#Contaminated Water Treatment System at #Fuku I: TEPCO to Use SARRY Only from October

Just as I thought. TEPCO will ditch the Kurion-AREVA combo that has had numerous problems from the beginning and will rely solely on Toshiba (and IHI and US's Shaw)'s SARRY for highly contaminated water treatment. Toshiba's SARRY has had its share of problems but not as many as the Kurion-AREVA duo.

The latest trouble at the water treatment system: the density of radioactive materials, reduced after Kurion's treament, shot up again after AREVA's treatment.

From Mainichi Shinbun (9/15/2011):

　東京電力は１５日、福島第１原発事故で生じた高濃度の放射性物質を含む汚染水を浄化して原子炉の冷却に使う「循環注水冷却システム」で、米キュリオン社の装置によって下がった放射性物質の濃度が、続いて仏アレバ社の装置を通すと上がるトラブルが起きたと発表した。アレバ社の装置が処理する高濃度の汚泥が流出した可能性もあり、原因を調べている。現在は、アレバ社の装置は止め、キュリオン社の装置だけで処理している。

TEPCO announced on September 15 that there was a trouble in the reactor cooling system that circulates water treated in the contaminated water treatment system. The density of radioactive materials that decreased after the treatment with Kurion's system increased after the treatment with AREVA's system. It is possible that highly radioactive sludge in AREVA's system leaked. TEPCO is investigating the cause. Currently, AREVA's system is stopped, and the treatment is done by Kurion's system alone.

　東電が同日、両社の装置の処理能力を確認したところ、キュリオン社単独では汚染水の放射性物質の濃度が１立方センチ当たり数百万ベクレルから数百ベクレルまで下がったが、その汚染水を続けてアレバ社の装置で処理すると、逆に数十万ベクレルに上がった。

TEPCO looked at the treatment performance of both systems and found that Kurion's system had reduced the density of radioactive materials from several million becquerels/cubic centimeter to several hundred becquerels/cubic centimeter. However, when that treated water was further processed in AREVA's system, the density shot up to several hundred thousand becquerels/cubic centimeter.

　東電は１０月以降、キュリオン社とアレバ社の装置を組み合わせた浄化システムを止め、比較的故障が少ない東芝製の別の浄化装置「サリー」で汚染水を浄化する方針だ。

TEPCO plans to stop using Kurion-AREVA system starting October, and use Toshiba's SARRY exclusively for contaminated water treatment. SARRY has had a relatively small number of failures compared to Kurion's or AREVA's system.

TEPCO was working on both Kurion's and AREVA's system from September 13, replacing a pump at Kurion's and a stirrer in the coagulation settling unit at AREVA's. Maybe that had something to do with the problem. Maybe not. TEPCO is not very forthcoming, as you may have noticed over the past 6 months.

More about → #Contaminated Water Treatment System at #Fuku I: TEPCO to Use SARRY Only from October

#Contaminated Water Treatment: AREVA's Unit is Back, Kurion Is Still Down

First, about AREVA's pump that feeds chemicals:



According to NHK Japanese (8/7/2011) who cannot mention names of the companies as a public broadcaster,

福島第一原発では、７日午前８時すぎに汚染水の浄化設備のうち、フランス製の装置で汚染水に処理用の薬剤を流し込むポンプが停止したうえに予備のポンプも動かず、浄化設備全体の運転が停止しました。



The pump for the chemicals for the treatment for the contaminated water stopped in the French-made system [AREVA] stopped at 8AM on August 7. The backup pump failed to start, and the entire treatment system shut down.



東京電力では、薬剤の粘りけが強いためにポンプに負荷がかかって停止したものとみて、薬剤を流す力を調整したうえで午後３時半すぎに運転を再開しましたが、予備のポンプが動かなかった理由は分かっていません。



According to TEPCO, the viscosity of the chemicals were too strong, putting too much pressure on the pump. TEPCO adjusted the flow of the chemicals and restarted the pump at 3:30PM. The reason why the backup pump didn't work is still unknown.

And Kurion's pumps are still offline, according to NHK.



With Toshiba's SARRY not even in the test run yet and Kurion offline, the contaminated water treatment is done by Toshiba's oil separation unit - AREVA's co-precipitation decontamination unit - Hitachi's desalination by reverse osmosis - AREVA and Toshiba's evaporative concentration unit (new). Decontamination is totally dependent on AREVA's unit for now.

