Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to take additional safety measures for the No.1 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after extensive damage was found in a support structure.
TEPCO presented its plans on Monday to the Nuclear Regulation Authority regarding the pedestal, a cylindrical concrete structure supporting the reactor.
The No.1 reactor and two others suffered meltdowns in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
A survey conducted in March found that the pedestal is damaged almost all the way around, leaving its steel reinforcing rods exposed. The finding prompted the NRA to request the operator to list potential risks in case the pedestal fails and also draw up countermeasures.
TEPCO officials told the NRA that there is little likelihood of major damage occurring even if the pedestal becomes unable to support the reactor, because other structures will still hold it.
They also explained that even if the containment vessel gets a hole larger than 10 centimeters and nuclear fuel debris in powdered form were to be released into the environment, the impact will be limited.
The officials said they will install additional water pipes to cool the debris in case the existing ones become unusable. They added that they plan to install mobile ventilation filters to remove radioactive substances from gases released from the containment vessel.
TEPCO says it plans to finish implementing those additional measures by the end of this year.
TEPCO presented its plans on Monday to the Nuclear Regulation Authority regarding the pedestal, a cylindrical concrete structure supporting the reactor.
The No.1 reactor and two others suffered meltdowns in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
A survey conducted in March found that the pedestal is damaged almost all the way around, leaving its steel reinforcing rods exposed. The finding prompted the NRA to request the operator to list potential risks in case the pedestal fails and also draw up countermeasures.
TEPCO officials told the NRA that there is little likelihood of major damage occurring even if the pedestal becomes unable to support the reactor, because other structures will still hold it.
They also explained that even if the containment vessel gets a hole larger than 10 centimeters and nuclear fuel debris in powdered form were to be released into the environment, the impact will be limited.
The officials said they will install additional water pipes to cool the debris in case the existing ones become unusable. They added that they plan to install mobile ventilation filters to remove radioactive substances from gases released from the containment vessel.
TEPCO says it plans to finish implementing those additional measures by the end of this year.
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Summary
TEPCO intends to enhance safety at Fukushima Daiichi's No.1 reactor, following extensive pedestal damage discovery. The pedestal, a concrete support structure for the reactor, is significantly damaged, leaving reinforcing rods exposed. TEPCO plans to install extra water pipes and mobile
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ID: 6f28c007-8427-4223-a744-eab2d744bfd1
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230605_23/
Date: June 5, 2023
Created: 2023/06/06 07:42
Updated: 2025/12/09 03:18
Last Read: 2023/06/06 07:52