Jeffrey LewisFEPC Info Sheets 4/15-4/20

Here are the information sheets from our friends at FEPC from 4/15, 4/18, 4/19 and 4/20.

On a related note, TEPCO has walked back the estimate of Cl-38 on which Ferenc Dalnoki based his paper, What Was The Cause Of The High Cl-38 Radioactivity In The Fukushima Daiichi Reactor #1.

I have a couple of real posts in the hopper.  Lots of writing toward no particular end lately.

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office

As of 11:50AM (EST), April 15, 2011

  • Radiation Levels
    • On April 14, TEPCO announced the results of the analysis of groundwater samples from sub-drain pits at Unit 1 to 6 of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The concentration of radioactive nuclides were as follows:
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
Samples taken at 4/13

11:40AM

4/13

11:50AM

4/13

11:25AM

4/13

11:20AM

4/13

12:00PM

4/13

12:10PM

Nuclides

(half-life)

Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3)
I-131

(8 days)

4.0 x 102 6.1 x 102 3.6 x 100 1.7 x 101 1.6 x 10-1 1.9 x 10-1
Cs-134

(2 years)

5.3 x 101 7.9 x 100 2.4 x 100 2.7 x 100 2.7 x 10-1 2.6 x 10-1
Cs-137

(30 years)

6.0 x 101 9.1 x 100 2.4 x 100 2.7 x 100 2.8 x 10-1 2.8 x 10-1

§  The total radioactive content of discharge: approximately 1.5 x 1011 Bq

§  Discharge amount from the Central Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility: approximately 9,070 tons (from 7:03PM on April 4 to 5:40PM on April 10)

§  Discharge amount from sub-drain pits of Unit 5 and 6: approximately 1,323 tons (from 9:00PM on April 4 to 6:52PM on April 9)

§  TEPCO has not detected major changes of the concentration of nuclides in the seawater sampled at several measuring points near Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, compared with the samples that were taken during the week before the discharge.

(As reported on April 4, these discharges were performed in order to accommodate higher level radioactive water in the Central Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility and to prevent important equipment of Unit 5 and 6 from being submerged.)

    • The concentration of radioactive nuclides from the seawater sampled at the screen device (installed to remove waste before the intake of seawater) of Unit 2 and sampled near the seawater discharge point (south side) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station were as follows:
Nuclides

(half-life)

Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3) Ratio
Sampled at the screen of Unit 2 at 7:40AM on April 14  (a) Sampled at south side discharge point at 2:00PM on April 14  (b) Maximum Permissible Water Concentration (c) a / c b / c
I-131

(8 days)

4.2 x 101 1.2 x 100 4.0 x 10-2 1,100 30
Cs-134

(2 years)

3.3 x 101 7.9 x 10-1 6.0 x 10-2 550 13
Cs-137

(30 years)

3.3 x 101 8.1 x 10-1 9.0 x 10-2 370 9
    • At 4:00PM (JST) on April 15, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 69 micro Sv/hour.
    • At 4:00PM on April 15, radiation level at west gate (approximately 3,609 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 35.8 micro Sv/hour.
    • Measurement results of environmental radioactivity level around Fukushima Nuclear Power Station announced at 7:00PM on April 15 are shown in the attached PDF file. English version is available at:    http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/detail/1304082.htm
    • For comparison, a human receives 2,400 micro Sv per year from natural radiation in the form of sunlight, radon, and other sources. One chest CT scan generates 6,900 micro Sv per scan.
  • Plant Parameters
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
pressure inside the reactor core (gauge pressure, MPa) 0.430 -0.018 -0.021 0.003 0.009
4/15

12:00PM

4/15

12:00PM

4/15

12:00PM

4/15

2:00PM

4/15

2:00PM

pressure inside the primary containment vessel (absolute pressure, MPaabs) 0.190 0.090 0.104
4/15

12:00PM

4/15

12:00PM

4/15

12:00PM

water level inside the reactor core (meter) *1 -1.65 -1.5 -1.8 +1.692 +2.230
4/15