Snippets that I pick up from Twitter and some Japanese magazine articles interviewing anonymous high-level managers at Fukushima I Nuke Plant indicate that the workers have almost given up on having Kurion and AREVA units run without frequent problems, and are pinning their hope on Toshiba's SARRY. But they do say they are impressed with AREVA's unit's ability to decontaminate. When it is working, that is.

More about → #Contaminated Water Treatment: AREVA's Unit is Back, Kurion Is Still Down

#Contaminated Water Treatment System Comes to a Dead Stop (Again)

The pumps failed, and TEPCO doesn't know why. Some of the pumps for Kurion's system stopped, and couldn't be restarted. One of the pumps in Areva's system that feed chemicals stopped, and the backup pump didn't work. The entire system is down.

From NHK Japanese (12:30PM JST 8/7/2011):

不安定な状態が続いている東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の汚染水の浄化設備で、７日朝、汚染水を処理するためのポンプが止まったうえに予備のポンプも動かないなどトラブルが相次ぎ、再び運転を停止しています。

The contaminated water treatment system at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant has been unstable, but on August 7 morning, the system was stopped after the pumps stopped and the backup pump failed.

... ところが、７日午前７時すぎ、汚染水の浄化設備のうち放射性セシウムなどを取り除くアメリカ製の装置で、汚染水を送る一部のポンプが突然停止し、再起動もできなくなりました。

About 7AM on August 7, some of the pumps that transport contaminated water in the US-made system [Kurion's] that removes radioactive cesium and other nuclides suddenly stopped, and couldn't be re-started.

さらに、午前８時すぎにはフランス製の別の装置でも汚染水に処理用の薬品を混ぜるポンプが停止したうえに予備のポンプも動かず、汚染水の浄化設備のすべての運転が停止しました。

Then about 8AM, a pump that feeds chemicals to the water stopped in the French-made [AREVA's] system, and the backup pump also failed. The entire water treatment system has stopped.

原子炉への注水は処理済みの水を使って続けているということですが、これらの浄化設備を巡っては、４日にも別のポンプが一時停止したほか、５日も警報が鳴って運転が止まるなど不安定な状態が続いています。

Water injection to the reactor continues with the water that have already been treated, according to TEPCO. The treatment system continues to be unstable. On August 4, a different pump stopped temporarily, and on August 5 an alarm sounded off and the system stopped.

東京電力では、より安定的な運転を目指して国産の新しい処理装置を追加して設置していますが、汚染水の保管場所の水位に余裕がないため、この装置の試運転を延期して汚染水の処理を優先することにしていました。

TEPCO has added a new treatment system [made by Toshiba] for more stable operation of the system, but since the water level is very close to the limit in the storage area [Central Waste Processing Facility] TEPCO has delayed the test run of the new system so that they can treat more contaminated water.

東京電力でトラブルの原因を調べるとともに、設備の復旧を急いでいます。

TEPCO is looking into the cause of the trouble, and is trying to get the system back online quickly.

More about → #Contaminated Water Treatment System Comes to a Dead Stop (Again)

#Contaminated Water Treatment System: 58% Operating Rate, Amount of Water Increased by 3000 Tonnes in a Week

The rate is a slight improvement in the latest week, up from 53% in the previous week.

57% operating rate in one week from the system that is designed to process 1,200 tonnes per day means TEPCO managed to treat:

1200 x 7 x 58% = 4872 tonnes

But then, the pipes are clogged somewhere, and the throughput is only 37 tonnes per hour instead of 50:

37/50 x 4872 = 3605 tonnes

The amount of water injected into the RPVs (outside the core shrouds, mind you) in Reactors 1, 2 and 3 in a week is:

(3.8 + 3.5 + 8.9) x 24 x 7 = 2722 tonnes

Therefore, the contaminated water should have been decreased by:

3605 - 2722 = 883 tonnes

Wrong. According to TEPCO, as reported by Asahi Shinbun, the contaminated water INCREASED by 3000 tonnes in the latest week.

