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Nuclear-friendly Magazine: Fukushima melted fuel is glowing, could still be ‘lava-like’ — Only vaguest idea of where corium is — Pouring concrete in structure being discussed — They may not be able to decommission plant, but have to give it a try

Published: March 6th, 2014 at 9:08 pm ET
By ENENews

http://enenews.com/nuclear-friendly-magazine-melted-fuel-fukushima-glowing-corium-could-be-lava-like-experts-only-vaguest-idea-pouring-concrete-structure-being-discussed-be-able-decommission-plant-give-try

IEEE Spectrum (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), Eliza Strickland, Feb 28, 2014:

• [Japan’s nuclear experts] have only the vaguest idea of where the melted fuel ended up
• Damaged reactor cores continue to glow with infernal heat
• Containment vessels are riddled with holes
• Reactors are kept in check only by ceaseless vigilance
• To placate the furious Japanese public, [TEPCO must] remove every trace of the facility
• TEPCO officials have admitted frankly that they don’t yet know how to accomplish the tasks
• “At Fukushima you have wrecked infrastructure, three melted cores, and you have some core on the floor, ex-vessel,” [TEPCO adviser Lake] Barrett says
• Nothing like Fukushima, [Barrett] declares, has ever happened before
• There is no guarantee that this epic project can be accomplished — But faced with the wrath of the Japanese people, TEPCO has no choice but to try
• Explosions […] sprayed radioactive materials throughout the buildings
• Many of the leaks are thought to be in the suppression chambers, doughnut-shaped structures that ring the containment vessel
• Rooms that surround them are now filled with water […] no easy way to spot the ruptures
• TEPCO may [end up] pouring concrete into the suppression chamber
• As long as that melted fuel glows inside reactors 1, 2, and 3, Fukushima Daiichi will remain Japan’s ongoing nightmare
• Melted fuel may also have a lavalike consistency, with a hard crust on top but softer materials inside

In another article for IEEE Spectrum, the author of the report highlighted above wrote, “The calamity will undoubtedly improve nuclear plant design. True, the antinuclear forces will find plenty in the Fukushima saga to bolster their arguments.”

Also, IEEE appears on a Tepco document revealing a select group of entities that are “working together” with Tepco to “disseminate” Fukushima-related information.

See also: NPR and California Department of Public Health appear on document with nuclear-related U.S. entities ‘working together’ with Tepco to ‘disseminate’ Fukushima-related information

March 7, 2014 - Posted by arclight2011part2 | Uncategorized