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“Recriticality? Possibility of recriticality?! IAEA report: a meltdown at Fukushima unit 3?” (JAPAN TV)

Published: May 19th, 2011 at 12:12 pm ET
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Recriticality? Possibility of re-criticality?! IAEA investigation into, and three rocket or Hukuzima Meltdown? (Recriticality? 再臨界の可能性は?! IAEA調査入り,福島三号機でMeltdownか?), May 18, 2011:

Translation via FanJapan

Title: “Recriticality? Possibility of recriticality?! IAEA report: a meltdown at Fukushima unit 3?”

Update: Full Translation via JapanFan (Please consider leaving a kind word for their efforts in the comment section)

(please forgive the English mistakes)

福島第一原発の三号機については先月からたびたび炉心温度が上がっていますが、複数の政府関係者はJNNの収賄に「三号機でもmeltdownが起きているとみられる」としています。
Concerning the unit 3 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the temperature of the core has risen repeatedly from last month. Several persons related to the Japanese government have reported to JNN that it is thought that a meltdown has occurred at unit 3.

東京電力は注水量を増やしたり別の配管も使ったりして炉心に水を送り続けていますが、まだ不安定な状態が続いています。
Tepco continues has increased the amount of injected water and continues injected water by using other pipes. However, the situation remains unstable.

現在原子炉にはシュラウドと呼ばれる壁と圧力容器と隙間を通して水が注がれていますが、この隙間が詰まり底に溶け落ちた燃料に十分に水が届いていな い可能性が高いことが新たには分かりました。専門家はこの状態が続いた場合燃料が発する高い熱で圧力容器の底が抜ける可能性がある「深刻な事態」だとして 言っています。
Now, in the nuclear reactor, water is poured through a gap between the pressure vessel and and a wall called a “shroud”. But it has been newly understood that this gap is blocked and the possibility that not enough water reaches the fuel, which has melted end fallen down, is high. If this state continues, specialists say that due to the high temperature of fuel, it is possible that the bottom of the pressure vessel may fall out and they call it “a very serious situation”.

東京電力では当面三号機への注水量を増やして監視を続ける方針です。
Tepco has for objective to raise urgently the amount of injected water in unit 3 and to continue monitoring the situation.

一方、二号機の原子炉建屋に、今日午前、三月の爆発以来、初めて作業員が入りました。ロボットでの調査の同様、温度と湿度が高く内部で作業したのは14分間でした。
On the other hand, this morning, for the first time since the March explosion, workers could enter in the reactor building of unit 2. In accordance with inspection by robots, both temperature and humidity are high and work has been performed for 14 minutes inside the building.

Translation of FanJapan’s transcript, via Google

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant for Unit three of the core temperature is going up, but Tabitabi last month, more than one government official in bribery JNN Ni “But three 号機 meltdown is happening is seen to have” to this.

TEPCO will continue to send water to the reactor core and also used to increase the amount of irrigation piping, or other, still continues to be unstable.

Current reactors but water is poured through the gap and pressure vessel called the shroud wall, the new possibilities that have not received a high enough water to dissolve the fuel fell to the bottom of this gap is clogged Is right. If this condition persists experts. Could escape the pressure vessel at the bottom of the high heat emitted by the fuel “serious” as he has said.

TEPCO will continue to monitor policy is to increase the amount of water injection into three rocket for some time.

Meanwhile, two reactor building of Unit, this morning, since the explosion of March, the workers entered the first time. Similar research in robotics, was working inside a high temperature and humidity were 14 minutes.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PF82zcJAi0

h/t

Published: May 19th, 2011 at 12:12 pm ET
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68 comments

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May 19th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Audio/Video Clips, Criticality, Reactor No. 3
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68 comments to “Recriticality? Possibility of recriticality?! IAEA report: a meltdown at Fukushima unit 3?” (JAPAN TV)

  • cossack55
    May 19, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    Instead of the IAEA, maybe someone with intact integrity could go. You know, someone believeable.