From Asahi Shinbun (7/28/2011):

東京電力は２７日、福島第一原子力発電所で、高濃度の放射能汚染水を浄化する処理施設の稼働率が２週続けて５０％台になったと発表した。浄化した水 を原子炉に戻して燃料を冷やす「循環注水冷却」システムが動き出して２７日で１カ月だが、トラブルが相次いで停止が重なり稼働率が目標の９０％に達する見 込みはまだない。低迷が続けば、年末までに汚染水をゼロにする計画は難しくなる。

TEPCO announced on July 27 that the operating rate of the water treatment system at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant that treats highly contaminated water remained at less than 60% for two weeks in a row. It's been a month since the "circulation injection cooling system" which uses the treated water to cool the fuel in the reactors, but a series of troubles has caused the operating rate to be far below the target rate of 90%. If the rate remains low, the plan to reduce the amount of contaminated water to zero by the year end will be in jeopardy.

　東電によると、２６日までの直近１週間の稼働率は５８％で、前週の５３％からそう変わらなかった。運転開始から通算の稼働率も６３％で累積処理量は約３万トン。東電は当初、７月の稼働率を８０％と見込んでいた。その後７０％に下方修正したものの達成できない状況だ。

According to TEPCO, the operating rate for the week ended on July 26 was 58%, not much improvement from 53% of the previous week. The operating rate since the start of full operation is 63%, and the cumulative amount of treated water is about 30,000 tonnes. TEPCO had initially planned the operating rate in July to be 80%, but later lowered it to be 70%. The lowered target is not likely to be achieved.

　８月からは９０％を目標にしようとしていたが、それも当面は７０％にとどめることにした。

The company planned to raise the target to 90% in August, but has decided to keep it at 70%.

　このため汚染水は思うように減っていない。台風の雨や、処理施設の停止を補うためダムからの原子炉への注水が加わり総量は逆に約３千トン増えた。現時点で１２万６５０トン。汚染水を貯蔵する集中廃棄物処理施設も容量に近づいている。

The amount of contaminated water hasn't decreased as planned. With the rain from the typhoons and fresh water from the dam to supplement the treated water when the water treatment system was down, the total amount of contaminated water increased by 3,000 tonnes to 120,650 tonnes. The Central Waste Treatment Facility where the contaminated water is being stored is also reaching the capacity.

At this point, TEPCO must be hoping and praying that Toshiba's SARRY (photo below) will deliver, once operational in early August. With the lack of workers and the high radiation level inside the Central Waste Processing Facility, TEPCO may not be able to unclog the pipes in AREVA's system.

More about → #Contaminated Water Treatment System: 58% Operating Rate, Amount of Water Increased by 3000 Tonnes in a Week

#Fukushima Water Treatment System: Toshiba's Long Tall "SARRY" to the Rescue!

10 workers spent 2 minutes each to fix the PVC joint that broke off in AREVA's unit at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant on July 13, according to Asahi (link is in Japanese). The air radiation level at the location is 100 to 150 millisieverts/hour. For 2 minutes work, a worker could have received 5 millisieverts radiation.

The on-again-off-again water treatment system is finally on again, but at this point all TEPCO cares about is probably that these Kurion-AREVA units keep hobbling along, at least processing the amount of water that's being injected into the RPVs (Reactors 1, 2 and 3) so that the highly contaminated water in the reactor and turbine buildings does not increase.

Why? Because Toshiba's "SARRY" will soon come to the rescue. (Photo is from Asahi.)

SARRY stands for "Simplified Active Water Retrieve and Recovery System". Well, it doesn't quite stand for these words, but that's how Toshiba's been calling it.

It is already being installed at Fukushima I Nuke Plant, and is expected to come online sometime in early August. As it is planned right now, this Toshiba's system comes after Kurion and before AREVA.

SARRY is being jointly built by Toshiba, IHI, and the US company Shaw. A metal cylinder of 1.4 meter in diameter and 3.6 meters in height is filled with synthetic zeolite and titanium silicate. The system will connect these cylinders serially to decontaminate the water. The first half of the cylinders use absorbers with low percentage removal of cesium, and the second half of the cylinders use absorbers with higher percentage removal.

Toshiba thinks SARRY can reduce the amount of radioactive materials in the water to one-millionth, and process 1,200 tonnes of water per day.

The water will first go through the resin filters that remove oil, then through the cylinders filled with zeolite and titamium silicate for cesium removal. The system will be surrounded by lead panels to reduce radiation. Compared to Kurion's system which basically uses the same principle, Toshiba's system uses less pumps and thus less chance of breakdowns, according to TEPCO/Toshiba.

