Partially molten nuclear fuel could be accumulating at the base of the reactors at the Fukushima and stabilize its reactors will take two to three months, according to a report of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan. The body of experts responsible for monitoring the safe use of nuclear energy the report says that the molten fuel would be at the base of the containment vessels of units 1, 2 and 3.
However, their findings highlight the radioactive material remains relatively low temperature, which reduces the risk of overheating and that damage to the concrete containment that prevents massive pollution in the field. The report, quoted by the local agency Kyodo, stresses that the chances of a chain reaction of molten fuel are minimal.
Also, the organization's vice president, Takashi Sawada, announced that it will take at least two or three months to stabilize the fuel rods. Meanwhile, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), operator of the plant in Fukushima, returned a third time to detect traces of plutonium in soil samples from the plant, although, as in the past, these numbers were small.
Also, on Thursday reported an increase of radioactivity in groundwater beneath the reactor, while attempting to control leaks. During the day, the workers continued their efforts to contain leaks into the sea near the plant with the installation of new steel plates on the taking of water near the reactor 2.
In addition, TEPCO launched sacks with zeolite, a mineral that absorbs radioactive material in the central coast to prevent the spread of pollution, which however has declined. Today was followed by injecting nitrogen to prevent a hydrogen explosion in unit 1, while the Nuclear Security Agency is considering the possibility of doing the same with units 2 and 3.
Another task is to drain water in the process highly radioactive reactor 2, which could be delayed until it can transfer some of that liquid to special steel tanks. 
However, their findings highlight the radioactive material remains relatively low temperature, which reduces the risk of overheating and that damage to the concrete containment that prevents massive pollution in the field. The report, quoted by the local agency Kyodo, stresses that the chances of a chain reaction of molten fuel are minimal.
Also, the organization's vice president, Takashi Sawada, announced that it will take at least two or three months to stabilize the fuel rods. Meanwhile, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), operator of the plant in Fukushima, returned a third time to detect traces of plutonium in soil samples from the plant, although, as in the past, these numbers were small.
Also, on Thursday reported an increase of radioactivity in groundwater beneath the reactor, while attempting to control leaks. During the day, the workers continued their efforts to contain leaks into the sea near the plant with the installation of new steel plates on the taking of water near the reactor 2.
In addition, TEPCO launched sacks with zeolite, a mineral that absorbs radioactive material in the central coast to prevent the spread of pollution, which however has declined. Today was followed by injecting nitrogen to prevent a hydrogen explosion in unit 1, while the Nuclear Security Agency is considering the possibility of doing the same with units 2 and 3.
Another task is to drain water in the process highly radioactive reactor 2, which could be delayed until it can transfer some of that liquid to special steel tanks.
- Japan: Encasing Reactors Will Be More Difficult Than Chernobyl (14/04/2011)
- How Fukushima is and isn't like Chernobyl (12/04/2011)
- Three Mile Island expert: Fukushima could kill 200,000 (15/04/2011)
- New U.S. nuclear reactors unlikely soon: physicist (15/04/2011)
- Fukushima reactors showing improvement: gov't (20/03/2011)
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