12:00PM

4/15

12:00PM

4/15

12:00PM

4/15

2:00PM

4/15

2:00PM

temperature of the reactor vessel measured at the water supply nozzle (degrees Fahrenheit) 385.5

*2

298.8 194.2

*2

4/15

6:00AM

4/15

6:00AM

4/15

6:00AM

temperature of the spent fuel pool (degrees Fahrenheit) 143.6 95.4 77.0
4/15

12:00PM

4/15

2:00PM

4/15

2:00PM

the temperature directly above the spent fuel pool by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 96.8 138.2 145.4
4/14

7:40AM

4/14

7:40AM

4/14

7:40AM

temperature directly above the primary containment vessel by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 91.4 154.4
4/14

7:40AM

4/14

7:40AM

temperature directly above the second containment building  by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 87.8
4/14

7:40AM

Amount of water in total shot/injected to the spent fuel storage pool (tons) 90 419 – 434 5,263 1,816
as of 4/15

5:00PM

as of 4/15

5:00PM

as of 4/15

5:00PM

as of 4/15

5:00PM

*1: A negative figure indicates that the water level is below the top of the fuel rods.

*2: This figure is under investigation.

  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor
    • As of 6:00PM on April 15, injection of nitrogen gas into the primary containment vessel to prevent an explosion by accumulated hydrogen gas continues.
    • As of 6:00PM on April 15, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 reactor
    • As of 6:00PM on April 15, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 reactor
    • As of 6:00PM on April 15, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 reactor
    • At 2:08PM on April 15, TEPCO began to shoot freshwater aimed at the spent fuel pool, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping concrete.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Common Spent Fuel Pool
    • At 6:20AM on April 15, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Others
    • At 2:15PM on April 15, TEPCO installed steel plates at the ocean side of the screen device of Unit 2 in order to contain the spread of discharged radioactive water.

Our official sources are:

  • Office of The Prime Minister of Japan
  • Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
  • Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Press Releases
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
  • Ministry of Defense (MOD)

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office

As of 11:30AM (EST), April 18, 2011

  • Roadmap
    • On April 17, TEPCO announced “the Roadmap towards Restoration from the Accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.” This will be sent by another email and is also available at:

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/11041707-e.html

  • Radiation Levels
    • On April 17, TEPCO announced the results of the analysis of groundwater samples from sub-drain pits at Unit 1 to 6 of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The concentration of radioactive nuclides were as follows:
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
Samples taken at 4/16

10:18AM

4/16

10:15AM

4/16

9:55AM

4/16

9:50AM

4/16

10:27AM

4/16

10:30AM

Nuclides

(half-life)

Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3)
I-131

(8 days)

8.4 x 101 5.4 x 102 4.7 x 100 1.3 x 101 2.0 x 10-1 2.1 x 10-1
Cs-134

(2 years)

1.5 x 101 5.8 x 100 4.3 x 100 2.7 x 100 3.4 x 10-1 3.5 x 10-1
Cs-137

(30 years)

1.9 x 101 7.1 x 100 4.5 x 100 2.7 x 100 3.7 x 10-1 3.9 x 10-1
    • The concentration of radioactive nuclides from the seawater sampled at the screen device (installed to remove waste before the intake of seawater) of Unit 2 and sampled near the seawater discharge point (south side) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station were as follows:
Nuclides

(half-life)

Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3) Ratio
Sampled inside the silt  fence at the screen of Unit 2 Sampled outside the silt fence at the screen of Unit 2 Sampled at south side discharge point Maximum Permissible Water Concentration (d) a / d b / d c / d
4/17 7:45AM

(a)

4/17

7:40AM

(b)

4/17 2:00PM

(c)

I-131

(8 days)

2.1 x 102 1.9 x 102 1.4 x 10-1 4.0 x 10-2 5,300 4,800 3.5
Cs-134

(2 years)

