#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: TEPCO Still Doesn't Know Why the Amount of Water into RPVs Dropped Suddenly

but TEPCO's Matsumoto says they flushed the pipes and will see what happens.

For the initial report on the subject, go to my previous post.

Update from Kyodo News (8/31/2012):

福島第１原発の配管に異物混入か　注水量低下問題

Amount of water into the reactors at Fukushima I Nuke Plant dropping - foreign objects clogging up the pipes?

　東京電力は３１日、福島第１原発１～３号機の原子炉への注水量が保安規定に定められた量を一時的に下回った問題で、配管内部に異物が混入して詰まった可能性があるとして、水の量を一時的に増やして洗い流す作業を実施したと発表した。注水量が回復するか見極めた上で、もう一度実施するか決める。

After the amount of water being injected into Reactors 1, 2, and 3's Reactor Pressure Vessels at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant had temporarily dropped below the level specified in the safety regulations, TEPCO announced on August 31 that the company flushed the pipes by temporarily increasing the amount of water as it was possible that foreign objects had clogged up the pipes. TEPCO will wait and see if the amount of water injected into the RPVs recovers before deciding whether the second flushing is necessary.

　配管からの漏えいや、水を送るポンプに異常が見られないことから、東電は配管内部で流量を調整する弁にごみなどが付着し、水の流れを妨げている可能性があるとみている。

Since there is no leak from the pipe and the pumps are working normally, TEPCO thinks that the valves that control and adjust the flow of water inside the pipes are clogged up, preventing the flow.

　東電の松本純一原子力・立地本部長代理は「何が原因か絞り込む決め手はなく、流量が回復するかは未知数だ」としている。

According to TEPCO's Junichi Matsumoto, "There is no conclusive evidence to narrow down the possible causes, and it is unknown whether the flow will recover."

TEPCO is an incurious bunch, but then, it is an utility company who only knew how to run a functioning nuclear power plant. People who hastily rigged up the water treatment/injection system at Fukushima I Nuke Plant are from the 1st-tier contractors (Toshiba, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Kajima, Kandenko, etc.), but they are not talking.

The national government has effectively taken over the company, but so far has done nothing when it comes to dealing with the plant.

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