Another thermometer breaks at Fukushima

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http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120415x1.html

One of the two remaining thermometers at the bottom of the pressure vessel of reactor No. 2 at the Fukushima power plant is broken, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Sunday.

The finding follows the discovery of a broken thermometer in the same unit in February and means only 18 of its 36 temperature sensors are working, magnifying concerns about the utility's long-term ability to monitor the crippled facility.

Tepco said that the sensor's reading instantaneously jumped 6 degrees to hit 60 around 9 p.m. Saturday.

After checking the equipment, engineers found that the electric resistance of the device had greatly increased and concluded it was broken.