at the spent fuel pool, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping concrete, until 7:33PM (approximately 105 tons in total).
o At 11:45AM on April 1, pressure inside the reactor core: 0.016MPa.
o At 11:45AM on April 1, water level inside the reactor core: 1.9 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
o At 11:45AM on April 1, pressure inside the primary containment vessel: 0.1068MPaabs.
o As of 3:30PM on April 1, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
o As of 7:00PM on April 1, preparation to recover and transfer the accumulated water at the turbine building continues.
o As of 7:00PM on April 1, approximately 4,802 tons of water in total has been shot into the spent fuel storage pool.
· Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 reactor
o At 8:28AM on April 1, TEPCO began to shoot freshwater aimed at the spent fuel pool, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping concrete, until 2:14PM (approximately 180 tons in total).
o As of 7:00PM on April 1, approximately 1,278 tons of water in total has been shot into the spent fuel storage pool.
· Fukushima Daiichi Unit 5 reactor
o At 2:00PM on April 1, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 100.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
· Fukushima Daiichi Unit 6 reactor
o At 2:00PM on April 1, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 69.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
· Fukushima Daiichi Common Spent Fuel Pool
o At 7:30AM on April 1, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
· Others
o At 3:42PM on March 31, a US Military barge carrying freshwater docked at the dedicated port at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, towed by a vessel of Marine Self Defense Forces.
o At 3:00PM on April 1, anti-scattering agent was dispersed on a trial basis around the Fukushima Daiichi Common Spent Fuel Pool.
o At 3:58PM on April 1, transferring the freshwater from the US Military barge to a filtrate tank commenced.
· From: Taro Ishida [ishida@denjiren.com]
Sent: 04/01/2011 11:43 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)
Sent: 04/01/2011 11:43 AM AST
To: Taro Ishida <ishida@denjiren.com>
Cc: Samuel Lederer <lederer@denjiren.com>
Subject:
Dear Friends,
Please find the updated information sheet below and attached that summarizes the events from Update-17 at 11:00AM on 3/31.
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:
- 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)
Dan Yurman
Email: dan.yurman@usa.net
Mobile: 208-521-5726
Simpson Addresses Reactor Safety and Yucca Mountain
Simpson Addresses Reactor Safety and Yucca Mountain
Congressional hearing confirms U.S. reactors’ safety and reiterates Congress’s desire to keep Yucca open
Simpson used the hearing to explore the lessons learned in the aftermath of Japan’s tsunami. Both Jaczko and Lyons stated for the record that although there are lessons to be learned from the disaster in Japan, U.S. reactors are currently safe. In addition, the NRC is conducting additional reviews of all licensed nuclear power plants and DOE is reviewing all of its licenses, including Idaho’s Advanced Test Reactor. The hearing also highlighted safety improvements going forward with passive safety technology. Passively safe reactors rely on gravity and pressurized tanks, thus eliminating the need for electricity and operator action.
Later, Simpson grilled Jaczko over the handling of Yucca Mountain and his decision to terminate licensing activities despite the clear intent of Congress that those activities move forward. “I firmly believe that you are acting outside the law,” Simpson told Jaczko. When Jaczko began defending the commission’s action by referencing provisions in the President's budget that do not have the effect of law, Simpson cut him short and responded, “Commission approval of a budget doesn’t mean diddly - what matters is what passes Congress.”
Simpson has actively opposed attempts by the Obama Administration to terminate preparations of Yucca Mountain as our nation's permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste. He has repeatedly acted to support continuation of Yucca Mountain's development and used his position on the House Appropriations Committee to ensure adequate funding for activities at the site.
Following the hearing, Simpson expressed his dismay with the actions of the Obama Administration and Chairman Jazko in relation to Yucca Mountain. “It doesn't take a doctorate in political science to recognize that this Administration's actions to close down Yucca Mountain are driven more by politics and a desire to please Nevada Senator Harry Reid than they are by science or what is best for taxpayers,” said Simpson. “Chairman Jaczko is purposefully defying the will of Congress and acting unilaterally to waste billions of taxpayers dollars. It is very frustrating to me and to most Members of Congress that this type of manipulation is happening at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and we intend to make sure Chairman Jaczko is held to account for his actions and that the requirements of federal law are fulfilled.”