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  • xdrfox
    May 19, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVCWGc173ic&feature=player_embedded
    In a nuclear explosion the radioactive solids and radioactive gases both escape into the environment. In an operating nuclear reactor, steel vessels, corrosive-prone cladding and pipes and the containment building itself keep some, but not all, gaseous radioactive chemicals from escaping into the air and the soil and water.

    But every single radioactive gas produced at the containment-less Fukushima reactors and outdoor swimming ponds for fuel rods has escaped. These gases escaped via leaky or manually opened pipes and vents and from cracked or melted fuel rods that blew out gases created via low or re-criticality fissioning or neutron activity from plutonium or uranium.

    The leaked gases are no different in nature than what is released into the environment if you conducted an open air hydrogen nuclear (thermonuclear) explosion in the rain – the solid radioactive chemicals mostly would be suppressed, but the gases would leak out and float around an entire country or hemisphere. The gases would later precipitate into radioactive solids – or stay as radioactive gas in air.

    Since all of the above radioisotopes are or once were gases, they had (and as long as they are being still released at Fukushima, they still have) the potential to travel large distances from the reactors, even further than Tokyo. Radioactive solids attach to dust particles and can travel across the globe with ease. That even includes plutonium.
    http://www.idealist.ws/index.php#statecrisis


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    • Noah
      May 19, 2011 at 4:29 pm

      Highly Recommended Link
      Two Geiger Counters UP

      Posted above by xdrfox

      IMPORTANT & RELEVANT to our concerns

      “We are not designed to ingest radioactive materials into our bodies which our bodies are fooled into thinking are safe forms of calcium and safe forms of phosphorus and safe forms of iodine. We have no biological mechanism to adequately fight or purge from our body’s skeleton and brain and thyroid and liver the organ-seeking radioactive chemicals that the Fukushima disaster and disasters before that have dispersed globally. Any sensible person will see the folly in this situation: that if our human body has no built-in defenses to fight or remove radioactive contamination of our organs (because these contaminants never existed during our evolution) and modern medicine has no solution to purge organs of radiochemicals, then the introduction of large quantities of these life-killing chemicals deliberately or accidentally into our air, food and water supplies is a recipe for omnicide. To allow any nuclear activity like an aboveground nuclear test or the melting down of a reactor which poisons the Earth is a crime against humanity.” – Quote from Idealist


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  • Jill M. Clarkson
    May 19, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    Dang,….even in Japanese it sounds B A D!!!


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  • Cindy
    May 19, 2011 at 12:52 pm

    Tepco releases pictures of Tsunami hitting plant:

    http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/19_24.html


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  • FanJapan
    May 19, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    I’ll translate this after dinner. Please wait one or two hours ^^);


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  • mark V
    May 19, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    While watching these videos. it is hard not to wonder how many of the folks one sees walking down the street will come down with cancer in 10, 20 or 30 years.

    (quote in not mine)

    http://fukushimadisaster.blogspot.com/2011/05/radiation-harajiku-omotesando-tokyo.html


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    • mothra
      May 19, 2011 at 3:07 pm

      5% per each 1Sv cumulative lifetime chronic low dose exposure. Each Sv is an additional 5% for cancer alone barring all additional ailments. Factoring the additional life affecting ailments each 1Sv can affect a total if 20-50% aggregate population in various ways. It’s not just fatal cancer.


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      • marcopolo
        May 19, 2011 at 7:53 pm

        Whether or not anything is fatal depends on (1) the individuals tolerance (and even low levels can be fatal for people) and (2) the dosage exposure of over time, and we know that the dosages are ranging (sometimes very high depending on the wind direction). Therefore, your conclusion just adds to the disinformation that is floating around out here. Inform yourself better. I recommend you begin by reading what Dr. Busby and Dr. Caldicott have said.


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        • extra knight
          May 22, 2011 at 1:04 am

          there is no such thing as a tolerance to radiation poisoning, that is some rather flaky disinformation by itself. and mothra stated no conclusion, only showed that there is a correlation between radiation exposure and increased incidence of disease.


