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Coordinates: 37°25′17″N 141°01′57″E / 37.4214°N 141.0325°E / 37.4214; 141.0325
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→‎2011 earthquake events: more precise link and more precise info about the Kyodo News "urgent" dispatch about 1000 times too high radiation
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Nuclear experts say that as of 17:00 GMT if the situation is not resolved in the next few hours it will become serious.<ref>BBC News. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698 Tsunami hits Japan after massive quake]. March 11, 2011</ref> David Lochbaum, who worked at three American reactor complexes that use General Electric technology and now works for the [[Union of Concerned Scientists]], said the plant was probably equipped to function for some hours without emergency diesel generators.<ref name=NYT01>{{cite news |last=Wald |first=Matthew L., |url=
Nuclear experts say that as of 17:00 GMT if the situation is not resolved in the next few hours it will become serious.<ref>BBC News. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698 Tsunami hits Japan after massive quake]. March 11, 2011</ref> David Lochbaum, who worked at three American reactor complexes that use General Electric technology and now works for the [[Union of Concerned Scientists]], said the plant was probably equipped to function for some hours without emergency diesel generators.<ref name=NYT01>{{cite news |last=Wald |first=Matthew L., |url=
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12nuclear.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1299865488-C7GLJDrrrqhvNpuS3XSRjw |title=Emergency Declared at Japanese Nuclear Plant |publisher=The New York Times |date=March 11, 2011 |accessdate=Retrieved 2011-03-11}}</ref> The United States Air Force delivered diesel generators to the plant site to assist in powering the cooling pumps. <ref>ABC News. [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/03/on-japans-nuclear-reactor-and-the-treatment-of-private-bradley-manning-todays-qs-for-o-3112011.html Actually, our diesel generators are about the same as theirs so this does not make any more sense than the earlier reports that the United States Air Force flew in coolant. At most, the USAF could have flown in some kind of parts it had on hand, but then that's all. On Japan’s Nuclear Reactor]. March 11, 2011.</ref> The water level inside the reactor has dropped; however, the rods were not exposed.<ref>Reuters. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/us-japan-quake-reactor-idUSTRE72A2NR20110311 Japan scrambles to avert radiation crisis at nuclear plant]. March 11, 2011.</ref>.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12nuclear.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1299865488-C7GLJDrrrqhvNpuS3XSRjw |title=Emergency Declared at Japanese Nuclear Plant |publisher=The New York Times |date=March 11, 2011 |accessdate=Retrieved 2011-03-11}}</ref> The United States Air Force delivered diesel generators to the plant site to assist in powering the cooling pumps. <ref>ABC News. [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/03/on-japans-nuclear-reactor-and-the-treatment-of-private-bradley-manning-todays-qs-for-o-3112011.html Actually, our diesel generators are about the same as theirs so this does not make any more sense than the earlier reports that the United States Air Force flew in coolant. At most, the USAF could have flown in some kind of parts it had on hand, but then that's all. On Japan’s Nuclear Reactor]. March 11, 2011.</ref>{{not in source}}{{fact}}
The water level inside the reactor has dropped; however, the rods were not exposed.<ref>Reuters. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/us-japan-quake-reactor-idUSTRE72A2NR20110311 Japan scrambles to avert radiation crisis at nuclear plant]. March 11, 2011.</ref>.

Past midnight local time, it was reported that [[The Tokyo Electric Power Company]] was considering venting super hot gas from the reactor vessel into the atmosphere, which could result in the release of radiation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0312/TKY201103110824.html |title=asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：福島原発炉内蒸気、外に逃す作業検討　放射能漏れの恐れ - 社会}}</ref> Saturday, the Tokyo Electric Company reported that radiation levels were rising in the turbine building for reactor 1.<ref>[http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110311D11JF351.htm "Radiation level rising in Fukushima Nuclear Plant turbine building."] Nikkei.com. 12 March 2011(Japan time). Retrieved18:30 GMT March 11, 2011.</ref> On 20:30h UTC the pressure inside Reactor 1 was reported to be 2.1 times the "design capacity."<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/japan-quake-tepco-pressure-idUSLHE7EB00R20110311]"Fukushima reactor pressure may have hit 2.1 times capacity -METI," Maeda, Rita, Reuters wire service, quoting Japan Trade Ministry (20:30 GMT) 12 March 2011 (Tokyo time)</ref> At 21:10 [[UTC]], [[IAEA]] reported that unit 2 is also experiencing cooling issues.<ref>[http://www.iaea.org/press/?p=1133]</ref>
Past midnight local time, it was reported that [[The Tokyo Electric Power Company]] was considering venting super hot gas from the reactor vessel into the atmosphere, which could result in the release of radiation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0312/TKY201103110824.html |title=asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：福島原発炉内蒸気、外に逃す作業検討　放射能漏れの恐れ - 社会}}</ref> Saturday, the Tokyo Electric Company reported that radiation levels were rising in the turbine building for reactor 1.<ref>[http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110311D11JF351.htm "Radiation level rising in Fukushima Nuclear Plant turbine building."] Nikkei.com. 12 March 2011(Japan time). Retrieved18:30 GMT March 11, 2011.</ref> On 20:30h UTC the pressure inside Reactor 1 was reported to be 2.1 times the "design capacity."<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/japan-quake-tepco-pressure-idUSLHE7EB00R20110311]"Fukushima reactor pressure may have hit 2.1 times capacity -METI," Maeda, Rita, Reuters wire service, quoting Japan Trade Ministry (20:30 GMT) 12 March 2011 (Tokyo time)</ref> At 21:10 [[UTC]], [[IAEA]] reported that unit 2 is also experiencing cooling issues.<ref>[http://www.iaea.org/press/?p=1133]</ref>