9.7 x 101 4.2 x 101 3.5 x 10-1 6.0 x 10-2 1,600 700 5.8
Cs-137

(30 years)

1.0 x 102 4.4 x 101 3.6 x 10-1 9.0 x 10-2 1,100 490 4.0
    • On April 17, TEPCO announced the result of the analysis of water samples from the skimmer surge tank (installed to receive the overflowed water and floating wastes) of the spent fuel pool at Unit 2 of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant taken on April 16. The concentration of radioactive nuclides were as follows:
Nuclides

(half-life)

Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3)
Sampled on April 16 (Reference) Sampled from the spent fuel pool on February 10
I-131

(8 days)

4.1 x 103 2.8 x 10-1
Cs-134

(2 years)

1.6 x 105 Under the Detection Limit
Cs-136

(13 days)

4.0 x 103 N/A
Cs-137

(30 years)

1.5 x 105 Under the Detection Limit
    • At 4:00PM (JST) on April 18, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 61 micro Sv/hour.
    • At 4:00PM on April 18, radiation level at west gate (approximately 3,609 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 31.4 micro Sv/hour.
    • Measurement results of environmental radioactivity level around Fukushima Nuclear Power Station announced at 4:00PM on April 18 are shown in the attached PDF file. English version is available at:    http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/detail/1304082.htm
    • For comparison, a human receives 2,400 micro Sv per year from natural radiation in the form of sunlight, radon, and other sources. One chest CT scan generates 6,900 micro Sv per scan.
  • Plant Parameters
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
pressure inside the reactor core (gauge pressure, MPa) 0.428 -0.023 -0.034 0.007 0.01
4/18

12:00PM

4/18

1:00PM

4/18

1:45PM

4/18

2:00PM

4/18

2:00PM

pressure inside the primary containment vessel (absolute pressure, MPaabs) 0.170 0.085 0.1047
4/18

1:00PM

4/18

1:00PM

4/18

1:45PM

water level inside the reactor core (meter) *1 -1.65 -1.5 -1.8 +1.852 +2.018
4/18

12:00PM

4/18

1:00PM

4/18

1:45PM

4/18

2:00PM

4/18

2:00PM

temperature of the reactor vessel measured at the water supply nozzle (degrees Fahrenheit) 338.4 285.4 214.7
4/18

1:00PM

4/18

1:00PM

4/18

1:10PM

temperature of the spent fuel pool (degrees Fahrenheit) 159.8 96.6 93.2
4/18

1:00PM

4/18

2:00PM

4/18

2:00PM

the temperature directly above the spent fuel pool by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 93.2 131.0 120.2
4/16

7:30AM

4/16

7:30AM

4/16

7:30AM

temperature directly above the primary containment vessel by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 91.4 156.2
4/16

7:30AM

4/16

7:30AM

temperature directly above the second containment building  by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 96.8
4/16

7:30AM

Amount of water in total shot/injected to the spent fuel storage pool (tons) 90 464 – 479 5,293 2,096
as of 4/18

5:00PM

as of 4/18

5:00PM

as of 4/18

5:00PM

as of 4/18

5:00PM

*1: A negative figure indicates that the water level is below the top of the fuel rods.

