Monday, September 2, 2013

RO Waste Water Leak #Fukushima: Photos of Tank Flanges in H3 Area


H3 Area is where 1,800 mSv/Hr beta radiation (70 micrometer dose equivalent) was detected on August 31, 2013, setting off a worldwide silly season (here, here and here).

Looking at the photos, it would be a wonder if the water was not leaking, although TEPCO actually claims the water didn't leak. 

Who spec'd this, and who built the tanks? They should be held accountable.

From TEPCO's Photos and Videos Library, 9/3/2013:

(Click to enlarge)

(I believe this is a new tank, to show how the flange at the bottom is treated. The white substance look like putty, sloppily applied.)


(I believe this is also an interior of a new tank.)


(Actual tank in H3 Area, with sealing material coming out.)


In the accompanying report in PDF, TEPCO seems to be saying it was not leaked water that gave off high beta radiation but packing that extruded as seen in the above photo. Their reasoning is that they didn't find a sign of current and past water leak there, and the concrete floor didn't give off high radiation, therefore it must be the packing.

TEPCO also has several design diagrams of the flange at the bottom of the tank:

The bottom edge of the tank:


Inside the tank:


So, inside the tank, they are supposed to completely bury the seams and rivets in 1:2 mortar and put the asphalt coating on top. ("1:2 mortar" means mixture with 1 part cement and 2 parts sand.)

Here are the photos of the bottom of the inside of No.5 tank in H4 Area that leaked and was subsequently emptied. The rivets and seams are exposed instead of buried in mortar, although it does seem the bottom is coated with something (epoxy coating, most likely):



I've heard that the No.5 tank in H4 area is constructed differently from the tanks in other areas, so it is possible that newer tanks have bottom seams and rivets completely covered with water-tight mortar and asphalt. Looking at the third photo above, though, I am not very hopeful.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

'Silly season'

What a very odd choice of words.

Yes, the press for the most part don't have a clue. As long as you and others make (relative) light of the situation, people will continue to be confused.

Shame on you!

Anonymous said...

Shame on you for dissing the admin. You should be screaming that to your beloved MSM reporters. Get the hell out.

Anonymous said...

Anon at the top, what else would you call it, other than silly? Oh I see, "amateur"? How about "pathetic"?

Anonymous said...

I should apologise...perhaps English is not the admin's mother tongue.

Nevertheless, I see nothing funny (to quote previous article 'hilarity ensued etc') about the outrageous, murderous and repeated deceptions of two administrations of self serving govt in collusion with a totally incompetent utility.

This sorry saga WILL be the death of Japan - the die was cast long before the tsunami.

And yet the rest of the world will be paying for Japan's shameless intransigence and pride

There is no face left to save.

Anonymous said...

Ahahahah Japanese cannot build and assemble properly autos (see Honda Jazz/Fit water leakage problem), how can they assemble properly a water tank?

Anonymous said...

If Albert Einstein were alive today, do you think he would be regretting having given mankind the keys to nuclear (atomic) energy?

Apolline said...

Hi Ultraman,

Happy to read you again. Fukushima and your informations are too precious.

A french friend of mine just asked me if it is possible to get your email address. This friend translates and subtitles some vidéos about Fukushima and nuclear problems. His blogspot is :

http://kna-blog.blogspot.fr/

I think he would like to ask you some things. If you agree, this is my email :

helios2222@orange.fr

Thanks in advance.

Anonymous said...

Supertankers are built with welded seams that don't crack or leak even after decades of wave induced stress, yet TEPCO can't quickly and rapidly build a few hundred tanks with welded-metal seams that would not leak for decades? They never should have been permitted to use such a leak-prone design for this purpose.

Heads on a pike please.

Anonymous said...

welds are expensive, putty is cheap. think of those executive bonuses!

Anonymous said...

Clearly there are people do not understand or appreciate the art of written sarcasm and black humour. It's an art as well as a form of protest. The whole blog is a protest. Are you doing anything better??

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