Little does the joy in the Fukushima nuclear plant. If this morning the company that owns the Japanese plant, TEPCO, announced it had succeeded in stopping the leak of radioactive water from the No. 2 reactor, hours after the world woke up with a report by U.S. technicians in collaboration with TEPCO, which warns that the threats now facing the plant are many.
The confidential assessment by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and seen by the newspaper 'The New York Times, said that the measures taken during the past weeks to monitor nuclear crisis will begin to have serious effects on the plant. Among the new threats that were mentioned in the evaluation dated March 26 emphasizes the fragility of the structures of the reactor containment, as when full of radioactive water are more vulnerable to break in the case of a replica similar to which has been since the earthquake of March 11.
The document also mentions the possibility of explosions occurring within the reactor due to the release of hydrogen and oxygen from seawater pumped into the reactors and provides details of how the accumulation of sea water prevents the flow of fresh water intended cool the core. In recent days, remaining in Fukushima workers have already faced the consequences of measures taken to cool the fuel rods, as are burns caused by leakage of radioactive water and high levels of radiation to which have been exposed.
The document also offers a detailed technical assessment that Japanese officials have provided about the problem that most are based fuel rods, although quite agree with the data of U.S. experts. Among other problems, the report questions whether it is possible to maintain indefinitely without being able to cool the nuclear fuel rods.
Experts agree that we must continue trying to cool the months that may be required until the status of the plant is stable, although others suggest that the risks of continued pumping water poses technical difficulties not yet know the value. The evaluation also suggests that the fragments or particles of fuel pools have increased and have seriously affected workers.
The release of radioactivity, which may have occurred during one of the explosions of hydrogen, can cause more radiation leaks. "This paints a very different picture and suggests that things are much worse than we think. There could be more serious damage if some of these forecasts do not work," says David A.
Lochbaum, a nuclear engineer expert in the type of reactors that are in Fukushima. The steps recommended by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission include the injection of nitrogen in the containment structures to purge the oxygen and hydrogen accumulated, and advised to continue pouring water cooler boron to prevent a nuclear reaction occurs.
On the other hand, the evaluation provides new graphic details about the condition of damaged hearts in reactors 1, 2 and 3. Due to the melting of fuel rods and sea water poured, the roads appear to be blocked, especially in the reactor 1. "Even the best juggler in the world can have too many balls in the air," Lochbaum said about the many problems that still has the floor.
"They have a lot of critical things in the air, and one wrong move could make the situation much, much worse," he said. 
The confidential assessment by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and seen by the newspaper 'The New York Times, said that the measures taken during the past weeks to monitor nuclear crisis will begin to have serious effects on the plant. Among the new threats that were mentioned in the evaluation dated March 26 emphasizes the fragility of the structures of the reactor containment, as when full of radioactive water are more vulnerable to break in the case of a replica similar to which has been since the earthquake of March 11.
The document also mentions the possibility of explosions occurring within the reactor due to the release of hydrogen and oxygen from seawater pumped into the reactors and provides details of how the accumulation of sea water prevents the flow of fresh water intended cool the core. In recent days, remaining in Fukushima workers have already faced the consequences of measures taken to cool the fuel rods, as are burns caused by leakage of radioactive water and high levels of radiation to which have been exposed.
The document also offers a detailed technical assessment that Japanese officials have provided about the problem that most are based fuel rods, although quite agree with the data of U.S. experts. Among other problems, the report questions whether it is possible to maintain indefinitely without being able to cool the nuclear fuel rods.
Experts agree that we must continue trying to cool the months that may be required until the status of the plant is stable, although others suggest that the risks of continued pumping water poses technical difficulties not yet know the value. The evaluation also suggests that the fragments or particles of fuel pools have increased and have seriously affected workers.
The release of radioactivity, which may have occurred during one of the explosions of hydrogen, can cause more radiation leaks. "This paints a very different picture and suggests that things are much worse than we think. There could be more serious damage if some of these forecasts do not work," says David A.
Lochbaum, a nuclear engineer expert in the type of reactors that are in Fukushima. The steps recommended by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission include the injection of nitrogen in the containment structures to purge the oxygen and hydrogen accumulated, and advised to continue pouring water cooler boron to prevent a nuclear reaction occurs.
On the other hand, the evaluation provides new graphic details about the condition of damaged hearts in reactors 1, 2 and 3. Due to the melting of fuel rods and sea water poured, the roads appear to be blocked, especially in the reactor 1. "Even the best juggler in the world can have too many balls in the air," Lochbaum said about the many problems that still has the floor.
"They have a lot of critical things in the air, and one wrong move could make the situation much, much worse," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment