Clear view in unit 3's pool

Friday, 22 February 2013

A camera inspection of Fukushima Daiichi 3's used fuel pool has revealed no damage to stored fuel, but a huge amount of concrete sediment on the racks.

Clearing wreckage and emptying the pool is among the top priorities for Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco). Removing the used reactor fuel from all four damaged units to the shared storage pool will considerably reduce the risk presented by the site and mark a major achievement in their decommissioning.

Looking down onto a fuel rack topped with debris and sediment	The top of a fuel rack, showing the depth and nature of the sediment
Some parts of the fuel handling machine lie in a corridor alongside the racks	The fuel handling machine bridge rests on top of a fuel rack

 
The investigation, carried out from 14-18 February has given the clearest view yet of conditions inside the pool, which was littered with heavy debris by the hydrogen explosion of 13 March 2011. Earlier this month Tepco moved a large truss out of the pool, which had previously lain along almost its entire length, blocking camera access. This operation dislodged the refuelling machine mast, which slipped into the water and came to rest without causing further damage.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News