Meltdown Likely Under Way At Japan Nuclear Reactor

[elcent]

Spanish govt orders to check all reactors now.

Russia sales of jod tablets (1000 km away) increases drastically (nearly sold out) http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,751191,00.html

[TheWalkingMan]

Watching NHK and there was an interview (voice only) with a person in an evacuation center.

Apparently, some of the evacuation centers are having problems with supplies as it is difficult for them to find truck drivers willing to drive into the 30km, do not go outside your home, zone.

Maybe the JSDF (Japan Self Defense Force) can truck things in or complete some type of relay delivery service with private companies.

From the videos, it looks like there are very many elderly people in these centers.

Horrible situation all around.

TheWalkingMan

[jfchandler]

Elcent, as I already posted here earlier in the day... Edano misspoke this morning, and his erroneous comments were picked up and reported by various media..including AP... And once it makes AP, it goes worldwide...

He was talking about 600-800 MilliSievert... but he meant and was later corrected by NISA officials, to mean MICRO Sievert.

So let's not perpetuate false information, and even Govt. officials make mistakes...

He wouldn't be the first person to confuse MICRO with MILLI... I've done it myself.

there are many. Here's one Radioactive emissions at the plant reached record levels overnight. Measurements of 1,000 millisievert were taken and on Wednesday morning, 600 to 800 millisieverts were measured, Edano said.

Edited March 16, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

WM, from what I've been seeing, the problem with lack of supplies at evac centers isn't limited just to places around the Fukushima plant area...but rather... broadly throughout the country...

If the government is doing a lot to actually get supplies into the hands of their citizens, there's little sign of that showing up in their media or interviews with citizens... It seems like the authorities are spending much of their effort trying to dig survivors out of the rubble... and it's hard to fault them for that.

Watching NHK and there was an interview (voice only) with a person in an evacuation center.

Apparently, some of the evacuation centers are having problems with supplies as it is difficult for them to find truck drivers willing to drive into the 30km, do not go outside your home, zone.

Maybe the JSDF (Japan Self Defense Force) can truck things in or complete some type of relay delivery service with private companies.

From the videos, it looks like there are very many elderly people in these centers.

Horrible situation all around.

TheWalkingMan

[brahmburgers]

The chairman of Exelon Corp., which is America's largest operator of nuclear power plants, said his company would not be building any more nuclear plants because they cannot compete with natural gas plants - at current and projected prices. He made that statement three days before the big quake struck Japan. (NPR News - National Public Radio, USA).

Also: we've all seen footage of fire boats (is that what they call them?) shooting water for long distances. Would that be feasible at the stricken N power site? The plant looks like it sits somewhat near the shore - could boats get within range? ....though they might be downwind of the radioactive plume. Surely there must be fire boats at least as close as Tokyo. If they couldn't shoot that distance, then perhaps their pumps could be used to funnel water to the danger areas.

Edited March 16, 2011 by brahmburgers

[jfchandler]

China stops permission for new powerplants.

Elcent, here's a more clear account of what China's said/doing:

(Reuters) - China's vast nuclear push is likely to slow after the government ordered a safety crackdown on Wednesday in the aftermath of Japan's nuclear crisis. The announcement by the State Council, or cabinet, was the clearest sign yet that the crisis at a quake-ravaged nuclear complex in northeast Japan could affect China's ambitious nuclear expansion, by far the world's largest.

But at least one expert said the measures were unlikely to stop China's expansion of nuclear power.

A State Council meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao told Chinese residents they had nothing to fear about radiation drifting from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant.

But China's own nuclear power plans would face tougher scrutiny, said the account of the meeting on the government's website (www.gov.cn).

"We will temporarily suspend approval of nuclear power projects, including those in the preliminary stages of development," the statement said.

MORE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/us-china-nuclear-idUSTRE72D1PN20110316

Edited March 16, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

Status of quake-stricken reactors at Fukushima nuclear power plants

TOKYO, March 16, Kyodo -- about 8 pm Japan time

The following is the known status as of Wednesday evening of each of the six reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and the four reactors at the Fukushima No. 2 plant, both in Fukushima Prefecture, which were crippled by Friday's magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the ensuing tsunami.

