Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–March 24, 2011 – UPDATE AS OF 1:30 P.M. EDT.
In a sign of progress, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) is working to switch from seawater to borated freshwater to cool uranium fuel at three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
All reactors now have access to off-site power, and work is under way to inspect, repair and connect equipment needed to cool the reactors. Testing by TEPCO indicates that many pumps are inoperable because of flood damage.
Restoring regular cooling to the used fuel pools at Fukushima Daiichi remains a high priority. The used fuel pools at reactors 5 and 6 are being cooled using heat removal systems with electric power. Workers continue to spray seawater on the reactor buildings and spent fuel pools at reactors 1, 3 and 4. Additional cooling water to the spent fuel pool is being supplied by a fire hose connection.
Overnight, steam was rising from the secondary containment buildings that house reactors 1 through 4.
Radiation dose rates at the site boundary range from 1 to 3 millirem per hour.
NEI has updated the brochure “Understanding Radiation: Its Effects and Benefits,” which includes facts about monitoring and protection against radiation.
UPDATE AS OF 9:30 A.M. EDT, MARCH 24:
Two workers were hospitalized for radiation exposure Thursday, even as Tokyo Electric Power continued to make progress in stabilizing reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Three workers received radiation exposure of 17 to 18 rem from standing in contaminated water while laying cable in the reactor 3 turbine building, TEPCO said. One of the workers did not require hospitalization. The exposures were less than the 25 rem emergency dose limit established by the Japanese government.
External electric power was restored to reactor 1 and lights were on in the control room. Lighting was restored to the reactor 3 control room Wednesday. Electric power also has been connected to some of the instruments in all reactors except unit 3. While external electricity is available at all six units, it is not in wide use as workers inspect and repair cooling equipment before it can be energized. Reactors 5 and 6 have been safely shut down with cooling systems running on offsite power.
Seawater is being injected to cool the cores of reactors 1, 2 and 3. Workers continue to spray water into the spent fuel pools of reactors 3 and 4.
In Tokyo, the level of radioactive iodine in tap water has dropped to within safety limits Thursday. Yesterday, the Japanese government had advised against giving tap water to infants under one year old.
Source: nei.org