  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor
    • At 4:00PM on April 17, the surveillance of the reactor building began, with a remote controlled robot, until 5:30PM.
    • As of 5:00PM on April 18, injection of nitrogen gas into the primary containment vessel to prevent an explosion by accumulated hydrogen gas continues.
    • As of 5:00PM on April 18, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 reactor
    • At 10:13AM on April 16, TEPCO began to inject freshwater into the spent fuel pool, until 11:54AM (approximately 45 tons in total).
    • At 1:42PM on April 18, the surveillance of the reactor building began, with a remote controlled robot, until 2:33PM.
    • As of 5:00PM on April 18, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 reactor
    • At 11:30AM on April 17, the surveillance of the reactor building began, with a remote controlled robot, until 2:00PM.
    • At 2:17PM on April 18, TEPCO began to shoot freshwater aimed at the spent fuel pool, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping concrete, until 3:02PM (approximately 30 tons in total).
    • As of 5:00PM on April 18, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 reactor
    • At 5:39PM on April 17, TEPCO began to shoot freshwater aimed at the spent fuel pool, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping concrete, until 9:22PM (approximately 140 tons in total).
  • Fukushima Daiichi Common Spent Fuel Pool
    • At 2:34PM on April 17, the power supply to the spent fuel pool was temporarily interrupted due to an electrical short circuit.
    • At 5:30PM on April 17, the power supply to the spent fuel pool was restored after the removal of the cable and checkups.
    • As of 4:30AM on April 18, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Others
    • At 9:00AM on April 15, TEPCO began to install silt barrier containing zeolite (an absorbent of radioactive nuclides) between the screen pump rooms of Unit 1 and 2 and between the screen pump rooms of Unit 2 and 3, until 11:15AM.
    • At 10:19AM on April 15, TEPCO began to transfer distribution panels of the pumps to inject water to the reactors of Units 1 to 3 to higher ground as a countermeasure against tsunami, until 5:00PM.
    • At 2:30PM on April 15, TEPCO began to install silt barrier containing zeolite between the screen pump rooms of the Unit 3 and Unit 4.
    • At 9:00AM on April 16, the removal works of debris at the site began, with a remote controlled excavation machine, until 4:00PM.
    • At 9:00AM on April 17, the removal works of debris at the site began, with a remote controlled excavation machine, until 4:00PM.

Our official sources are:

  • Office of The Prime Minister of Japan
  • Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
  • Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Press Releases
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
  • Ministry of Defense (MOD)

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office

As of 10:00AM (EST), April 19, 2011

  • Radiation Levels
    • On April 19, TEPCO announced the results of the analysis of groundwater samples from sub-drain pits at Unit 1 to 6 of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The concentration of radioactive nuclides were as follows:
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
Samples taken at 4/18

10:20AM

4/18

10:30AM

4/18

10:10AM

4/18

9:45AM

4/18

10:40AM

4/18

10:45AM

Nuclides

(half-life)

Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3)
I-131

(8 days)

4.3 x 101 4.5 x 102 2.6 x 100 7.9 x 100 1.0 x 10-1 5.6 x 10-2
Cs-134

(2 years)

1.1 x 101 5.8 x 100 2.2 x 100 8.6 x 10-1 6.6 x 10-2 7.8 x 10-2
Cs-137

(30 years)

1.2 x 101 6.7 x 100 2.3 x 100 9.2 x 10-1 7.1 x 10-2 7.6 x 10-2
    • The concentration of radioactive nuclides from the seawater sampled at the screen device (installed to remove waste before the intake of seawater) of Unit 2 and sampled near the seawater discharge point (south side) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station were as follows:
Nuclides

(half-life)

Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3) Ratio
Sampled inside the silt  fence at the screen of Unit 2 Sampled outside the silt fence at the screen of Unit 2 Sampled at south side discharge point Maximum Permissible Water Concentration (d) a / d b / d c / d
4/18 7:30AM

(a)

4/18

7:25AM

(b)

4/18 2:00PM

(c)

I-131

(8 days)

2.6 x 102 6.0 x 101 8.1 x 10-2 4.0 x 10-2 6,500 1,500 2.0
Cs-134

(2 years)

7.0 x 101 1.8 x 101 2.1 x 10-1 6.0 x 10-2 1,200 300 3.5
Cs-137

(30 years)

7.2 x 101 1.8 x 101 2.2 x 10-1 9.0 x 10-2 800 200 2.4
    • At 5:00PM (JST) on April 19, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 59 micro Sv/hour.
    • At 5:00PM on April 19, radiation level at west gate (approximately 3,609 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 28.0 micro Sv/hour.
    • Measurement results of environmental radioactivity level around Fukushima Nuclear Power Station announced at 4:00PM on April 19 are shown in the attached PDF file. English version is available at:    http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/detail/1304082.htm
    • For comparison, a human receives 2,400 micro Sv per year from natural radiation in the form of sunlight, radon, and other sources. One chest CT scan generates 6,900 micro Sv per scan.
  • Plant Parameters
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
pressure inside the reactor core (gauge pressure, MPa) 0.430 -0.020 -0.040 0.007 0.010
4/19

