nuclear-news

TEPCO expands ice wall operations at Fukushima

Tokyo Electric Power Company has expanded operations to create an underground ice wall at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to stop the volume of contaminated groundwater from increasing.

TEPCO on Monday began injecting a liquid refrigerant into more pipes that make up the 1,500-meter wall surrounding 4 damaged reactor buildings. The operation now covers 95 percent of the wall.

Groundwater flows into the buildings and becomes tainted with radioactive substances. Reducing its volume is a key to decommissioning the reactors.

The operation started in March on the downstream side of the wall because lowering the water levels too much could cause tainted water to leak from the buildings.

Workers began freezing the upstream side after making sure there were no leaks.

The ice wall project still faces challenges. Ground temperatures have not fallen in some places, and groundwater levels outside the wall have not gone down.

Also on Monday, workers began injecting cement into the ground where temperatures have not fallen.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160606_28/

June 8, 2016 - Posted by dunrenard | Fukushima 2016 | Contaminated Water, Fukushima Daiichi, Ice wall