Wednesday, June 19, 2013

#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Two Pinholes in the Bad Weld on ALPS Batch Treatment Tank Found, Says TEPCO


Additional information (or stating the obvious) on the leak from one of the ALPS (multi-nuclide removal system) tanks Fukushima I Nuke Plant.

From Jiji Tsushin (6/18/2013):

タンク溶接部に微細な穴=放射能低減装置水漏れで-福島第1

Pinholes found in the weld on the tank for ALPS at Fukushima I Nuke Plant

東京電力は18日、福島第1原発敷地内で汚染水の放射性物質を除去する「多核種除去装置(アルプス)」のタンクから、微量の汚染水が漏れた問題で、タンク下部の溶接部分に2カ所の微細な穴(ピンホール)が見つかったと発表した。同社はここから水が漏れたとみており、内部にカメラを入れ、原因調査を進める。

TEPCO announced on June 18 that two pinholes were found in the weld at the bottom of the tank used in the multi-nuclide removal system ALPS at Fukushima I Nuke Plant, where a small leak of contaminated water was found. The company thinks the water leaked from these holes, and plans to insert a camera inside the tank to further investigate the cause [of the pinholes].

東電によると、ピンホールはタンク下部の溶接したつなぎ目部分に約30センチの間隔で開いていた。直径1ミリに満たず、通常の目視では確認できないため、色の付いた溶剤を塗る検査で判明した。

According to TEPCO, two pinholes were found at the weld, about 30 centimeters apart. They are less than 1 millimeter in diameter and couldn't be found by visual inspection. TEPCO applied colored solvent [on the weld] to find the holes.


Cause of the pinholes? Bad weld, bad inspection, I can't think of anything else.

Looking at the diagram that TEPCO provided the other day, there are total 6 Batch Treatment Tanks in ALPS, two each in the three lines. There are numerous other tanks and vessels to absorb radioactive materials, and they are all welded. I wonder if they are properly inspected - i.e. each and every one of the tanks and vessels inspected by professionals and regulatory officials, instead of copying the data of a good weld.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Usually welds important check X-ray.
  why it was not done?
Again haste.
Speaking of underground bypass, which is also made ​​that would supposedly in a hurry.
Work began in October, 2012, I checked.
Also there is enough time.
In this work the same way a lot of checking, but checking welds did not.

Anonymous said...

Pardon my sarcasm,

however I think I've located some holes in their nuclear reactor buildings also - from a blurry, photoshopped webcam located 10 Kilometers away from the plant - while sitting at my desk in Virginia...

They seem to be emitting some sort of steam or smoke on an intermittent basis and enough heat to burn off clouds about 2,000 feet above the facility on a daily basis. I have calculated that it takes about 6 million BTU's per hour of heat to do that - the same as the nuclear power station did when it was in production.

i'm not sure, but I believe they are bigger than a pinhole...

James

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