Surveys find radiation and more leaked water

21 June 2012


A robotic survey of the unit 2 reactor building in mid-June measured radiation levels directly over the fifth floor reactor well, where radiation was extremely high.

Fukushima Daiichi unit 2 reactor well cover
Fukushima Daiichi unit 2 reactor well cover, as seen by the robot Quince


Measurements ranged from 415-530 mSv/hr directly adjacent to the well, and 783-880 mSv/hr directly over it. Even near the open spent fuel pool, which the mobile robot Quince photographed, levels ranged between 80-173 mSv/hr. The temperature and humidity over the reactor well was 20.5°C—however it is ventilated by the opening from the blow-out panel—and humidity is 75.3%. Radiation measured on lower floors was much less: 10-23 mSv/hr on the third floor, and 11-22 mSv/hr on the fourth floor.

In units 2 and 3, the rooms surrounding the torus have been discovered to be flooded with approximately 5m of water, without an obvious source, or obvious damage.

An attempt to use infrared photography to determine the height of the water inside the torus at unit 2. Although workers determined that the temperature inside the torus is 38°C, which was warmer than in the torus room (35°C), the height of the water could not be ascertained using this method.

A steel-framed cover was installed in mid-June over the Fukushima Daiichi unit 4 spent fuel pool. Like the first cover, The steel cover, like the first cover installed in 2011 and made of plastic floats, is intended to protect the pool from debris. TEPCO has been demolishing the upper walls and roof of the unit 4 reactor building, which were damaged by an explosion in March 2011, to prepare the building for a temporary cover. The new cover will protect the pool from rubble weighing up to 1.5 tons.




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