ID :
169338
Sat, 03/19/2011 - 09:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/169338
The shortlink copeid
Situation most dangerous at 3rd power unit of Fukushima-1
TOKYO, March 19 (Itar-Tass) -- The situation continues to be
especially dangerous at the third power unit of the Fukushima-1 NPP, which was strongly affected by the recent powerful earthquake and the tsunami that followed it.
The cooling system is at a standstill at the third power unit, which, most probably, resulted in the melting of fuel in the reactor, a competent source told Itar-Tass on Saturday. The shell of the reactor was not damaged, however. An explosion of hydrogen took place at the third power unit on March 14, which inflicted enormous damage on the building. Holes were made in its concrete walls and in the roof. A column of white smoke was noticed over the power unit on March 16. Most probably, it was steam coming from the reservoir, where used nuclear fuel rods are kept, and where water is boiling out. This creates a threat of the caking of nuclear fuel in the reservoir, which might lead to a massive radiation outburst.
Water was poured over the reservoir from a helicopter and has been regularly poured over it from the ground since March 17.
The cooling system is not functioning on the first power unit either, the source continued. It is possible that fuel was partially melted in the reactor, but its inner shell was not damaged. By all appearances, the outside steel hull of the reactor was broken, and an outburst of radioactive steam was noticed coming from the hole. The hydrogen explosion damaged the building of the power unit, and its roof was totally destroyed.
The cooling system is not functioning on the second power unit either. Specialists believe that the hydrogen explosion could damage the reservoir for bringing down the pressure, in which radioactive water is kept. Specialists believe as well that the same explosion could break the outside hull of the reactor.
On the fourth power unit there is no nuclear fuel in the reactor,
because it was undergoing regular maintenance at the moment of the
earthquake and the tsunami. At the same time, used fuel rods are kept in the cooling reservoir in the upper part of the building, where an
uncontrollable chain reaction could be started. The building was very much destroyed. Only the frame of the building was left. The roof was knocked off.
Electricity supply from emergency diesels was restored on the fifth and sixth power units. The cooling of reservoirs with used fuel rods is going on there.
especially dangerous at the third power unit of the Fukushima-1 NPP, which was strongly affected by the recent powerful earthquake and the tsunami that followed it.
The cooling system is at a standstill at the third power unit, which, most probably, resulted in the melting of fuel in the reactor, a competent source told Itar-Tass on Saturday. The shell of the reactor was not damaged, however. An explosion of hydrogen took place at the third power unit on March 14, which inflicted enormous damage on the building. Holes were made in its concrete walls and in the roof. A column of white smoke was noticed over the power unit on March 16. Most probably, it was steam coming from the reservoir, where used nuclear fuel rods are kept, and where water is boiling out. This creates a threat of the caking of nuclear fuel in the reservoir, which might lead to a massive radiation outburst.
Water was poured over the reservoir from a helicopter and has been regularly poured over it from the ground since March 17.
The cooling system is not functioning on the first power unit either, the source continued. It is possible that fuel was partially melted in the reactor, but its inner shell was not damaged. By all appearances, the outside steel hull of the reactor was broken, and an outburst of radioactive steam was noticed coming from the hole. The hydrogen explosion damaged the building of the power unit, and its roof was totally destroyed.
The cooling system is not functioning on the second power unit either. Specialists believe that the hydrogen explosion could damage the reservoir for bringing down the pressure, in which radioactive water is kept. Specialists believe as well that the same explosion could break the outside hull of the reactor.
On the fourth power unit there is no nuclear fuel in the reactor,
because it was undergoing regular maintenance at the moment of the
earthquake and the tsunami. At the same time, used fuel rods are kept in the cooling reservoir in the upper part of the building, where an
uncontrollable chain reaction could be started. The building was very much destroyed. Only the frame of the building was left. The roof was knocked off.
Electricity supply from emergency diesels was restored on the fifth and sixth power units. The cooling of reservoirs with used fuel rods is going on there.