The drawings are probably written in a language that TEPCO and workers understand without dictionary, and it is probably being installed by Toshiba and its affiliates who are building the system.

If Toshiba's system delivers what it promises, there will be no need at all for Kurion or AREVA, and TEPCO can simply bypass both and just use SARRY. Kurion+AREVA can remain as a backup.

We'll see if Murphy will get Toshiba. After all, processing 1,200 tonnes of water per day and reducing the radioactive materials in the water to one-millionth is what was promised with Kurion and AREVA's systems.

Yomiuri has a video that Toshiba has released, showing the manufacturing and assembly of SARRY.

TEPCO's handout for press on July 14 has the diagrams and photos:

(I have a suspicion that Toshiba engineers wanted to call it "Sally", as in "Long Tall Sally". The system does use long tall cylinders, doesn't it? But as I said, "Sally" and "Sarry" don't make a bit of difference to most Japanese who are incapable of differentiating between "l" and "r". In Japanese they are pronounced the same, more like "l".)

More about → #Fukushima Water Treatment System: Toshiba's Long Tall "SARRY" to the Rescue!

#Contaminated Water Treatment System: PVC Joint Broke Off Completely in AREVA's System, in 100 to 150 Millisieverts/Hr Environment

Unlike the previous leaks (from the same place) where the PVC joint cracked (1st leak on July 9) and where the cast-iron joint corroded (2nd leak on July 12), TEPCO says that the PVC joint completely broke off.

The company doesn't know when the water treatment system can be re-started, as the repair work needs to be done in a very high radiation environment (100 to 150 millisieverts/hour) and each worker can remain there only for 1 to 2 minutes.

Who could have known? (Any comment from AREVA engineers?)

Well, this could be a lesson for the Japanese government who wants to push the so-called "stress test" on all nuclear power plants in Japan, assuming big earthquakes and tsunami. The pipe joints failed in three different ways: plastic cracked, cast iron corroded, and plastic broke off. If the government thinks the next nuclear disaster will happen the same way as the Fukushima accident, they may be very, very wrong.

Just when I thought, "Maybe Murphy is taking a summer vacation away from Fukushima..."

From TEPCO's handout for the press on July 14 in English:

More about → #Contaminated Water Treatment System: PVC Joint Broke Off Completely in AREVA's System, in 100 to 150 Millisieverts/Hr Environment

#Water Treatment System Stopped at #Fukushima I Nuke Plant Due to Yet Another Leak at AREVA's System

No, this is a different, brand-new leak that happened on July 13 their time. But the rest of the description of the problem is so identical that I simply did the cut and paste from my previous post and changed the date, as follows (just as TEPCO's handout for the press for July 13 describes the problem; in Japanese only, for now):

Another pipe with similar coupling as the one that leaked on Saturday and Tuesday leaked, causing the contaminated water treatment system to stop.

The leak was found at at 1:34PM JST on July 13 near the coupler that joins the hose that injects chemical to AREVA's coagulation/coprecipitation unit. The cause of the leak is being investigated, and it is not known when the system will be re-started. The cooling of the reactors using the treated water continues regardless.

Since it is so much like the other leaks, no major newspaper carries the news online. Not even NHK. They may all think it's about the place that leaked before.

More about → #Water Treatment System Stopped at #Fukushima I Nuke Plant Due to Yet Another Leak at AREVA's System

#Contaminated Water System: Leak Was from the Same Joint

It turns out the July 12 leak in AREVA's coagulation/coprecipitation unit was from the same location where the July 10 leak had happened.

If you recall, the July 10 leak was from the cracked PVC coupler that connected the PVC hose and a small metal tube welded to the bigger metal pipe. TEPCO replaced the PVC coupler with a metal coupler.

Well, that metal coupler, made of cast iron, was corroded away by ferric sulfates in the chemical fed through the hose in less than 2 days, and started to leak again. So, the July 12 version of the leak fix was to replace this corroded cast iron coupler with the stainless steel one and hope for the best.

TEPCO's Matsumoto said in the press conference on July 12 that they didn't think the cast iron coupler would corrode because it had metal plating. About 10 liters of the contaminated water and the chemical had leaked before the system was stopped.

Here's before and after photos from TEPCO on July 12:

More about → #Contaminated Water System: Leak Was from the Same Joint

#Water Treatment System Stopped at #Fukushima I Nuke Plant Due to Another Leak at AREVA's System

It's so deja vu that I didn't even realize the news is for today. Another pipe with similar coupling as the one that leaked on Saturday leaked on Tuesday morning, July 12 in Japan, causing the contaminated water treatment system to stop.

So, when TEPCO did the repair on that joint on Sunday their time, and said there were at least 6 others like that, the company didn't bother to change the other 6 at the same time.

So I guess there may be at least 5 more leaks to go.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (12:17PM 7/12/2011):

東京電力は１２日、福島第一原子力発電所の汚染水処理システムが午前８時５１分に緊急停止したと発表した。

TEPCO announced on July 12 that the contaminated water treatment system stopped at 8:51AM at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.

　システムのうち、仏アレバ社の沈殿・除去装置で薬液を注入する配管の接続部付近から水漏れが見つかったためで、原因を調査中。システム再開の見通しは立っていない。原子炉への注水は継続している。

A leak was found near the coupler that joins the hose that injects chemical to AREVA's coagulation/coprecipitation unit. The cause of the leak is being investigated, and it is not known when the system will be re-started. The cooling of the reactors using the treated water continues regardless.

　東電によると、同４０分ごろ、作業員が水漏れに気づき、手動停止した。１０日に薬液混じりの汚染水約５０リットルが漏れ出すトラブルがあった場所の近くで、この時はポリ塩化ビニール製の継ぎ目を金属製のものと交換、１３時間後に復旧させた。今回の水漏れとの関係は不明。

According to TEPCO, a worker noticed the leak at about 8:40AM, and manually stopped the system. The leak was near the spot where 50 liters of contaminated water with chemical had leaked on July 10. The PVC coupler had been replaced with a metal one, and the system was re-started after 13 hours. It is not known if today's leak has anything to do with the previous leak nearby.

More about → #Water Treatment System Stopped at #Fukushima I Nuke Plant Due to Another Leak at AREVA's System

UPDATE: Contaminated Water Also Leaked from AREVA's System

Sigh. TEPCO never learns. The first press conference was held yesterday morning (over in Japan); 6 hours had already passed since the accident but they didn't have any information other than the photo. The information had to wait until the evening press conference, more than 12 hours after the accident: that the contaminated water also leaked.

Information from TEPCO's evening press conference on July 10:

• The water treatment system was restarted at 5:40PM, about 12 hours after the leak was found.

• 50 liters of liquid that leaked was both the chemical to be used in the coprecipitation unit AND the contaminated water. It was mostly the contaminated water.
  

• Density of contamination: 5,500 becquerels/cubic centimeter of radioactive cesium.

• The PVC coupler that connected the metal pipe and the hose cracked, causing the leak.

• Connecting a metal pipe with a PVC hose by a PVC coupler was not a normal practice.
  

• The PVC coupler has been replaced with a metal coupler.
  

• It's not known whether TEPCO also replaced the similar connections in AREVA's unit.
  

I'll post when more details become available on TEPCO's site.

The photo is from Asahi Shinbun, the new and improved joint, but still looking awkward:

More about → UPDATE: Contaminated Water Also Leaked from AREVA's System

#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: AREVA Chemical Leak Photo

TEPCO posted the photo of the joint that leaked. It sure doesn't look like it is meant to be connected this way. Any machinists, pipe fitters, engineers care to comment?

There are at least 6 other joints like this, according to TEPCO.



The dotted red circle near the center bottom is where the leak occurred, right before the pipe goes to the coagulation/coprecipitation unit. I added the labels indicating whose system they are.

More about → #Fukushima I Nuke Plant: AREVA Chemical Leak Photo

#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: AREVA's System Stopped Due to Chemical Leak

(Update 7:44PM PST) TEPCO's morning presser over. It seems the quality of the reporters has gone down while I wasn't watching...

(Update) The [AREVA] system uses 6 different chemicals. There are at least 6 other similar joints, which will need to be checked.

(Update) Watching TEPCO's press conference, ongoing. The operator was a worker from TEPCO affiliate company. He was doing the remote monitoring and noticed the leak. About 50 liters of chemical leaked before the system was stopped.

Bad quality screen capture of the joint that leaked (not uploaded yet as press handout):

(UPDATE @7:22PM Pacific Standard Time) The leak is at the pipe joint. A rather vigorous leak. Cause yet unknown.

--------------------------------

It happened before the earthquake.

