Japan: 9.0 Earthquake-Tsunami-Nuclear Reactor Status #5

[essies]

Translating from French:

Greenpeace sent a team of experts in radiation protection into the area of ​​the plant in Fukushima. January Vande Putte, and his team are measuring on average 35 km from the plant, outside evacuation zone. The team confirmed levels of radiation of ten micro Sievert per hour in the village of Iitate, 40km northwest of central Fukushima / Daiichi and 20 km beyond the official evacuation zone. These levels are high enough to require evacuation. From a health standpoint, it is not harmless to remain in this area, especially for those "at risk" as children and pregnant women, who could receive in a few days the maximum annual dose of radiation .

Video from Daisyjane's link now up on youtube.
[video=youtube;I3eBMiJKit0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3eBMiJKit0[/video]

 

[Daisyjane]

Video from Daisyjane's link now up on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3eBMiJKit0

Thanks for obtaining & posting this; that link was giving me all kinds of probs. And here I thought I was such a big cheese for translating that French article!

 

[Quiche]

Really, because Chernobyl only had 1 rector and Fukushima has 4 the scale should be out of 28, so really the score would be 24/28.

Yes. This method really drives home the seriousness. Thanks.

 

[essies]

Blue Flash of Light Above Exploded Nuke Reactor - Nuclear Chain Reaction?
[video=youtube;EyelESiPlsM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyelESiPlsM[/video]

 

[Quiche]

Is that "flash" the same as a neutron beam? I've been looking around, but I'm still a little unclear... but if so, there have been around 13 or so since this began. They're bad news. jmo

eta: a wiki link and quote--

Quote: Fission chain reaction

Fission chain reactions occur because of interactions between neutrons and fissile isotopes (such as 235U). The chain reaction requires both the release of neutrons from fissile isotopes undergoing nuclear fission and the subsequent absorption of some of these neutrons in fissile isotopes. When an atom undergoes nuclear fission, a few neutrons (the exact number depends on several factors) are ejected from the reaction. These free neutrons will then interact with the surrounding medium, and if more fissile fuel is present, some may be absorbed and cause more fissions. Thus, the cycle repeats to give a reaction that is self-sustaining.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_chain_reaction

 

[Quiche]

Japan Nuclear Crisis: Worker Speaks Out About Radiation Dangers

Quote: International nuclear experts believe that melted fuel in reactor No. 1 has caused a "localized criticality," which is a small, uncontrolled chain reaction that occasionally emits a burst of heat, radiation and a blue flash of light.

It is not a threat to the area at large, officials say, but could be deadly for workers.

http://abcnews.go.com/International...er-speaks-radiation-dangers/story?id=13271759

 

[Daisyjane]

Is that "flash" the same as a neutron beam? I've been looking around, but I'm still a little unclear... but if so, there have been around 13 or so since this began. They're bad news. jmo

eta: a wiki link and quote--

Quote: Fission chain reaction

Fission chain reactions occur because of interactions between neutrons and fissile isotopes (such as 235U). The chain reaction requires both the release of neutrons from fissile isotopes undergoing nuclear fission and the subsequent absorption of some of these neutrons in fissile isotopes. When an atom undergoes nuclear fission, a few neutrons (the exact number depends on several factors) are ejected from the reaction. These free neutrons will then interact with the surrounding medium, and if more fissile fuel is present, some may be absorbed and cause more fissions. Thus, the cycle repeats to give a reaction that is self-sustaining.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_chain_reaction

This article may answer your question about the blue flash and neutron beams:
http://enenews.com/report-on-neutron-beams-has-a-reactor-at-fukushima-gone-critical

 

[Quiche]

Update on Fukushima: Discussion of High Level Radiation Releases and the Previous "Worse Case Senario" Planned for by The Industry

Excerpt:
The IAEA, that’s the International Atomic Energy Agency, has found that twenty-five miles away from the reactor there’s been deposition of radioactive material to the tune of two million becquerels per square meter (2,000,000 Bq / Sq m). Now, what does that mean? A square meter is about three feet by three feet, a meter by a meter, and two million becquerels is two million disintegrations every second being deposited in roughly three feet by three feet. That’s well above what the IAEA would say you should evacuate if the levels are that high. So, there are places out well beyond where the Japanese are evacuating that should be evacuated based on the deposition of radioactive materials nearby.

To give you an example: at Chernobyl, the exclusion zone was five hundred thousand becquerels (500,000 Bq). This is four times higher than Chernobyl. Now, there are different isotopes, and some of these will decay away, and the Chernobyl ones are longer lived, but these are very serious concentrations of radioactivity being deposited on the ground from the radioactive steam coming out of the plant.

and

The next thing is the water. We’ve seen incredibly high concentrations in the radioactive water in trenches onsite. There are indications that the survey meters simply can’t read high enough to measure the amount of radiation coming off the water.

http://fairewinds.com/node/127

This is a good article. Essies has linked him a few times, worthwhile read/listen. imo

 

[Quiche]

This article may answer your question about the blue flash and neutron beams:
http://enenews.com/report-on-neutron-beams-has-a-reactor-at-fukushima-gone-critical

They know darn well what's happening. I found some levity in the few comments that followed.




eta: Induced radioactivity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_radioactivity

 

[JustToSeeYouSmile]

This article is old, but following up here on US SAR efforts in Japan
http://www.komonews.com/news/national/118029989.html

 

[Peliman]

Radioactive Water From Crippled Nuclear Plant Leaking Into Pacific, Japan Officials Say
ASSOCIATED PRESS

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan — Highly radioactive water spilled into the ocean off a tsunami-damaged nuclear power plant Saturday, as Japan’s prime minister surveyed the damage in a town gutted by the wave.