Fukushima No. 1 [Daiichi] plant

-- Reactor No. 1 - Suspended after quake, cooling failure, partial melting of core, vapor vented, building damaged Saturday by hydrogen explosion, seawater being pumped in.

-- Reactor No. 2 - Suspended after quake, cooling failure, seawater being pumped in, fuel rods fully exposed temporarily, vapor vented, building housing reactor damaged Monday by blast at reactor No. 3, damage to containment vessel on Tuesday, potential meltdown feared.

-- Reactor No. 3 - Suspended after quake, cooling failure, partial melting of core feared, vapor vented, seawater being pumped in, building housing reactor damaged Monday by hydrogen explosion, high-level radiation measured nearby on Tuesday, plume of smoke observed Wednesday, damage to containment vessel likely.

-- Reactor No. 4 - Under maintenance when quake struck, fire Tuesday possibly caused by hydrogen explosion at pool holding spent fuel rods, abnormal temperature rise in spent-fuel storage pool but water level not observed, fire observed Wednesday at building housing reactor, no water poured in to cool pool, spraying of boric acid being considered.

-- Reactors No. 5, No. 6 - Under maintenance when quake struck, temperatures slightly rising in spent-fuel storage pools.

Fukushima No. 2 [Daini] plant

-- Reactors No. 1, No. 2, No. 4 - Suspended after quake, cooling failure, then cold shutdown.

-- Reactor No. 3 - Suspended after quake, cold shutdown.

Edited March 16, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

Read post a couple above... Japanese police now planning to try water cannon... They didn't say whether from water or land... I'd assume from land.

Also: we've all seen footage of fire boats (is that what they call them?) shooting water for long distances. Would that be feasible at the stricken N power site? The plant looks like it sits somewhat near the shore - could boats get within range? ....though they might be downwind of the radioactive plume. Surely there must be fire boats at least as close as Tokyo. If they couldn't shoot that distance, then perhaps their pumps could be used to funnel water to the danger areas.

[pedro01]

In years to come, I'd look for Japan to become the powerhouse in renewable non-nuclear energy sources.

They certainly have the ability - now they have the will too.

Let's hope this mushroom cloud has a silver lining.

[jfchandler]

Kyodo News reports radiation level of 1,500 micro-sievert ( 1.5 milli-sievert ) per hour as of 4 p.m. near nuke plant.

That's about a year's worth of normal radiation being given on a hourly basis at that location.

[jfchandler]

NHK - Japanese government to allow foreign doctors -- those without Japanese medical licenses -- to work on quake/tsunami relief in three northeast area stricken prefectures.

[bkkjames]

Let's not get suckered in with statements designed to appease domestic audiences_that will be quietly forgotten in a year's time when the need for cheap (clean) power resumes in earnest in order kickstart economies affected by the current crisis. Ironic and sick at the same time.

[jfchandler]

IAEA Chief Amano says reactor developments in Japan are "worrying," and cites danger of core damage in Daiichi Reactor No. 2.

But says extent of damage in reactor is estimated to be less than 5% of its fuel.

[jfchandler]

Reuters' recap of Wednesday's developments:

(Reuters) - Japan's nuclear crisis appeared to be spinning out of control on Wednesday after workers withdrew briefly from a stricken power plant because of surging radiation levels and a helicopter failed to drop water on the most troubled reactor.

In a sign of desperation, the police will try to cool spent nuclear fuel at one of the facility's reactors with water cannon, which is normally used to quell riots.

Early in the day another fire broke out at the earthquake-crippled facility, which has sent low levels of radiation wafting into Tokyo in the past 24 hours, triggering fear in the capital and international alarm.

Japan's government said radiation levels outside the plant's gates were stable but, in a sign of being overwhelmed, appealed to private companies to help deliver supplies to tens of thousands of people evacuated from around the complex.

"People would not be in immediate danger if they went outside with these levels. I want people to understand this," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a televised news conference, referring to people living outside a 30 km (18 miles) exclusion zone. Some 140,000 people inside the zone have been told to stay indoors.

