Atomic Insights

Atomic energy technology, politics, and perceptions from a nuclear energy insider who served as a US nuclear submarine engineer officer

Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan Fukushima Status Report – March 19, 2011 12:30 PM EDT

By

I am sharing this status report to provide wider distribution. The content is posted without edits other than minor formatting.

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office
As of 12:30PM (EST), March 19, 2011

Radiation Levels

  • At 10:30PM (JST) on March 19, radiation level outside main office building (approximately 1,640 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 2,854 micro Sv/hour.
  • Measurement results of ambient dose rate around Fukushima Nuclear Power Station announced at 4:00PM and 7:00PM on March 19 are shown in the attached two PDF files respectively.
  • For comparison, a human receives 2,400 micro Sv per year from natural radiation in the form of sunlight, radon, and other sources. One chest CT scan generates 6,900 micro Sv per scan.

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor

  • At 4:50PM on March 19, pressure inside the reactor core: 0.205MPa.
  • At 4:50PM on March 19, water level inside the reactor core: 1.75 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
  • At 4:50PM on March 19, pressure inside the primary containment vessel: 0.18MPaabs.
  • As of 9:00PM on March 19, the injection of seawater continues into the reactor core.
  • Recovery work of power supply is to be scheduled.

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 reactor

  • At 9:05PM on March 18, access to the substation for reserve power supply from external transmission line was completed.
  • As of 1:30PM on March 19, the work for laying the electric cable from the substation to the load site is being carried out.
  • At 4:30PM on March 19, pressure inside the reactor core: -0.009MPa.
  • At 4:30PM on March 19, water level inside the reactor core: 1.3 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
  • At 4:30PM on March 19, pressure inside the primary containment vessel: 0.135MPaabs.
  • As of 9:00PM on March 19, the injection of seawater continues into the reactor core.
  • Activities for connecting the commercial electricity grid are underway.

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 reactor

  • At 0:30AM on March 19, Tokyo Fire Department began to shoot water aimed at the spent fuel pool, continuously until 01:10AM.
  • At 5:25PM on March 19, pressure inside the reactor core: -0.050MPa.
  • At 5:25PM on March 19, water level inside the reactor core: 1.85 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
  • At 5:25PM on March 19, pressure inside the primary containment vessel: 0.210MPaabs.
  • At 5:30PM on March 19, Tokyo Fire Department began to shoot water continuously aimed at the spent fuel pool.
  • As of 9:00PM on March 19, the injection of seawater continues into the reactor core.
  • As of 9:00PM on March 19, activities for recovering the external power supply are underway.

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 reactor

  • No official updates to the information in our March 19 update have been provided.
  • As of 9:00PM on March 19, activities for recovering the external power supply are underway.

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 5 reactor

  • At 5:00AM on March 19, pump for Residual Heat Removal (RHR) started up and cooling of spent fuel storage pool has started.
  • At 6:00AM on March 19, the temperature of the spent fuel pool was measured at 155.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • At 9:15AM on March 19, making 3 holes in the roof of reactor building to prevent hydrogen from accumulating has been completed.
  • At 6:00PM on March 19, the temperature of the spent fuel pool was measured at 118.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 6 reactor

  • At 5:11AM on March 19, Fuel Pool Cooling (FPC) pump started to circulate the water of spent fuel pool.
  • At 6:00AM on March 19, the temperature of the spent fuel pool was measured at 151.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • At 9:15AM on March 19, making 3 holes in the roof of reactor building to prevent hydrogen from accumulating has been completed.
  • At 6:00PM on March 19, the temperature of the spent fuel pool was measured at 152.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fukushima Daiichi Common Spent Fuel Pool

  • At 11:19AM on March 18, the temperature of the spent fuel pool was measured at 131.0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Our official sources are: Office of The Prime Minister of Japan Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Press Releases Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy