Ganbare, Nihon! Good luck, Japan!

[Bonobo]

I'd like to add my best wishes and praise for the brave Japanese heroes that are working to improve a terrible calamity that began after one of the worst earthquakes in recorded history set off a tsunami that killed 20,000 people.

Japan can do it and I am proud that they are tackling this. Let's wish them the best of luck!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24958048



Workers at Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant have begun removing fuel rods from a storage pond at the Unit 4 reactor building.

The delicate operation is seen as a necessary step in stabilising the site.

It will take more over two days to remove the first 22 fuel rod assemblies, plant operator Tepco says.

Overall, more than 1,500 assemblies must be be removed in what correspondents describe as a risky and dangerous operation set to take a year.

Experts say hydrogen explosions after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 have made the current storage facility vulnerable to further tremors.

The fuel rod assemblies are four-metre long tubes containing pellets of uranium fuel, and the fear is that some may have been damaged during the disaster.

Continue reading the main story
Removing fuel rods

The fuel rods - 4m-long tubes containing pellets of uranium fuel - are in a precarious state in the Unit Four storage pool
The rod assemblies will be lifted out in batches of 22 in casks filled with water, using a crane - each batch will take 7-10 days
Two critical issues are whether the rods were damaged during the disaster and so are likely to leak, and whether the casks remain watertight so the rods have no contact with air
The fuel rods will be deposited into a new "common" pool with a cooling system
Japan to remove Fukushima fuel rods
When the tsunami struck, water knocked out cooling systems to three of Fukushima's reactors, which went into a state of partial meltdown.

Unit 4 was undergoing maintenance, so all of its fuel rods were being stored. But a build-up of hydrogen triggered an explosion in Unit 4, damaging its structure.


Removal of fuel rods from the storage pond is a key step in the decommissioning

[Katashi_itto]

1. This is going to end terribly. I wish we could get more experts in there.

It's not a clean computer controlled operation.

You've got to withdraw 13,000 rods manually in a radioactive environment, rods that are damaged, bent and brittle. You've got to do it without touching other rods.

[Bonobo]

2. I really don't understand why you are so sure there aren't experts.

Do you think Japan has such a death wish?

Do you think Japan doesn't have the technical capability?

Look at their history. Look at the shinkansen, look at the space program, look at what they have done.

This is Japan's future. It will be done with precision, skill and care.

If it is possible to do, Japan will do it.

If it is impossible, no one could help.

[Katashi_itto]

3. Yes, I know all about their history. I am saying look at TEPCOs track record.

When I look at that. I break out in a cold sweat.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023974410

[Bonobo]

4. Tepco is NOT going to be the only people at work here.

There is oversight and you can bet your ass that it is careful and thorough.

I KNOW Japanese attention to detail and it gives me a lot of confidence that this will be handled as well as possible.

[Katashi_itto]

5. I truly hope your right. If this goes bad, we could lose most of Japan and the West Coast.

Now revealed there's 80 damaged spent fuel assemblies leaking radioactive materials in Fukushima storage pools — Kyodo: Removal attempt at Unit 4 starts later today — Japan nuclear official 'nervous', as one slip could result in monumental chain reaction (AUDIO)

CBS News: 'Immense mystery' as sea stars being wiped out along West Coast, could be gone for generations — Bewildering disease is spreading and "no idea what's causing it, or how to stop it" — Timelapse shows all legs lost in 7 hours (VIDEOS)

'Anonymous' protests at California TV station over lack of Fukushima coverage — Show Host: I wonder if media paid not to report on it — Senior Scientist: Phony stories made up by National Propaganda Radio (NPR)

Yale: Chief Arvol Looking Horse at U.N. to speak about Fukushima crisis and threat to future of humanity — 2001 Quote: "Contamination of our food and land now affecting way we think... disease of the mind has set in World Leaders... faced with chaos, disasters, diseases... end of life as we know it"?

Columnist: The truth must be told, Fukushima a major global threat to all living flora and fauna... Mainstream media not best source of information — Gundersen: Only thing saving us is the internet (AUDIO)

Researchers: Skin ulcers on Alaska wildlife after Fukushima were never observed before — Also reported in seals from Japan — We couldn't document fallout pattern when plumes hit and animals were on the ice (AUDIO)

Gundersen: Health effects from Fukushima are being hidden — Japan not publishing data on stillbirths, spontaneous abortions, cancers, and more since 3/11 — Indicates they're afraid to release it (VIDEO)

Nuclear Engineer: New footage shows Reactor 1 has "ruptured" containment structure, most likely from the explosion — Water to cool "what's left of core" flowing into environment (VIDEO)

Experts: Fukushima plume headed to West Coast isn't just going to pass by like smoke, plant continues to spew into ocean; Pacific to be full of contamination, it's a gigantic experiment — Host: Amazing how many people are in denial (VIDEO)

Gundersen: Fuel already "very close to going critical" at Unit 4 — Must be extraordinarily careful about starting chain reaction (VIDEO)

Photographer: No sign of life in Fukushima exclusion zone, only a few birds (PHOTOS)

Fox News: 'Video points to serious damage' to Fukushima Reactor No. 1 — Nuclear Expert: Size of leak indicates 'large damage' — Caused by explosion? (VIDEO)

Nuclear Engineer: Borated rubber between fuel is damaged in Unit 4 pool; Increased risk of criticality — The Economist: Rods can explode if they collide — Tepco VP: Recriticality 'highly improbable' (VIDEO)

Damaged fuel rods are cracked and leaking radioactive gases in Fukushima Unit 4 pool; Wire appears trapped in racks — Another assembly bent when "mishandled during a transfer"

TV: Fukushima workers "fear for their own safety" — "The truth is astonishing... I don't dare wash my hands, even after using toilet" (VIDEO)

US Gov't Headline: Alaska island "appears to show impacts from Fukushima" — "Significant cesium isotope signature" detected — Scientists anticipate more marine life to be impacted as ocean plume arrives (VIDEO)

NHK: Holes near bottom of containment vessel identified for first time at Fukushima plant — "Gushing out" of Reactor No. 1 — Similar damage suspected at Units 2 and 3 (VIDEO)

Multiple assemblies 'deformed' in Fukushima Unit 4 pool — One "bent at a 90-degree angle" — Tepco: Mistake occurred when handling the fuel... 25 years ago

[Bonobo]

6. If you hope so, you could rec a thread that is devoted to cheering for a good outcome.

That would be nice and you know...encouraging... like an actual display of support...something I NEVER see here anymore.

[Katashi_itto]

8. Sorry I usually do, it's early :P

[Cali_Democrat]

7. This whole saga has proven to be a total fucking disaster.

If this happened in the US, I truly wonder what your reaction would be.

Methinks it wouldn't be the same.

[Katashi_itto]

9. Umm Bonobo lives over in Japan.

However I think he's being way to optimistic. Course in his situation I would have to be too.

[Cali_Democrat]

10. I know he does

[Katashi_itto]

11. Cool, I didnt know you knew

[Bonobo]

12. What reaction?

You mean the reaction in which I hope and pray that this situation will be improved? Yes, that would be the same.

I am no fan of Tepco, I think they should be ground into the dust and thrown into the dustbin of history.

But I have confidence and am praying for the best. I would love it if I felt that my DU community had our back in spirit in wishing for this to be improved.

[Cali_Democrat]

13. I just want this whole thing to be resolved. I'm tired of it.

Hope is not a strategy, but if it makes u feel better, I'm praying for the situation to be resolved.

Although I don't believe in god.

[Art_from_Ark]

15. I'm not particularly a fan of TEPCO either,

but I am a customer, and to their credit I have to say that they have been coping well with the huge loss of generating capacity. With the exception of a few weeks immediately after the disasters when they had a few planned blackouts, they have managed to provide a steady supply of electricity to their 40 million+ customers, despite all their problems. So TEPCO is not the totally inept company that is portrayed on this board.

By the way, I just got my TEPCO bill today. It includes a fuel surcharge and a special levy for promoting the generation of electricity from renewable resources (再エネ発電賦課金 東京電力 ) . Total charges come to slightly less than 30 yen (30 cents) per kilowatt-hour.

[madokie]

16. Amazing how good I have it here

we pay 9 cents a kwh here in northeast Oklahoma.

TEPCO, here's to you, hope you pull this off without a hitch. We're all counting on you

[Art_from_Ark]

17. I'm envious of the 9 cents per kwh

I think before the disasters, I was paying closer to the equivalent of 22 cents per kwh.

And yes, I hope this goes without a hitch as well.

You can take a virtual tour of the fuel rod area with the link below. Although the narration is in Japanese, at least you can get a visual idea of where they'll be working and what they're going to be pulling out first.

http://www.news24.jp/articles/2013/11/07/07239867.html#

At 6:29 in the video, the head of the Dai-ichi complex is saying that in a worst-case scenario of a cask falling 30 meters, it might be pretty bad, although they don't know for sure because it has not happened before. But he says that in experiments where a cask was dropped from 17 meters, nothing bad has happened. The lady commentator says "So even if they drop a cask, it will *probably* be OK." The expert on the show says, "Well, the lid of the cask probably wouldn't come off, but there are other risks involved."

[madokie]

18. Thanks for the link

[Mnemosyne]

14. ...

[Bonobo]

19. Thanks.

I really appreciate that.

[MineralMan]

20. I'll be keeping a hopeful watch on this operation.

It must be done, so I hope it goes successfully and uneventfully.

I can't join those who are predicting failure here. It's important that this goes well, and I'm certain everyone involved is more than aware of that.

[progressoid]

21. Damn.

Some brave workers there.

Best of luck indeed.

[Octafish]

22. Good Luck!

Prayers and best wishes for Japan and all its people.

[RobertEarl]

23. Good Luck for Japan is good for all of us

Last edited Mon Nov 18, 2013, 03:01 PM - Edit history (1)

The recent revelations of the PTB in Japan publicly acknowledging the seriousness of this situation is certainly encouraging. The mode of thinking has done a 180. Instead of denial we now see admittance. Some remorse, even.

This removal process is a well thought out and well equipmented operation.

It has a certain capability of getting out of hand, but the risks are understood and failure plans are in place. The pool overheated once before and was able to be brought under control. It can be again brought under control is the idea.

Meanwhile, there are 30 such plants in the US quite capable of being in the same condition as Fukushima. This is no laughing matter and one which demands careful well thought out processes to eliminate those possibilities. Before our pools get overheated.

The environment has reached an all time high of radioactive contamination. Let's hope Japan at this moment, at this time, is successful at stopping this source and be able to move on the stopping their 3 other sources which still burn.

It would be very good for all life, were it made so.