#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Highly Radioactive Water Leak (6,700 Bq/cm3 All Beta) from ALPS, Hot Run Halted

The leak is apparently from the weld. Either they can't weld, or they can't test the weld. Or both.

The water that leaked is after the treatment by SARRY, also a Toshiba system, to remove radioactive cesium.

If you recall, SARRY, Toshiba's cesium absorption system, had a leak in February 2012 from what was clearly a defective weld of a pipe connected to the cesium absorption tank.

From Asahi Shinbun (6/17/2013):

高濃度汚染水漏れか　福島原発、放射性物質除去装置停止

Highly contaminated water leak at Fukushima I Nuke Plant, multi-nuclide removal system (ALPS) stopped

　東京電力は１６日、福島第一原発で３月末に試験運転を始めた放射性物質除去装置「ＡＬＰＳ（アルプス）」のタンクから、処理前の高濃度汚染水が漏れた疑いがあると発表した。タンク表面の溶接部の放射線量は毎時０・２ミリシーベルトと高い。東電は原因を調べるために試験運転を止めた。

TEPCO announced on June 16 that a leak was suspected from one of the tanks at "ALPS", multi-nuclide removal system in Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant that TEPCO had started to test at the end of March. Highly contaminated water before the treatment by ALPS may have leaked. The surface radiation at the weld of the tank is high, at 0.2 millisievert/hour. TEPCO has stopped the test run to investigate the cause of the leak.

　４月に誤操作で停止したことはあるが、トラブル調査で止めるのは初という。

It is the first time to stop ALPS due to trouble, TEPCO says, although the system stopped in April because of human error.

　東電によると、タンクは高さ約６メートル、直径約３メートルの円柱形で、汚染水約２５トンが入っていた。１５日午後１１時ごろ、タンクの結露を調べていた社員が、タンクの受け皿部分で茶色の水滴の跡を見つけた。タンク表面にある溶接部の線量が周辺より高いため、溶接部から汚染水が漏れたとみている。

According to TEPCO, the cylindrical tank of 6 meters high and 3 meters in diameter contained about 25 tonnes of contaminated water. At 11PM on June 15, a TEPCO employee who was inspecting the condensation on the tank found dried water spots in brown color on the saucer (receptacle) of the tank. The weld on the surface of the tank was found with higher radiation, and it is assumed that the contaminated water leaked from the weld.

　ＡＬＰＳは、高濃度の汚染水からストロンチウムなど６２種類の放射性物質を取り除くことを目指して導入する装置。汚染水の漏れが確認されれば、タンクの交換などで７月末を目指していた試験運転の完了がその分遅れる。

ALPS is being introduced to remove 62 types of radionuclides including strontium from the highly contaminated water. If the leak is confirmed, the tank will have to be replaced, which will delay the completion of the test run scheduled to run till the end of July.

　Ａ、Ｂ、Ｃの三つの系統があり、止めるのは３月３０日から試験運転中のＡ系統。Ｂ系統は今月１３日に試験運転に入ったばかりで、Ｃ系統はまだ試験運転を始めていない。

There are three lines, A, B and C, in ALPS. The A line, which has been on a test run since March 30, will be stopped because of this leak. The line B has been on a test run since June 13, and the line C hasn't been tested yet.

TEPCO says in their latest email notice to the media (6/17/2013) that they tested the water they collected in a bucket. Beta is high:

　当該タンク下に滴下水を受けるためのバケツを設置しておりましたが、昨日（６月16日）から約16時間バケツで受けた滴下した結露水（370ml）の核種分析を行った結果、以下の通りでした。

We placed a bucket under the tank to collect the drips. We tested the water (370 milliliters) collected over 16 hours since yesterday (June 16), and the results are as follows:

【バケツに受けた水の核種分析結果】
　・セシウム134 ：1.9×10^0［Bq/cm3］
　・セシウム137 ：3.9×10^0［Bq/cm3］
　・全ベータ核種：6.7×10^3［Bq/cm3］

Cesium-134: 1.9×10^0［Bq/cm3］ (or 1.9 Bq/cm3)
Cesium-137: 3.9×10^0［Bq/cm3］ (or 3.9 Bq/cm3)
All beta: 6.7×10^3［Bq/cm3］ (or 6,700 Bq/cm3)

Tweet