XPost from EE: Official: Japan nuke plant pool at or near boiling

[kristopher]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x281817

Official: Japan nuke plant pool at or near boiling

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
The Associated Press

TOKYO — A Japanese nuclear safety official says a pool for storing spent fuel at the crippled nuclear plant is heating up, with temperatures around the boiling point.

Nuclear safety agency official Hidehiko Nishiyama told reporters Tuesday that the high temperatures in the spent fuel pool are believed to be the cause of steam that has wafted from Fukushima Dai-ichi's Unit 2 since Monday...

[godai]

1. Your link now says:Power lines connected at Japan nuke plant

TOKYO — The operator of Japan's leaking nuclear plant says power lines have been hooked up to all six reactor units, though more work is needed before electricity can run through them.

The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, announced the hookup Tuesday but cautioned that workers must check pumps, motors and other equipment before the electricity is turned on.

Reconnecting the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex to the electrical grid is a significant step in getting control of the overheated reactors and storage pools for spent fuels. But it is likely to be days if not longer before the cooling systems can be powered up, since damaged equipment needs to be replaced and any volatile gas must be vented to avoid an explosion.

[kristopher]

2. Thanks. They've made progress.

I don't think they have a chance on 3 & 4 but they will not be faulted for trying. They are preparing to pump concrete onto #4. they were getting the equipment ready yesterday.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

3. That's progress?

:eyes:

[kristopher]

4. Getting the elctricity hooked up and the pumps running is the only hope.

[godai]

5. Why do you question this as being progress...

Getting electricity to working pumps is essential to minimizing the problem. We all want that, right?

[Yo_Mama]

13. Huge progress

For one thing, they can start at least getting lights into the control rooms. It goes slowly because they have to check the voltage for each piece before going live.

But once they have lights, things will be easier.

They can't go too fast with this; they can't afford electrical arcs.

[buddysmellgood]

6. Where did your read about the concrete?

[godai]

8. I heard they would try concrete pumping equipment to pump water.

This from NHK, 12 hours ago.

[kristopher]

9. I watch NHK. It was a standard part of their coverage several times yesterday. nt

[godai]

7. Are you sure about pumping concrete? I heard pump water.

NHK indicated 12 hours ago that they would try concrete pumping equipment to pump water.

[kristopher]

10. YEs they are, but they are preparing to pump concrete.

It's a decision in progress. Just like at one point they were going to replace all pumps and switchboards. Emergency situations like this are extremely challenging. I use to be involved in planning, exercising and working the command and control aspect of emergency operations in the AF. Just my opinion but I think considering they are working in the aftermath of a mega-quake and a tsunami the job they are doing should be the stuff of legends.

[marions ghost]

11. you make sense

K&R

[Yo_Mama]

12. No, they are using the concrete injector to pump water into it

Not that I didn't think what you wrote, but this morning at NHK they showed a picture of the injector with its long arm pumping water.

It has a very strong pump and a long flexible arm, so it is ideal for the purpose.

[godai]

14. Here's info on that....pumping water.

Long-armed vehicle injects water into No.4 reactor

A vehicle equipped with a long arm has begun injecting water into the No.4 reactor at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The vehicle owned by a construction company in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, began the operation at 5:17 PM on Tuesday at the request of the Tokyo Electric Power Company. The work is being carried out in conjunction with water-spraying by Japan's Self-Defense Forces and fire departments into the plant's No.3 and 4 reactors, to fill pools for spent nuclear fuel rods.

The vehicle's arm can extend more than 50 meters to pump concrete into high-rise buildings. The same type of vehicle was used to entomb the Chernobyl nuclear plant in concrete after its accident.
The water injection by the vehicle was set to continue for 3 hours.


http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/22_30.html

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Not that they won't eventually pump concrete, but not at this time, it seems.

[kristopher]

16. Thus the word "preparing"

[kristopher]

15. Yesterday they specifically said water first, then concrete.

If you don't believe me, I don't blame you a bit. Whenever I hear them plan something I automatically think the chance of it happening are slim.

[godai]

17. Could mean they'll use this same equipment for pumping concrete. n/t

[Yo_Mama]

18. I think they are scrambling.

Which well they should be.

I am quite sure that they have the idea to use it for pumping concrete at the back of their minds.

However, their current plans are to continue pumping water. Tomorrow? Who knows?

They're trying one thing after another. The reason not to pump concrete right now is that if they can keep the fuel cool and covered with water, it will lower emissions more than dumping concrete.

[kristopher]

19. Yes, I agree. I hope they get control of this completely and I'm shown to be a panic monger.

I've never wanted so bad to be wrong as I do about my sense of where this is going to end.