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  • Rod Fuel
    May 19, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    Here is a translation I just did. May not be %100 correct but here you go:

    “From last month, the temperature in reactor #3 has frequently risen. From some analysts via the JNN news coverage it appears as though a meltdown has occurred in reactor #3. Tepco said that they have discovered more waste water has leaked from inside #3 (?). There is a high possibility that the water pumped into in the pressure vessel has not reached the reactor core. And according to specialists, there is a possibility that very hot fuel has melted through the bottom of the pressure vessel and it has now become a very serious situation. Tepco is concentrating on pumping more water into #3. This morning workers entered into rector #2 for the first time. For 14 minutes they worked in high temperature and humidity.”


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  • FanJapan
    May 19, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    I wrote it down for you in Japanese. At least you can Google translate it now…

    福島第一原発の三号機については先月からたびたび炉心温度が上がっていますが、複数の政府関係者はJNNの収賄に「三号機でもmeltdownが起きているとみられる」としています。

    東京電力は注水量を増やしたり別の配管も使ったりして炉心に水を送り続けていますが、まだ不安定な状態が続いています。

    現在原子炉にはシュラウドと呼ばれる壁と圧力容器と隙間を通して水が注がれていますが、この隙間が詰まり底に溶け落ちた燃料に十分に水が届いていない可能性が高いことが新たには分かりました。専門家はこの状態が続いた場合。燃料が発する高い熱で圧力容器の底が抜ける可能性がある「深刻な事態」だとして言っています。

    東京電力では当面三号機への注水量を増やして監視を続ける方針です。

    一方、二号機の原子炉建屋に、今日午前、三月の爆発以来、初めて作業員が入りました。ロボットでの調査の同様、温度と湿度が高く内部で作業したのは14分間でした。


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    • FanJapan
      May 19, 2011 at 2:00 pm

      Recriticality? 再臨界の可能性は?! IAEA調査入り,福島三号機でMeltdownか?)

      The correct title is
      “Recriticality? Possibility of recriticality?! IAEA report: a meltdown at Fukushima unit 3?”


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    • xdrfox
      May 19, 2011 at 6:36 pm

      About the third machine of the first nuclear power plant, Fukushima from last month frequently reactor core temperature rises, but has seemed the meltdown happening at the third machine and several government officials JNN bribery.
      By using different piping also either Tokyo electric power company is pouring water water has continued to the reactor core, but still going on is in an unstable state.
      Water have not received enough water is poured through the wall now called shroud in nuclear reactors and pressure vessels and clearance, but this gap jam fell to the bottom to melt the fuel likely realized anew. If this State was followed by experts. At high heat from fuel falls out the bottom of the vessel could have serious consequences as saying.
      Tokyo electric power but this intends to continue monitoring more pouring water to a third machine.
      On the other hand, reactor No. 2 machine, today at the March explosion since the first workers entered. Survey by robots as well as temperature and humidity high inside working in 14 minutes.


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  • Rod Fuel
    May 19, 2011 at 2:10 pm

    Thanks alot FanJapan! どうも有り難う。気を付けてください。


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  • Nevadan
    May 19, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    If the fuel escaped containment on March 15th, and has been burning down through the earth, could this be an indication that TEPCO is worried about the fuel hitting groundwater and causing a big explosion? And if it does, will it take out the other reactors?

    I’m surprised they put this on Japanese TV so I am wondering if something big is feared so they are trying to cover their behinds.


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    • Jeremie
      May 19, 2011 at 3:31 pm

      “fuel hitting groundwater and causing a big explosion”. A lot of people speak about that as the worst case scenario. Does anyone know any study to evaluate if this is even possible? How likely? Any link about that???


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      • misitu
        May 19, 2011 at 7:15 pm

        Briefly, as an ex geologist, depends entirely on the geology (rock type, inclination of structure, fissuring) and where the water actually is.