Saturday’s leak was from a newly discovered crack in a maintenance pit on the edge of the Fukushima complex, Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama said.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/intern...into_sea_tshz2iVQJ3mrbe0V1a5naO#ixzz1IMwGNI45

 

[Daisyjane]

Radioactive Water From Crippled Nuclear Plant Leaking Into Pacific, Japan Officials Say
ASSOCIATED PRESS

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan — Highly radioactive water spilled into the ocean off a tsunami-damaged nuclear power plant Saturday, as Japan’s prime minister surveyed the damage in a town gutted by the wave.

Saturday’s leak was from a newly discovered crack in a maintenance pit on the edge of the Fukushima complex, Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama said.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/intern...into_sea_tshz2iVQJ3mrbe0V1a5naO#ixzz1IMwGNI45

A bit of additional info here (that crack is a foot wide!)

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/04/02/Crack-found-at-Japanese-nuclear-site/UPI-26441301745668/

TOKYO, April 2 (UPI) -- A foot-wide crack in a wall at an earthquake-damaged nuclear plant in Fukushima was leaking radioactive water into the sea, Japanese officials said Saturday. Hidehiko Nishiyama, a spokesman for the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, told a news conference in Tokyo the crack was discovered in a pit where electrical cables converge, the Kyodo news agency reported. He said radioactive water was flowing from the reactor into the sea and workers were preparing to seal the crack with concrete to stop the flow of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-N...uclear-site/UPI-26441301745668/#ixzz1IN2lN9d3

 

[hockeymom]

On O'Reilly last night,he had an MD who is very familiar with radiation. I wish I could find a transcript. The guy was kinda nerdy and not comfortable on TV. In a nutshell,hesaid as of today,we don't have to worry about radiation levels here in the States,but if this continues much longer,it will be a big problem. He blasted the Japanese government for incompetance.
I'm not happy about his prognosis,obviously,but for once someone didn't say,we have nothing to worry about and told the truth.
This is getting more serious by the minute.

 

[essies]

"How Can You Withhold This Type Of Information From The Public!" :maddening:
April 01, 2011 CNN-Anderson Cooper

[video=youtube;h5a0vbHxrwo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5a0vbHxrwo[/video]

TEPCO Backtracking on numbers - But Says They Don't Know What The Numbers Are!!!:maddening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWt3Wq_SgKw

 

[tehcloser]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) - Radiation believed to be from the nuclear plant disaster in Japan has been detected in Illinois.

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/03/31/radioactive-material-found-in-illinois/


"The radioactive iodine similar to what was released in Japan was found in a grass clipping in the Joliet area by the Radiological Assessment Field Team, ....."

 

[hockeymom]

So if they do entombed this thing,it sounds like it will take months for them to do it. Will it stop the leak that is pouring into the soil and the Pacific?
I have to say,at least this is starting to get more coverage again.I think the world community is relizing what a global catastophe this is,despite Tepco's best effort to hid it.

 

[Quiche]

Radioactive Water From Crippled Nuclear Plant Leaking Into Pacific, Japan Officials Say
ASSOCIATED PRESS

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan — Highly radioactive water spilled into the ocean off a tsunami-damaged nuclear power plant Saturday, as Japan’s prime minister surveyed the damage in a town gutted by the wave.

Saturday’s leak was from a newly discovered crack in a maintenance pit on the edge of the Fukushima complex, Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama said.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/intern...into_sea_tshz2iVQJ3mrbe0V1a5naO#ixzz1IMwGNI45

From Peli's link-- I just had to shake my head at this...

Quote: The plant has run out of the nylon protective booties that workers put over their shoes. Earlier, TEPCO acknowledged that the tsunami had destroyed many of the gauges used to measure radiation, forcing workers to share. More gauges have since arrived at the site.

“We only put something like plastic garbage bags you can buy at a convenience store and sealed them with masking tape,” said the worker, who spoke to the national Mainichi newspaper. Such interviews have been exceedingly rare and always anonymous.

 

[Peliman]

So if they do entombed this thing,it sounds like it will take months for them to do it. Will it stop the leak that is pouring into the soil and the Pacific?
I have to say,at least this is starting to get more coverage again.I think the world community is relizing what a global catastophe this is,despite Tepco's best effort to hid it.

Sounds to me like they would just be happy to patch the leak for now. Even though the concrete pumper is being shipped it will take a short while before use because they will need a concrete mixer/plant nearby to provide the amount of concrete needed to fill a reactor, tunnels ect.

I'm not meaning normal concrete but a mix of some type, there could be problems with heat from the uncooled rods cracking normal concrete. They also need to get the water out of the tunnels before a pour can take place.

Lots to overcome before a big pour can actually take place. I think they can only hope to patch the crack leading to the ocean first.

 

[Quiche]

Status report: Reactor-by-reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi plant

At #1: Workers are preparing to inject nitrogen into the No. 1 reactor (as well as at least two others) in an order to prevent another explosion caused by a buildup of hydrogen...

Much much more at link

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/02/japan.nuclear.status/


eta: It's strange the way they talk as if the whole plant isn't scrapped forever... I don't get that. mo

 

[Peliman]

Status report: Reactor-by-reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi plant

At #1: Workers are preparing to inject nitrogen into the No. 1 reactor (as well as at least two others) in an order to prevent another explosion caused by a buildup of hydrogen...

Much much more at link

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/02/japan.nuclear.status/


eta: It's strange the way they talk as if the whole plant isn't scrapped forever... I don't get that. mo

I'm going to send them a bill if nitrogen works... LOL