High radiation readings found at Fukushima tanks (NEW LEAK)

Japan Today ^ | 09/01/13 | staff

[winoneforthegipper]

At the time of last week’s discovered leak the plant operator said the radioactivity of the puddles was around 100 millisieverts per hour.

Jiji news agency said the highest reading of 1,800 millisieverts per hour was found at one of the tanks, adding that exposure to that level for four hours would be fatal to humans. The other readings measured between 70 and 230 millisieverts, the agency added.

A TEPCO official said the operator could not rule out the possibility of new leaks of radioactive water at the four sites, the agency reported, adding that the operator had not noticed a decline in water levels inside the tanks.

[Errant]

I do not understand what "GOING CRITICAL" means.

It might appear as kind of an abstract concept for someone unfamiliar with the process.

Rather than a poor attempt by me to describe it, I'm going to direct you to this little 60 second video I found on Youtube, after viewing several.

Fission Reaction (HD Rework) - Bellevue University

Additional reading at Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fission

The above should give you an idea of what the term "going critical" means. Primarily, when the fission process not only becomes self-sustaining, but rapidly ramps up, creating an explosion with release of intense radiation, light, heat, and etc.

Mr. Gunderson, a nuclear engineer, believes the explosion in reactor #3 was a result of a small amount of the fuel pool inside becoming critical.

The reactor vessels are designed to prevent the fuel rods from doing this, but it seems no one thought about the fuel pools or the unusual circumstances encountered by having this much nuclear material in such a close proximity.

[Errant]

Btw, Please add me to your Fukushima Ping list! ;)

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Now, so many more questions:

So, they may be able to “filter” it leaving only Tritium. I’d say they’d better get cracking on that construction.

Doesn’t Japan own any supertankers? I’d think sacrificing one of those might be a small price to pay, compared to the alternative. It/they could be used for instant storage, to buy time to build some decent tanks, and for transportation of the less radioactive water to an appropriate Pacific release point.

Since they claim they can filter it, does that mean the radioactivity is not bonded to the water molecules? Would air-temperature evaporation allow water vapor to escape leaving the concentrated radioactive material behind?

[Errant]

Very informative and bookmarked. Thank you!

[winoneforthegipper]

This guys seems to think as do I that a leak does not explain the situation. I would not go as far as to say that fission is occurring but there has to be another reason for this surge.

Today’s readings were as high as 1700 milisieverts.

http://rt.com/op-edge/fukushima-radiation-threat-level-288/

[ROCKLOBSTER]

it seems no one thought about

Looks like no one thought about a lot of things.

Despite their obvious cerebral superiority, this really puts a dent in how endowed the Japanese are with common sense. Of course, there were probably many lawyers and labor unions involved.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Thanks for the link.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

And thank you for that link. Scary stuff.

[Errant]

I wonder where are they taking the readings. Another thought, perhaps settling in the tanks could be causing increasing levels of radiation closer to the bottom of the tank where the leaks are more likely occurring.

I read last night that the Japanese government is taking over operations. IMO, that's probably a good thing for them to do.

[Errant]

You are most welcome. :)

Thanks,

[winoneforthegipper]

Japan/TEPCO first looked to the United States to provide a ship to handle the water since we have large floating water buffaloes. I believe we turned them down. They do not have that capability.

As for evaporation. Indeed at nuclear power plants across the world scrubbing coolants is the go to choice. Of course that evaporation is not sun driven but more like a contained steamer.

However as the article eluded to Fukushima is small in actual area with way to much fission material and water on property. All existing scrubbing machinery has been lost to either the quake, flood, or the previous meltdowns. To install something now is honestly something that would require something just short of a miracle.

[winoneforthegipper]

Very cool plan (pun intended) on how they are going to stop the groundwater from reaching the Sea....However once again freakin Japan/TEPCO has not sought technical advise from outside their borders.

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/518801/how-the-fukushima-ice-barrier-will-block-radioactive-groundwater/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_source=newsletter-daily-all&utm_content=buffera84b0&utm_medium=twitter

How the Fukushima Ice Barrier Will Block Radioactive Groundwater
Japan plans to stop leaking radioactive groundwater at Fukushima with an underground wall of ice. Here’s how it would work.

[houeto]

Thank you FRiends.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Cool!

Looks like a pretty good piece of frontline standard emergency equipment to have installed anyway. Especially in a real high risk application such as Japan’s.

[hoagy62]

The reactors if not maintained will overheat and become exposed. So not only is there a real possibility now of what is called the CHINA SYNDROME where by the reactors completely melt, but there is enough heat contained in at least two to start an uncontrolled nuclear reaction.

Are you saying that it could cause an actual nuclear detonation...ala an atom bomb?

[winoneforthegipper]

Nope we are not talking mushroom clouds or anything like that but we are talking blue sprites and a whole lot more radioactive disbursement.

The name given to such an event is called a Criticality Accident. Now I will caution what I said above for it’s not really clear if the actual reactor cores at Fukushima could potentially mimic the environment utilized in an atomic weapon.

At any rate the radiation would be the primary concern not a massive explosion. Though on a non-nuclear worry any explosion could massively change the environment there and said the stage for a mass casualty event.

[machogirl]

scary stuff

[machogirl]

I don’t remember squat from the little education I had in Engineering school about the Nuclear stuff. Since the reacting glob is so darn hot, will this have any chance?

I know a guy who was a fellow nerd in my high school (friend back then and a heck of a guy) that I contacted after Fuku because he studied the nuclear engineering AND he’s in the USN. Right after, he and others were helping of some sort (I think he was on the carrier to do that, but he commands a different type of craft). I need to email him again and ask.

[machogirl]

This is what we’d say in high school and college, “say what?”, lol. I am the QUEEN OF THE NON-TECHIE. Still after 12 years here have never figured out a ping list nor made the Royal Order of the Freeperhood. :P)

[machogirl]

I agree. I claim “noob privilege” as to ping lists. haha
What happens when it seeps into the ground and hits the groundwater (at 2000 degrees). Big underground explosion?

I could barely get my head wrapped around Chernobyl when that happened. I had just graduated from college and was at a job interview watching the coverage of those brave guys dumping concrete or water in the helicopters.

I can wrap my puny head around the Elephant in the room that is Fuku and it is much more than Chernobyl.