        Don’t forget that stuff like granite and basalt was once molten due to being mashed about deep underneath a mountain-building zone (like the Pacific Margin). Rock melt temperatures are widely documented for interested parties, see google, wikipedia or undergraduate text book for follow up.

        I would possibly buy the explosion theory in limestone karst topography with live underground stream networks but probably not elsewhere. My geology is a bit old so if someone wanted to update this, feel free.

        On the other very significant hand, contamination of groundwater is a clear risk and looks to be proven in the current case.


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        • Cassie
          May 19, 2011 at 7:25 pm

          Misitu:

          So there is a possibility that the fuel hitting the water table would not result in an explosion?

          In that event could the fuel going underground be an advantage? Or a neutral?

          And how serious is it for the fuel to hit the groundwater?

          Thank you in advance.

          Cassie


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          • misitu
            May 22, 2011 at 9:35 pm

            Hi Cassie
            I would need a geological map to answer that in full. I do not believe it’s karst country there as granite was mentioned. But is the granite overlain by “recent” material such as blown sand, alluvium, raised beaches, clays – or even as someone mentioned, made ground? would be the next question. Then we would need to know how broken up the granite is, joints, veins, and faults.

            The concept of the water table is that in porous rocks like sandstone water is held like a sponge and percolates in the direction of dip of the strata (if any, or else just fills up until it finds a lip somewhere to percolate over). It’s not like a great big underground lake. I hope this is neither patronising nor partial but it does really depend.

            More to the point I think is that the melted hot radioactive material coming into a heterogeneous material like concrete is really into unpredictable scenarios depending on what hits what and what downstream elements are created, whether voids are created or lost, etc., etc. Really the corium thing is the most worrying situation, or rather the second most ditto as to me the most worrying is that six weeks on the authorities are at last admitting what we suspected all along including that the staff on site didn’t have a bleeding clue.

            Anybody know where to find a geol map of Fugu? in case I don’t get there first.

            XX
            Misitu
            Peru


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          • Cassie
            May 22, 2011 at 9:53 pm

            Misitu:

            Thank you so much for your reply. I was just making reference to your original post and hoping for a follow-up.
            And voila, here you are!

            Your explanation is not patronizing, but quite helpful. I am not a technical person, and while I did take basic geology courses as an undergrad, that was many years ago.

            Yes thank you for reminding me that a water table is not just a flat little underwater lake or stream, but porous rock in most cases.

            The description of the land on which Fukushima as built has been called “back filled marsh”. I do not know if this is accurate or not. To me that indicates swampy, watery land, that as you say is “made land” and filled with unknown materials.

            I hope someone can get a map to you for your review.

            A question: is there any scenario where coring would NOT result in an explosion, and might even be beneficial in terms of burying the nuclear material deep in the earth?

            Thank you for your help here.

            Cassie


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          • mark V
            May 22, 2011 at 10:21 pm

            Some people never sleep, just to say hi Cassie, lately I did some dreaming, and huge amounts of buckeye trees came into view, I understood that could be only very distant dreams, but eh, I am enjoying the today.


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          • Cassie
            May 22, 2011 at 10:29 pm

            Hi Mark, ha you must be dreaming of Ohio then.
            Buckeye trees….
            Cassie


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          • mark V
            May 22, 2011 at 10:31 pm

            Absolutely correct ;)


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  • FanJapan
    May 19, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    The translation
    (please forgive the English mistakes)

    福島第一原発の三号機については先月からたびたび炉心温度が上がっていますが、複数の政府関係者はJNNの収賄に「三号機でもmeltdownが起きているとみられる」としています。
    Concerning the unit 3 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the temperature of the core has risen repeatedly from last month. Several persons related to the Japanese government have reported to JNN that it is thought that a meltdown has occurred at unit 3.

    東京電力は注水量を増やしたり別の配管も使ったりして炉心に水を送り続けていますが、まだ不安定な状態が続いています。
    Tepco continues has increased the amount of injected water and continues injected water by using other pipes. However, the situation remains unstable.