Revision as of 22:03, 11 March 2011

Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant
The Fukushima 1 NPP
Map
CountryJapan
Coordinates37°25′17″N 141°01′57″E / 37.4214°N 141.0325°E / 37.4214; 141.0325
StatusDecommissioned
Construction began1966
Commission dateMarch 26, 1971
Decommission date
  • 11 March 2011
Owner(s)
Operator(s)Tokyo Electric Power Company
Power generation
Nameplate capacity
  • 0 MW
External links
Websitewww.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/press/f1-np/index-e.html
CommonsRelated media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata]

The Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant (福島第一原子力発電所, Fukushima dai-ichi genshiryoku hatsudensho, Fukushima I NPP, 1F), often referred to as Fukushima Dai-ichi, is a nuclear power plant located in the town of Okuma in the Futaba District of Fukushima Prefecture. With 8 separate units located on site, Fukushima I is one of the largest nuclear plants in the world.[citation needed] Fukushima I is the first nuclear plant to be constructed and run entirely by The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).

In March, 2011, in the immediate wake of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese government declared an “atomic power emergency” and evacuated thousands of residents living close to Fukushima I.

Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant, 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) to the south, is also run by TEPCO.

Reactors on site

Aerial view of the plant
Unit Type First Criticality Electric Power
Fukushima I - 1 BWR March 26, 1971 460 MW
Fukushima I - 2 BWR July 18, 1974 784 MW
Fukushima I - 3 BWR March 27, 1976 784 MW
Fukushima I - 4 BWR October 12, 1978 784 MW
Fukushima I - 5 BWR April 18, 1978 784 MW
Fukushima I - 6 BWR October 24, 1979 1,100 MW
Fukushima I - 7 (planned) ABWR October, 2013 1,380 MW
Fukushima I - 8 (planned) ABWR October, 2014 1,380 MW

2011 earthquake events

After the March 11, 2011, earthquake, Nuclear Engineering International reported that units 1 to 3 were automatically shut down, and units 4 to 6 were already in maintenance outages.[1] However electrical problems prevented cooling pumps for Reactor 1 from functioning. Because cooling pumps are needed to remove residual reactor heat, a nuclear emergency was declared. Under Japanese law, a nuclear emergency must be declared if there is a release of radiation, if there is a dangerous level of water in the reactor, or if the cooling mechanisms fail. A small amount of radiation leak may occur to reduce pressure.[2] It was the first time a nuclear emergency had been declared in Japan. The emergency cooling systems also were activated for Reactor 2. Batteries, which last about eight hours, are being used to power the reactor cooling during the electrical outage, and the government can use military helicopters to fly in replacement batteries.[3]

An evacuation order has been issued to people living within 3 kilometers of the plant, affecting approximately 5800 residents living near the power plant. People living less than 10 kilometers from the power plant have been advised to stay indoors.[4]

Nuclear experts say that as of 17:00 GMT if the situation is not resolved in the next few hours it will become serious.[5] David Lochbaum, who worked at three American reactor complexes that use General Electric technology and now works for the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the plant was probably equipped to function for some hours without emergency diesel generators.[6] The United States Air Force delivered diesel generators to the plant site to assist in powering the cooling pumps. [7][failed verification][citation needed] The water level inside the reactor has dropped; however, the rods were not exposed.[8]. Past midnight local time, it was reported that The Tokyo Electric Power Company was considering venting super hot gas from the reactor vessel into the atmosphere, which could result in the release of radiation.[9] Saturday, the Tokyo Electric Company reported that radiation levels were rising in the turbine building for reactor 1.[10] On 20:30h UTC the pressure inside Reactor 1 was reported to be 2.1 times the "design capacity."[11] At 21:10 UTC, IAEA reported that unit 2 is also experiencing cooling issues.[12]

It is being reported that radiation levels in the control room of reactor number one are 1,000 times higher than normal. [13]

References

  1. ^ "Japan initiates emergency protocol after earthquake". Nuclear Engineering International. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  2. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/japan-quake-reactor-idUSL3E7EB2GO20110311
  3. ^ Tsuyoshi Inajima and Yuji Okada (11 March 2011). "Japan Orders Evacuation From Near Nuclear Plant After Quake". Bloomberg. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  4. ^ Bloomberg. Tsuyoshi Inajima and Yuji Okada. Japan Orders Evacuation From Near Nuclear Plant After Quake. March, 11, 2011, 14:11:59 GMT.
  5. ^ BBC News. Tsunami hits Japan after massive quake. March 11, 2011
  6. ^ Wald, Matthew L., (March 11, 2011). "Emergency Declared at Japanese Nuclear Plant". The New York Times. Retrieved Retrieved 2011-03-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ ABC News. Actually, our diesel generators are about the same as theirs so this does not make any more sense than the earlier reports that the United States Air Force flew in coolant. At most, the USAF could have flown in some kind of parts it had on hand, but then that's all. On Japan’s Nuclear Reactor. March 11, 2011.
  8. ^ Reuters. Japan scrambles to avert radiation crisis at nuclear plant. March 11, 2011.
  9. ^ "asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：福島原発炉内蒸気、外に逃す作業検討　放射能漏れの恐れ - 社会".
  10. ^ "Radiation level rising in Fukushima Nuclear Plant turbine building." Nikkei.com. 12 March 2011(Japan time). Retrieved18:30 GMT March 11, 2011.
  11. ^ [1]"Fukushima reactor pressure may have hit 2.1 times capacity -METI," Maeda, Rita, Reuters wire service, quoting Japan Trade Ministry (20:30 GMT) 12 March 2011 (Tokyo time)
  12. ^ [2]
  13. ^ Kyodo News English. [3] Radiation 1,000 times higher than normal detected at nuke plant, March 11, 2011, 9:40pm (GMT)
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