Congressional hearing confirms U.S. reactors’ safety and reiterates Congress’s desire to keep Yucca open
|
Washington, Mar 31 -
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today chaired the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee hearing discussing the budget for Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy and the budget for Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Both the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Dr. Pete Lyons, and the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Gregory Jaczko, testified before the Subcommittee.Simpson used the hearing to explore the lessons learned in the aftermath of Japan’s tsunami. Both Jaczko and Lyons stated for the record that although there are lessons to be learned from the disaster in Japan, U.S. reactors are currently safe. In addition, the NRC is conducting additional reviews of all licensed nuclear power plants and DOE is reviewing all of its licenses, including Idaho’s Advanced Test Reactor. The hearing also highlighted safety improvements going forward with passive safety technology. Passively safe reactors rely on gravity and pressurized tanks, thus eliminating the need for electricity and operator action.
Later, Simpson grilled Jaczko over the handling of Yucca Mountain and his decision to terminate licensing activities despite the clear intent of Congress that those activities move forward. “I firmly believe that you are acting outside the law,” Simpson told Jaczko. When Jaczko began defending the commission’s action by referencing provisions in the President's budget that do not have the effect of law, Simpson cut him short and responded, “Commission approval of a budget doesn’t mean diddly - what matters is what passes Congress.”
Simpson has actively opposed attempts by the Obama Administration to terminate preparations of Yucca Mountain as our nation's permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste. He has repeatedly acted to support continuation of Yucca Mountain's development and used his position on the House Appropriations Committee to ensure adequate funding for activities at the site.
Following the hearing, Simpson expressed his dismay with the actions of the Obama Administration and Chairman Jazko in relation to Yucca Mountain. “It doesn't take a doctorate in political science to recognize that this Administration's actions to close down Yucca Mountain are driven more by politics and a desire to please Nevada Senator Harry Reid than they are by science or what is best for taxpayers,” said Simpson. “Chairman Jaczko is purposefully defying the will of Congress and acting unilaterally to waste billions of taxpayers dollars. It is very frustrating to me and to most Members of Congress that this type of manipulation is happening at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and we intend to make sure Chairman Jaczko is held to account for his actions and that the requirements of federal law are fulfilled.”
JAPAN CRISIS UPDATE Answers to Questions about Radiation Dose Monitoring during Japan Crisis
JAPAN CRISIS UPDATE
Answers to Questions about Radiation Dose Monitoring during Japan Crisis
Plutonium in the Environment
Plutonium in the Environment
Much recent news and many questions directed at the blog have centered around the detection of plutonium in soil and water surrounding the Fukushima reactors. This post will outline our current knowledge of the situation, as well as potential impacts on the environment and on human health.
Because Pu-238 was not detected at the other three sites, it is thought that the plutonium at those sites is a remnant of past nuclear weapons tests. For reference, the natural rate of plutonium decay in Fukushima City is 0.61 Bq/kg, or 0.61 decays per second in each kilogram of soil. The quantities being measured on the reactor site are at roughly double this same level, according to TEPCO.
Could plutonium be transported away from the reactor site, under the current conditions? Potentially, yes. However, it would likely be in minute quantities that have no impact on human health.
In addition, plutonium is chemically toxic like other heavy metals. A number of estimates have been circulated regarding how much plutonium is fatal to humans, many of which have no evidence to support them. Experiments using lab rats have indicated that 50% of those rats die within a month after injection of 700-1000 micrograms of plutonium per kilogram of body weight. This would translate to 47.7-68.2 mg of plutonium injected into a 150-pound person. Since the efficiency of plutonium uptake by inhalation or ingestion is low, the dose needed to actually cause illness or death would be correspondingly higher.
It’s unknown whether the results of experiments on rats translate directly to human exposures. No human has ever died from acute uptake of plutonium. Our information on the health effects of plutonium on humans is derived from the case studies of plutonium workers, who sustain very low doses over a period of decades; a series of studies on chronically ill patients; and the histories of atomic bomb survivors, whose doses are confounded by exposures to a whole host of other radioactive isotopes.
Sources: Journal of Radiological Protection, Los Alamos National Laboratory, TEPCO, American Chemical Society.