MORE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/us-japan-quake-idUSTRE72A0SS20110316

[jfchandler]

Add from Reuters.... pretty much on target...

Nuclear experts said the solutions being proposed to quell radiation leaks at the complex were last-ditch efforts to stem what could well be remembered as one of the world's worst industrial disasters.

"This is a slow-moving nightmare," said Dr Thomas Neff, a physicist and uranium-industry analyst at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

[jfchandler]

Airlines scramble to assist Japan exodus

Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:31am EDT

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Airlines raced on Wednesday to clear Tokyo's airports of a backlog of passengers and help those wanting to leave as fears grew that quake-stricken Japan was losing control of a steadily growing nuclear crisis.

The disaster has transformed parts of Tokyo into a ghost town as people either stay indoors or leave.

France and Austria urged their citizens in Tokyo to leave the country or head to southern Japan.

The French embassy in Tokyo said it had asked Air France to mobilize planes for the evacuation of French nationals from Japan, and two were already on their way.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, which represents 17 scheduled international airlines in the region, said domestic flights and air cargo services were now operating normally.

Germany's Lufthansa, however, said it was still diverting planes to Osaka and Nagoya.

Dutch airline KLM also said it was diverting to Osaka, instead of Tokyo, on flights to Japan on Wednesday, but that it would still fly out of Tokyo Narita to Amsterdam. Private jet companies also said they were being inundated with requests for evacuation flights.

"It is now ramping up over last night because of the deteriorating situation. More people are worrying and looking to evacuate from Tokyo," Asia Jet Chief Executive Mike Walsh told Reuters.

MORE: http://www.reuters.c...E72F3TJ20110316

Edited March 16, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

Earthquake Key Stats from Reuters:

- Tens of thousands of people are still missing since Friday's quake and tsunami. About 850,000 households in the north without electricity in near-freezing weather. Death toll is expected to exceed 10,000.

[jfchandler]

Japan puts top priority on nuclear plant's No.3 reactor

Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:20am EDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan put its top priority on Wednesday on efforts to cool down a plutonium-fueled nuclear reactor, attempting at one stage to water-bomb the facility without success amid fears that authorities were running out of options to avert disaster.

The No.3 reactor is the only one of the quake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant's six reactor units to be powered with plutonium, which is far more hazardous to health than uranium, which is used to power the other five reactors.

High radiation levels had stopped a military helicopter from dumping water on the No.3 reactor, local media said. The plant's owner, Tokyo Electric Power, declined to comment.

It was not clear if the helicopter was trying to pour water on the reactor vessel or on an associated spent-fuel pool, a deep reservoir where spent nuclear fuel rods are kept. Public broadcaster NHK said the water was for the spent-fuel pool.

Later, Kyodo news agency quoted a government taskforce as saying it was unlikely the No.3 reactor had sustained major damage.

The number of workers at the complex has increased to 180, up from 50 a day earlier but still far less than the 800 that were deployed there immediately after Friday's devastating 9.0 magnitude quake and tsunami.

MORE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/us-japan-quake-nuclear-radiation-idUSTRE72F3MB20110316

[ETatBKK]

excellent overview, we could keep track of this then we may able to understand the next possible risk !

Status of quake-stricken reactors at Fukushima nuclear power plants

TOKYO, March 16, Kyodo -- about 8 pm Japan time

Fukushima No. 1 [Daiichi] plant

-- Reactor No. 1 - Suspended after quake, cooling failure, partial melting of core, vapor vented, building damaged Saturday by hydrogen explosion, seawater being pumped in.

-- Reactor No. 2 - Suspended after quake, cooling failure, seawater being pumped in, fuel rods fully exposed temporarily, vapor vented, building housing reactor damaged Monday by blast at reactor No. 3, damage to containment vessel on Tuesday, potential meltdown feared.

-- Reactor No. 3 - Suspended after quake, cooling failure, partial melting of core feared, vapor vented, seawater being pumped in, building housing reactor damaged Monday by hydrogen explosion, high-level radiation measured nearby on Tuesday, plume of smoke observed Wednesday, damage to containment vessel likely.