12:00PM

4/19

12:00PM

4/19

12:00PM

4/19

1:00PM

4/19

1:00PM

pressure inside the primary containment vessel (absolute pressure, MPaabs) 0.165 0.085 0.1036
4/19

12:00PM

4/19

12:00PM

4/19

12:00PM

water level inside the reactor core (meter) *1 -1.6 -1.5 -1.85 +2.222 +2.033
4/19

12:00PM

4/19

12:00PM

4/19

12:00PM

4/19

1:00PM

4/19

1:00PM

temperature of the reactor vessel measured at the water supply nozzle (degrees Fahrenheit) 334.0 277.7 214.0
4/19

12:00PM

4/19

6:00AM

4/19

12:00PM

temperature of the spent fuel pool (degrees Fahrenheit) 120.2 99.0 77.0
4/19

12:00PM

4/19

1:00PM

4/19

1:00PM

the temperature directly above the spent fuel pool by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 59.0 131.0 68.0
4/18

7:30AM

4/18

7:30AM

4/18

7:30AM

temperature directly above the primary containment vessel by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 69.8 87.8
4/18

7:30AM

4/18

7:30AM

temperature directly above the second containment building  by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 68.0
4/18

7:30AM

Amount of water in total shot/injected to the spent fuel storage pool (tons) 90 511 – 526 5,293 2,136
as of 4/19

5:00PM

as of 4/19

5:00PM

as of 4/19

5:00PM

as of 4/19

5:00PM

*1: A negative figure indicates that the water level is below the top of the fuel rods.

  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor
    • As of 3:00PM on April 19, injection of nitrogen gas into the primary containment vessel to prevent an explosion by accumulated hydrogen gas continues.
    • As of 3:00PM on April 19, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 reactor
    • At 10:08AM on April 19, transferring of the accumulated water at the turbine building to the Central Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility commenced. TEPCO plans to transfer approximately 10,000m3 out of 25,000 m3 of accumulated water (approximately 480m3 per day).
    • As of 3:00PM on April 19, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
    • At 4:08PM on April 19, TEPCO began to inject freshwater into the spent fuel pool, until 5:28PM (approximately 47 tons in total).
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 reactor
    • As of 3:00PM on April 19, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 reactor
    • At 10:17AM on April 19, TEPCO began to shoot freshwater aimed at the spent fuel pool, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping concrete, until 11:35AM (approximately 40 tons in total).
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 6 reactor
    • At 11:00AM on April 19, transferring of the accumulated water at the turbine building to the condenser commenced, until 3:00PM.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Common Spent Fuel Pool
    • As of 7:30AM on April 19, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Our official sources are:

  • Office of The Prime Minister of Japan
  • Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
  • Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Press Releases
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
  • Ministry of Defense (MOD)

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office

As of 10:30AM (EST), April 20, 2011

  • Radiation Levels
    • The concentration of radioactive nuclides from the seawater sampled at the screen device (installed to remove waste before the intake of seawater) of Unit 2 and sampled near the seawater discharge point (south side) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station were as follows:
Nuclides

(half-life)

Concentration (Unit : Bq/cm3) Ratio
Sampled inside the silt  fence at the screen of Unit 2 Sampled outside the silt fence at the screen of Unit 2 Sampled at south side discharge point Maximum Permissible Water Concentration (d) a / d b / d c / d
4/19 7:27AM

(a)

4/19

7:25AM

(b)

4/19 2:00PM

(c)

I-131

(8 days)

4.7 x 101 3.3 x 101 3.1 x 10-1 4.0 x 10-2 1,200 830 7.8
Cs-134

(2 years)