Tweet from a journalist who regularly attends TEPCO's press conference:

午前４時53分頃、福島第一原子力発電所の水処理装置凝集沈殿設備において、薬液注入ラインから薬液の漏えいが確認されたため、同装置を停止−−という東電のメール。

According to the email from TEPCO, at 4:53AM today, at the coprecipitation and coagulation unit of the contaminated water treatment system at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, a leak was found at the line that feeds the chemicals. The operation of the unit was stopped.

More about → #Fukushima I Nuke Plant: AREVA's System Stopped Due to Chemical Leak

#Fukushima: Drawings of AREVA's Decontamination System Written in Italian and French, Details Unavailable due to National or Corporate Security

says an anonymous worker at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. There are many who think it's almost a miracle that the entire system works at all.

The contaminated water treatment system at the plant has been in operation since June 17, and it has been plagued with problems, most of which are blamed on the workers.

When they blame "worker's mistake" as the reason for system malfunction or breakage, suspect some other reasons that they want to hide. This seems to be the case for the troubles at the contaminated water treatment system.

The author of the following tweets seems to be one of the workers at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, and his tweets are considered very credible by many, though a few suspect him to be a TEPCO's shill (which I doubt).

His tweets from July 1, and he talks about the contaminated water treatment system, AREVA's in particular:

続き①：今日も昼間は動いてなかったよ。作業員のミスって報道だけどオイラは管理側のミスだって思うんだけど…。特に一期工事のｱﾚﾊﾞの装置は他の現場で使用してたのを解体して持って来たんだけど施工は日本人でやってるんだ。

The system was stopped during the day today [July 1]. It was reported as "due to a worker's mistake", but I think it's the management mistake. In particular, AREVA's system [that was built] in the 1st phase of construction came from the active processing plant somewhere, which they dismantled and brought to Fukushima. But it was set up here by the Japanese.

続き②：ｱﾚﾊﾞの装置はイタリア製で図面もイタリア語とフランス語が混じって書いてあるからわかりづらいし質問しても構造や細かい所は国家機密か企業秘密かしらないが教えてくれないんだ。購入した東電でさえわかんない事多いみたい。

AREVA's system was made in Italy. The drawings are in Italian and French, so it's hard to understand. When we ask questions on the structure in detail, they don't answer, because of national security or corporate security or whatever. TEPCO, who paid for the system, doesn't seem to know much either.

二期工事も始まってますがあまりにも作業の振り分けがおかしくて現場が混乱してるのが現状なのです。

The second phase of construction has started, but the reality is that we are very confused because the jobs are not being assigned properly.

He says the system is not working as well as they thought, and that it should have been set up by the French or Italians who are the most familiar with the system.

The last I heard about the contract between TEPCO and AREVA (I also read somewhere later that there is no signed contract), even TEPCO didn't know what nuclides that AREVA's system would remove. Matsumoto of TEPCO said it was a corporate secret at AREVA and not to be disclosed.

More about → #Fukushima: Drawings of AREVA's Decontamination System Written in Italian and French, Details Unavailable due to National or Corporate Security

#Contaminated Water Processing: AREVA Overachieved, Kurion Underachieved, But Full-Run Ready Next Week

According to TEPCO, Kurion's system reduced radioactive cesium in the highly contaminated water at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant to about 1/16 (or Decontamination Factor (DF) of 16), again falling short of 1/1,000 as hoped for.

But that was made up by AREVA's system that reduced radioactive cesium to about 1/6,700 (Decontamination Factor of 6,700) after Kurion, making the entire system reduction at slightly over 1/100,000. Good enough to go, even though they had hoped for 1/1,000,000.

Kurion's system fared even worse than the previous test with highly contaminated water announced on June 22. So it may not be just a matter of switching the order of decontamination or changing the zeolite types.

(Kurion can blame "workers", like TEPCO does habitually...)

From TEPCO's handout for the press, June 24 (Japanese only, so far), I added the English labels, DF for each system, and spelled out the amount of nuclides. The higher the DF, the better the system performance is. (Click on the image for a clearer view.)

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Contaminated Water Processing at #Fukushima: Kurion's System Achieved Less Than 1/20 of Hoped-For Performance

AREVA's system fared better, achieving 40% of the hoped-for performance.

The reason? The deadly combo of seawater and very high radioactive materials in it.

