nuclear-news

There was no wind… but the cutting equipment came off and stopped. Removal of contaminated pipes at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

March 1, 2022
On January 1, TEPCO began cutting pipes contaminated with highly radioactive materials between Units 1 and 2 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Okuma and Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture), but stopped shortly after starting due to a problem with the cutting equipment.

　The site was inaccessible due to high radiation levels, and the work was performed by remote control of a cutting device that was suspended from a large crane. According to TEPCO, around noon on January 1, they began cutting pipes near ground level on the Unit 2 side, but were unable to continue after 15 minutes. A part of a chain-like cutting device called a wire saw came off.
　The work to remove the pipes began on February 24, but the cutting equipment, which had been hung by a crane, was blown away by strong winds, preventing the work from getting underway.
　The pipes are about 30 cm in diameter and measure about 65 meters on the Unit 1 side and about 70 meters on the Unit 2 side. The plan is to cut the pipes into 26 sections, which were used for venting contaminated steam inside the reactor to prevent the containment vessel from rupturing at the time of the accident in March 2011. Remove it.
　Removal of the crane was originally scheduled to begin in October of last year and be completed in March of this year, but has been delayed significantly due to a series of crane failures. (Kenta Onozawa)

https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/163034?fbclid=IwAR0Y1Nyx7RxYJHRHnUH6tNFUpV7NnC8nD91pzfYchvQvKcizBc7ykS-G6XI

March 3, 2022 Posted by dunrenard | Fuk 2022 | Fukushima Daiichi, Pipes removal, SGTS pipes | Leave a comment

TEPCO begins removal of pipes contaminated at the time of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

March 1, 2022
On January 1, TEPCO began removing pipes in Units 1 and 2 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant that were contaminated with radioactive materials when they were vented to prevent damage to the plant. After the pipes are disconnected, TEPCO plans to investigate the situation with the Nuclear Regulation Commission.

The pipes to be removed are called “SGTS pipes” and are used to filter out gases in the reactor building during an accident.

TEPCO has begun removing the piping from the portion of the piping that goes outdoors because it will interfere with the installation of a large cover to cover the entire Unit 1 reactor building, which experienced a hydrogen explosion.

The pipes to be removed are approximately 65 meters long on the Unit 1 side and 70 meters long on the Unit 2 side. At the time of the accident 11 years ago, the containment vessel covering the reactor was contaminated when it was vented to release gases containing radioactive materials to prevent it from being damaged by the internal pressure.

Radiation levels of up to 160 millisieverts per hour were observed in the pipes when they were surveyed last May.

TEPCO and the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) plan to examine the severed pipes to determine the effects of the “vent” on the pipes’ contamination and other factors.

The removal work is scheduled to last until the end of this month, but according to TEPCO, the work was suspended for one day due to a malfunction of the shredding equipment, and the cause is being investigated.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20220301/k10013507101000.html?fbclid=IwAR0yB_LUsoi0sKIPR0-jh-R6u7KmMGo93QQ7OjxMCbIp-WKesxtLvm_nIh8

March 3, 2022 Posted by dunrenard | Fuk 2022 | Fukushima Daiichi, Pipes removal, SGTS pipes | Leave a comment