2.6 x 101 1.6 x 101 5.0 x 10-1 6.0 x 10-2 430 270 8.3
Cs-137

(30 years)

2.4 x 101 1.5 x 101 5.1 x 10-1 9.0 x 10-2 270 170 5.7
    • At 4:00PM (JST) on April 20, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 60 micro Sv/hour.
    • At 4:00PM on April 20, radiation level at west gate (approximately 3,609 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 27.9 micro Sv/hour.
    • Measurement results of environmental radioactivity level around Fukushima Nuclear Power Station announced at 1:00PM on April 20 are shown in the attached PDF file. English version is available at:    http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/detail/1304082.htm
    • For comparison, a human receives 2,400 micro Sv per year from natural radiation in the form of sunlight, radon, and other sources. One chest CT scan generates 6,900 micro Sv per scan.
  • Plant Parameters
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
pressure inside the reactor core (gauge pressure, MPa) 0.420 -0.023 -0.043 0.007 0.010
4/20

12:00PM

4/20

12:00PM

4/20

12:00PM

4/20

1:00PM

4/20

1:00PM

pressure inside the primary containment vessel (absolute pressure, MPaabs) 0.160 0.080 0.1045
4/20

12:00PM

4/20

12:00PM

4/20

12:00PM

water level inside the reactor core (meter) *1 -1.7 -1.5 -1.85 +2.059 +1.941
4/20

12:00PM

4/20

12:00PM

4/20

12:00PM

4/20

1:00PM

4/20

1:00PM

temperature of the reactor vessel measured at the water supply nozzle (degrees Fahrenheit) 334.0 277.7 214.0
4/19

12:00PM

4/19

6:00AM

4/19

12:00PM

temperature of the spent fuel pool (degrees Fahrenheit) 159.8 98.1 92.3
4/20

12:00PM

4/20

1:00PM

4/20

1:00PM

the temperature directly above the spent fuel pool by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 59.0 131.0 68.0
4/18

7:30AM

4/18

7:30AM

4/18

7:30AM

temperature directly above the primary containment vessel by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 69.8 87.8
4/18

7:30AM

4/18

7:30AM

temperature directly above the second containment building  by thermography measurement (degrees Fahrenheit) 68.0
4/18

7:30AM

Amount of water in total shot/injected to the spent fuel storage pool (tons) 90 511 – 526 5,293 2,136
as of 4/20

5:00PM

as of 4/20

5:00PM

as of 4/20

5:00PM

as of 4/20

5:00PM

*1: A negative figure indicates that the water level is below the top of the fuel rods.

  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor
    • As of 5:30PM on April 20, injection of nitrogen gas into the primary containment vessel to prevent an explosion by accumulated hydrogen gas continues.
    • As of 5:30PM on April 20, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 reactor
    • As of 5:30PM on April 20, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 reactor
    • As of 5:30PM on April 20, the injection of freshwater into the reactor core continues.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 reactor
    • At 5:08PM on April 20, TEPCO began to shoot freshwater aimed at the spent fuel pool, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping concrete.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Common Spent Fuel Pool
    • As of 8:00AM on April 20, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 86.0 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Others
    • At 9:00AM on April 19, the removal works of debris at the site began, with a remote controlled excavation machine, until 3:00PM.

Our official sources are:

  • Office of The Prime Minister of Japan
  • Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
  • Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Press Releases
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
  • Ministry of Defense (MOD)

Comments

  1. Ferenc Dalnoki-Veress (History)

    In today’s press release TEPCO has retracted the Cl-38 radioactivity concentration measurement (1.6 MBq/mL) from the seawater used to cool reactor #1 released March 25’th (see: http://www.tepco.co.jp/cc/press/betu11_j/images/110420j.pdf). Based on this number we determined that the value was too high to be explained without invoking the possibility of inadvertent, transient criticalities. We are very pleased that TEPCO has retracted this result but would appreciate further explanation of why the result was retracted.