Measurements to date
On March 21 and 22, five soil samples around the site indicated the presence of isotopes of plutonium. Two of these samples contained the isotope Pu-238. Typically, a large ratio of Pu-238 to the other isotopes indicates that the material has been produced in a reactor. This is because the production of Pu-238 requires one of these processes to take place:- Successive neutron captures in U-235 produce U-237. U-237 decays to Np-237, with a half-life of 6.75 days. Np-238 captures another neutron and decays to Pu-238.
- A fast moving neutron causes a Pu-239 nucleus to eject an additional neutron.
Because Pu-238 was not detected at the other three sites, it is thought that the plutonium at those sites is a remnant of past nuclear weapons tests. For reference, the natural rate of plutonium decay in Fukushima City is 0.61 Bq/kg, or 0.61 decays per second in each kilogram of soil. The quantities being measured on the reactor site are at roughly double this same level, according to TEPCO.
Transport Pathways
As stated, the pathway which was taken by the plutonium to the soil of the reactor site is not clear at the present. However, it is generally transported via one of two pathways:- Adhesion to particulate matter, like smoke.
- Solution or suspension in water.
Could plutonium be transported away from the reactor site, under the current conditions? Potentially, yes. However, it would likely be in minute quantities that have no impact on human health.
Impact of Plutonium on Human Health
As a radiation hazard, plutonium is a danger when ingested or inhaled. This is because it’s an alpha emitter. Alpha particles, while they can be stopped by the skin or a sheet of paper, can severely injure very delicate structures of the body, such as the alveoli in the lungs, or the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Plutonium is a bone-seeker, but is not efficiently absorbed by the body because of its low solubility in the body’s fluids. The vast majority of ingested plutonium (greater than 99%) is excreted within a week of ingestion. Between 5% and 60% (estimates by different agencies vary) of inhaled plutonium stays within the body, with the rest being exhaled immediately.In addition, plutonium is chemically toxic like other heavy metals. A number of estimates have been circulated regarding how much plutonium is fatal to humans, many of which have no evidence to support them. Experiments using lab rats have indicated that 50% of those rats die within a month after injection of 700-1000 micrograms of plutonium per kilogram of body weight. This would translate to 47.7-68.2 mg of plutonium injected into a 150-pound person. Since the efficiency of plutonium uptake by inhalation or ingestion is low, the dose needed to actually cause illness or death would be correspondingly higher.
It’s unknown whether the results of experiments on rats translate directly to human exposures. No human has ever died from acute uptake of plutonium. Our information on the health effects of plutonium on humans is derived from the case studies of plutonium workers, who sustain very low doses over a period of decades; a series of studies on chronically ill patients; and the histories of atomic bomb survivors, whose doses are confounded by exposures to a whole host of other radioactive isotopes.
Sources: Journal of Radiological Protection, Los Alamos National Laboratory, TEPCO, American Chemical Society.
Town Hall Discussion of Energy Solutions: Live Stream of Dylan Ratigan Here at 8 PM EDT
Posted: 31 Mar 2011 02:28 PM PDT
Dylan Rtigan is hosting an important conversation on energy solutions from a Town Hall panel live from Oklahoma State University at 8PM ET / 7PM CST tonight. The goal is to generate the political will to reduce our dependence on oil. Panelists include:
· Boone Pickens, Oil Tycoon & Founder, BP Capital ManagementView it below:
· Ashwin Madia, VoteVets.org
· Bob Deans, Director of Federal Communications, Natural Resources Defense Council
· Former CIA Director James Woolsey
Or you can also view it at Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/
Radioactivity surges again at Japan nuclear plant
Radioactivity surges again at Japan nuclear plant
Work on containing the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi complex is hampered because the level of radioactive iodine found in water inside exceeds 10,000 times the safety standard, officials say.
Keith Parker answers your nuclear questions – Part one
Keith Parker answers your nuclear questions – Part one In this week’s readers’ Q&A session, Ketih Parker, chief executive of the UK's Nuclear Industry Association, answers your questions. In the first of two posts, Keith answers your questions on what constitutes a nuclear meltdown, whether there is likely to be a public backlash against nuclear in the UK and how the industry should now change.
http://link.ft.com/r/M2ZOXX/
http://link.ft.com/r/M2ZOXX/
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