-- Reactor No. 4 - Under maintenance when quake struck, fire Tuesday possibly caused by hydrogen explosion at pool holding spent fuel rods, abnormal temperature rise in spent-fuel storage pool but water level not observed, fire observed Wednesday at building housing reactor, no water poured in to cool pool, spraying of boric acid being considered.

-- Reactors No. 5, No. 6 - Under maintenance when quake struck, temperatures slightly rising in spent-fuel storage pools.

[jfchandler]

Reuters filed this report earlier today Thailand time...

Analysis: Japan nuclear crisis passes Three Mile

(Reuters) - Conditions at a stricken nuclear power plant in Japan have deteriorated so much that there is a growing consensus the crisis is greater than the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, and there are fears that it could get significantly worse.

Academics and nuclear experts agree the problems at the Fukushima Daiichi reactors are grave, and the solutions being proposed are last-ditch efforts to stem what could well be remembered as one of the world's worst industrial disasters.

All six reactors at the complex have problems -- be it blown-out roofs, potentially cracked containment structures, exposed fuel rods or just the risk of explosion that has been great enough to force emergency measures.

Of particular concern are a fire in a massive pool holding spent atomic fuel rods and a blast at the building housing the pool and reactor No.4. The pool is exposed to the elements, unlike the reactor core protected in steel and concrete.

"I would say that it has now eclipsed the Three Mile Island accident but it is not a Chernobyl," said Keith Holbert, director of the Nuclear Power Generation Program at Arizona State University and an associate professor there.

MORE: http://www.reuters.c...E72F08720110316

Edited March 16, 2011 by jfchandler

[jfchandler]

It seems to depend on who's talking and when...

Sometimes it's Reactor 3 because of its plutonium fuel component...

Sometimes it's Reactor 2 because it's apparently had the greatest actual reactor/core damage.

Sometimes it's Reactor 4 because of fears about the large pool of nuclear fuel rods stored and overheating on its roof area.

Take your pick...

excellent overview, we could keep track of this then we may able to understand the next possible risk !

[elcent]

Entry refused for Russian expert team and for unknown reasons. These people were working in Tschernobyl. This is exactly what they need to do now, constructing a protection wall around it.

The mind boggles.

SPON (SPIEGEL ONLINE)

Edited March 16, 2011 by elcent

[jfchandler]

Japan's devastating earthquake and deepening nuclear crisis could result in losses of up to $200 billion for the world's third largest economy - uk.reuters.com

[jfchandler]

[elcent]

THE STATEMENT IN THE IMAGE HERE SAYS THAT 400 MILLISIEVERT WERE MEASURED(NOT MICROSIEVERT) ON TUESDAY MORNING.

MISTAKE?

I THINK 1000 MILLISIEVERT TODAY WERE CORRECT TOO AND NOT A MISTAKE.

[jfchandler]

It's bitterly cold in northern Japan right now...

Edited March 16, 2011 by jfchandler

[itishothere]

I don't want to detract from what is being done here. But ...

This thread is by far the most informative and useful source of facts, figures, references, technical data and interpretation that I have come across. I am grateful to all the contributors for their outstanding efforts here.

Thank you.:jap:

[jfchandler]

BTW, does anyone have the web link for where the Japanese govt. is posting their daily radiation reading results??

[ETatBKK]

too bad, they don't have any choice ! they have 6 huge burning candles but only 1 cap, they cannot extinguish one at a time. this incident is not as simple as that :-(

It seems to depend on who's talking and when...

Sometimes it's Reactor 3 because of its plutonium fuel component...

Sometimes it's Reactor 2 because it's apparently had the greatest actual reactor/core damage.

Sometimes it's Reactor 4 because of fears about the large pool of nuclear fuel rods stored and overheating on its roof area.

Take your pick...

excellent overview, we could keep track of this then we may able to understand the next possible risk !

[jfchandler]

NHK reports that various foreign countries, mostly smaller, are either ordering their diplomats out of Tokyo and back home, or transferring them to other cities than Tokyo, because of the nuclear plants threat.