    現在原子炉にはシュラウドと呼ばれる壁と圧力容器と隙間を通して水が注がれていますが、この隙間が詰まり底に溶け落ちた燃料に十分に水が届いていない可能性が高いことが新たには分かりました。専門家はこの状態が続いた場合燃料が発する高い熱で圧力容器の底が抜ける可能性がある「深刻な事態」だとして言っています。
    Now, in the nuclear reactor, water is poured through a gap between the pressure vessel and and a wall called a “shroud”. But it has been newly understood that this gap is blocked and the possibility that not enough water reaches the fuel, which has melted end fallen down, is high. If this state continues, specialists say that due to the high temperature of fuel, it is possible that the bottom of the pressure vessel may fall out and they call it “a very serious situation”.

    東京電力では当面三号機への注水量を増やして監視を続ける方針です。
    Tepco has for objective to raise urgently the amount of injected water in unit 3 and to continue monitoring the situation.

    一方、二号機の原子炉建屋に、今日午前、三月の爆発以来、初めて作業員が入りました。ロボットでの調査の同様、温度と湿度が高く内部で作業したのは14分間でした。
    On the other hand, this morning, for the first time since the March explosion, workers could enter in the reactor building of unit 2. In accordance with inspection by robots, both temperature and humidity are high and work has been performed for 14 minutes inside the building.


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  • toots
    May 19, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    Thanks for the translations! It’s like a dose of sanity to get this information out here, albeit not encouraging.

    Meltdown in Unit #3 (has the most Plutonium)
    Check.


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  • radegan
    May 19, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    “…it is possible that the bottom of the pressure vessel may fall out…”

    Gone from a hole in the bucket – to a bucket with a rusty bottom.


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    • Dbug
      May 19, 2011 at 5:55 pm

      Actually, I think most of us thought the fuel had gone through the pressure vessel long ago, and it was the bottom of containment that we were worrying about (like unit 1 with holes in it). So this news, and conditions being good enough that people could go in the unit 3 building today, suggests it isn’t quite as bad as we thought (not yet anyway).


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  • Mark
    May 19, 2011 at 4:32 pm

    thank-you everyone for continued interest in this story. mainstream says nothing here on west coast of canada


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  • mikael
    May 19, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    Yesterday i read a coment and it qouted a person that talked about letting, deliberatly the core melt into the earth.
    I think that is what they are doing, they are just diverting atetion and pretend to do something, to hide a different aproche.

    I an certain that they go for a meltdown, because of the “liqiditation” of the core, and that it wil disolve it self into the ground.
    What a stupid idea.
    It only changes form, not mass, and you only hide it from sight and mind, but that is just a delay and nothing more of the coming catastrofe.
    They are gambling whit 3 or posibly 6 core meltdowns, all wil eventualy be driven into the ground.
    What then Japan.
    Its the same mind sett that arised in the Gulf incident, where the damages is mounting, and the MSM is in deniale and are totaly without credibilety.
    Thats why we are not seeing any movment or action onsite.


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    • Cassie
      May 19, 2011 at 4:57 pm

      When I think of all the high level scientists
      on the tax payer dole who should be evaluating these issues and giving statements to the public it makes my blood boil.

      And take appropriate action to avert a humanitarian crises.

      And instead I have to sit here and go through all the technical data myself to try and figure out what is going on and what is accurate, what is not.

      What the heck do they think we are paying them to do?
      Rant over
      Cassie


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  • Dr.Stranglelove
    May 19, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    “Shroud wall”: how appropriate.


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  • noradmama
    May 19, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    Thank you for the discussions and the translations. I agree, we are being kept in the dark about the whole thing pretty much. A disgrace. GE who made Fukushima, owns Comcast, where I get some of my news and there’s nothing there on the Japan situation most of the tiime. Shocking if you ask me. Americans would rather talk about Charlie Sheen or Hannah Montana…. ridiculousness to the max.


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