TEPCO Stating the Obvious After 2 Months: Reactors 2, 3 Total Meltdown More Likely

Here we go. It's official now. All three reactors at Fukushima I Nuke Plant had a total meltdown. What a surprise. We're so shocked, aren't we?

Yomiuri Shinbun (3:03AM JST 5/24/2011):

　東京電力は２３日、福島第一原子力発電所２、３号機について、地震発生直後の原子炉の各種データをもとに解析を進めた結果、１号機と同様に核燃料がメルトダウン（炉心溶融）していたとする報告書をまとめた。

TEPCO reported on May 23 that the Reactors 2 and 3 at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant had a core meltdown just like the Reactor 1, based on their analysis on the reactor parameters right after the earthquake on March 11.

　経済産業省原子力安全・保安院に提出する。

The company will submit the report to METI's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.

　報告書では、２、３号機について〈１〉炉内の水位が水位計の表示通りだった〈２〉水位計のデータは信頼できず、１号機と同じ様に核燃料が全露出し ている――の二つのケースに分けて、模擬計算を行い、結果を示した。それによると、いずれの場合にも核燃料が溶融して、原子炉圧力容器底部に崩落した状態 になっていると評価。特に、水位計が故障しているケースでは、核燃料全体が溶融して、崩壊しているとした。

In the report, TEPCO did two simulations regarding the Reactors 2 and 3: 1st, based on the assumption that the water level was what the water gauge had been showing all along; 2nd, based on the assumption that the data from the water gauge were not to be trusted, and the fuel rods were completely exposed, as in the Reactor 1. In both cases, the result showed that the nuclear fuel had melted and dropped to the bottom of the Reactor Pressure Vessel. In the 2nd case where they assumed the faulty water gauge, the result showed the entire fuel rods had melted, according to the report.

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