    We have become worried that rigid protocol for isotope analysis are not being practiced. I am afraid that the trust of the public is eroding in the measurements that TEPCO is making. In light of this the following recommendations are prudent for TEPCO:

    1) Please release full spectra (not just a number)
    2) Please release the time/date sample was taken
    3) Please release the time/date sample was measured including counting time and dead time
    4) Please repeat measurements at different times of the day
    5) Please measure other isotopes of interest(such as Te-129 which was retracted by TEPCO (April 4th) as well) even if they are below the detection limit
    6) If retractions are necessary due to an honest mistake please provide full explanation of why it was retracted

    • bks (History)

      Precisely. Perhaps we should be watching Japan to see if they’re preparing weapons under cover of INES 7, instead of making a boogeyman out of Iran?

      –bks

    • Raybender (History)

      @Ferenc

      You may recall that immediately after the paper interpreting the Cl-38 as indicating recriticality, others raised many questions about both the measurement and the recriticality. It was pointed out that Te-129 is a daughter product of a longer-live isotope and so wasn’t itself an indicator of ongoing fisson. There was a lack of certain other tracers, etc.

      So although we all would like to see more information out of TEPCO with fewer errors, I think it would also be appropriate to hear those who immediately jumped to claims of ongoing criticalities acknowledge that they too made a mistake. First by cherry-picking only certain pieces of evidence and ignoring the inconsistencies, and second by not sufficiently acknowledging the uncertainties when their paper was picked up by the median & blogosphere.

    • FSB (History)

      Looking at pictures of our congress doling out defense pork over non-existent Iranian threats while our debt balloons gives me nightmares. Not pic 4.

  2. bob (History)

    Slightly off-topic, but maybe one to add to your hopper:-

    http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/Features/National-Army-Day-in-Iran/4926/1/

    • FSB (History)

      OMG!OMG! Iran has an army!? Fuck! Fuck dude!

      Glad you sent that link. Photo 3 is really scary!!!!!

      When do we attack Iran?

      Judging by Photo 3 it is really a nation worthy of our concern.

    • Anon (History)

      http://armed-services.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?wit_id=9990&id=5038

      ==========================================

      Chairman LEVIN. Now, relative to Iran, Director Clapper, you mentioned in your statement that you do not, we do not know, talking about the Intelligence Community, if Iran will eventually decide to build nuclear weapons. I read into that that Iran has not made a decision as of this point to restart its nuclear weapons program. Is that correct?

      Mr. CLAPPER. Yes, sir. I would like, though, to defer a more fulsome response to a closed session.

      Chairman LEVIN. Okay. But, what is level of confidence that you have that as of this time they have not decided to restart that program? Is that a high level of confidence?

      Mr. CLAPPER. Yes, it is.

      =======================

      Translation for Americans: Your DNI, Clapper, confirms that the intelligence community has a “high level of confidence” that Iran “has not made a decision as of this point to restart its nuclear weapons program”.

      OK?

      When does this get to NYTimes and WashPost? Where is Sanger? In Anguilla?

    • beebop (History)

      I’m not too bothered by photo 3 – it’s 4 that will give me nightmares.

  3. mike (History)

    @Anon – perhaps the more ‘fulsome’ response might be that while the DNI has a high level of confidence that Iran has not restared their weapons program, the real concern is that once they do it will take them very little time to complete the process.

    And certainly a high level of confidence that Iran has not restarted their weapons program would not be equivalent to the same said of Brazil, Sweden or S.Africa would it?

    • Anon (History)

      mike — interesting speculation. Maybe the more fulsome classified response was that Clapper said that the real threat to the USA is from AIPAC and the fake fear-mongering regarding Iran.

      Regarding Brazil: it has a much more developed breakout capacity as compared to Iran, and many of its politicians do want the bomb and have said so publicly.

      But David Sanger doesn’t want to report on that, so let’s kill some more muslims pre-emptively on behalf of the war criminal Israeli government.