15 February, 2019
TEPCO Makes Contact with Debris at Fukushima Daiichi-2
On February 14, the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) released a video showing a device with two “fingers” at the end lifting pebble-shaped deposits suspected of being melted nuclear fuel (debris) at the bottom of a reactor primary containment vessel (PCV). The recording was made during an investigation undertaken on the 13th at the Fukushima Daiichi-2 Nuclear Power Plant (BWR, 784MWe). The pebble deposits, shown clearly, were of different shapes and sizes. Of the ten locations where the device made contact with them, they could not be moved at three.
The deposits that could not be moved appeared to be in a state like lava. The limited range of the investigation showed them to most likely be debris that had become affixed and hardened. It is now deemed necessary to develop a new device that can scape or cut them off for removal.
On February 13, TEPCO announced that it had moved deposits at five out of six locations at the PCV bottom. It also succeeded in touching deposits at four spots on the grid of the working scaffold approximately four meters above the PCV bottom, and at two of those spots the pebble-shaped deposits were moved, it said.
The fingers of the device can be opened and closed like a tongs, up to about eight centimeters, and lift an object of up to about two kilograms. This time, the device picked up pebble-shape...more
- 12 February, 2019 Dismantling of Exhaust Stack at Fukushima Daiichi-1 and -2 to Start in May
- 4 February, 2019 Overview of Fact-Finding Survey of the Japanese Nuclear Industry 2017 (through March 2018)
- 1 February, 2019 JAEA Achieves 150 Hours of Continuous Hydrogen Production Toward Utilization of Heat from HTGRs
- 30 January, 2019 JAIF President Takahashi Regrets Freezing of Japanese Nuclear Power Project in the UK
- 30 January, 2019 In Anticipation of Next Year’s Olympics, Reception Held to Expand Sales of Fukushima Products
- 24 January, 2019 Hitachi President Alarmed about Future Human Resources as Company Freezes Project in Britain
- 11 January, 2019 At New Year’s Party, JAIF Chairman Imai Stresses Necessity of Securing and Fostering Nuclear Human Resources
- 11 January, 2019 Outlook for Energy Supply and Demand for Japan in Fiscal 2019 Sees Slower Adoption of Non-fossil Power Sources
- 28 December, 2018 JAIF President Emphasizes High Expectations Overseas for Japan’s Quality and Technological Strength
- 28 December, 2018 Japan Radioisotope Association Hopes for Increased Medical Usage of Radioisotopes
- 26 December, 2018 Strategic Road Map for Fast Reactor Development Finalized, with METI Minister Seko Urging Consistent, Continuous Efforts
- 26 December, 2018 Students Battle in Contest of Robots to Remove Fuel Debris
- 26 December, 2018 Kansai Economic Federation Releases Written Opinion on Energy and Environmental Policy, Urging Maximum Use of Nuclear Energy
12 February, 2019
Kansai EP Reviews and Pushes Back Completion Dates for Safety Improvement Work at Three NPPs Granted Extended Lifetimes
On February 4, Japan’s Kansai Electric Power Co. (Kansai EP) announced changes to its work schedule for safety improvement measures being carried out at its Takahama-1 and -2 and Mihama-3 Nuclear Power Plants (PWRs), and reported the changes to Fukui Prefecture.
All three units have already cleared safety examinations confirming their compatibility with the new regulatory standards and obtained governmental permission for extended operating lifetimes to sixty years, according to materials released by Kansai EP.
According to the status report on work for safety improvement measures released by the power company, the scheduled completion dates for the two Takahama reactors, has been pushed back from August 2019 to May 2020 for Takahama-1 and from March 2020 to January 2021 for Takahama-2. Installation is now progressing of the shielding—the so-called top domes—at the upper part of the containment vessels at the two reactors.
The extensions of some nine to ten months resulted from the need to ensure sufficient areas for equipment and materials ...more