According to TEPCO's handout for the press on June 22, Kurion's system managed to reduce the radioactive materials as follows:

Iodine-131

Before the treatment: 6900 becquerels/cubic centimeter
After the treatment: 990 becquerels/cubic centimeter
Decon Factor: 6.97
Hoped-for DF: not known

Cesium-134

Before the treatment: 2,000,000 becquerels/cubic centimeter
After the treatment: 43,000 becquerels/cubic centimeter
Decontamination Factor: 46.5
Hoped-for DF: 1,000

Cesium-137

Before the treatment: 2,200,000 becquerels/cubic centimeter
After the treatment: 48,000 becquerels/cubic centimeter
Decon Factor: 45.8
Hoped-for DF: 1,000

So, Kurion's system achieved less than 1/20 (or 4.6%) of the performance hoped for.

The result for AREVA's system are listed as "ND" (not detected), but it was assumed by TEPCO that AREVA's system's Decon Factor was less than 400, where 1,000 was hoped for. (Information from Yomiuri Shinbun)

By using both Kurion's and AREVA's systems, TEPCO had hoped that the radioactive materials in the water could be reduced to 1/1,000,000.

If Kurion's system reduced the radioactive materials to about 1/46 and AREVA's system 1/400, the combined performance was only 1/18,400, short of the minimum performance needed for the smooth operation of the desalination system (by Hitachi).

Desalination is essential if TEPCO wants to use the treated water as cooling water for the reactors.

TEPCO's Matsumoto said in the press conference that he had hoped that the water treatment system would start running full-scale in a couple of days, but now he wasn't sure when. (Information from Asahi Shinbun)

The Tohoku region that include Fukushima Prefecture entered the rainy season on June 21.

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Contaminated Water Processing at #Fukushima: Now It's AREVA's Turn to Cause Problem

The pumps at AREVA's portion of the water treatment system at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant shut down automatically when too much water went through them. TEPCO has been conducting the test run after the Kurion's problem earlier.

AREVA's subsystem comes after Kurion's (cesium absorption) which in turn comes after Toshiba's (oil separation). After AREVA's subsystem, the water goes to Hitachi's for desalination.

It was the 6th time since the test run started on June 10 that the system had stopped, as the following Yomiuri article says.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (1:06PM JST 6/21/2011):

　東京電力は２１日、福島第一原子力発電所で、再稼働に向け通水試験を行っていた汚染水処理システムが午前７時２０分頃に緊急停止したと発表した。

TEPCO announced on June 21 that the water treatment system for highly contaminated water at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant had an emergency shut down at 7:20AM. TEPCO was running the test run in order to resume the full-scale operation.

　システムのうち仏アレバ社の沈殿・除去装置で、汚染水を流す主系統につながる薬液注入ラインのポンプ２台が自動停止した。東電はポンプを調整し同日午後、全体の通水試験を再開した。試運転が本格化した１０日以降、トラブルや故障でシステムが停止したのは６回目。

The problem was at AREVA's subsystem for decontamination. Two pumps for the chemical injection line that connects to the main line for the contaminated water were shut down automatically. TEPCO adjusted the pumps, and the test run resumed in the afternoon. It was the 6th time since the test run started on June 10 that the system had stopped because of troubles and malfunctions.

　不具合は除染装置につながるポンプで見つかった。薬剤注入ラインに希釈用の水を供給しているが、流す水の量が多すぎて停止したとみられる。東電では流量を調整する。システムは複数の装置の組み合わせで、ア社の装置は薬液や砂を混ぜてセシウムやストロンチウムを沈殿、除去する。

The pumps feed water to the chemical injection line for dilution. They seem to have stopped when too much water went through. TEPCO will adjust the amount of water. The water treatment system is a combination of multiple subsystems, and AREVA's subsystem mixes chemicals and silica to remove cesium and strontium.

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Full "Hot" Run Starts at Contaminated Water Treatment System

After changing the "rupture disks" for the Kurion's part of the system and blaming the workers for closing the valve by mistake, TEPCO has started the full run, using "hot" water that they have in abundance (over 110,000 tonnes of it) at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.

It must mean they were really running out of space to store the highly contaminated water, and have decided to run the full system made up of 4 different components by 4 different vendors (Kurion, Areva, Toshiba, Hitachi) with what looks to me like a very short test run. Or is this normal time-frame for a test run of the system like this? I'm no expert so I don't know for sure.

From TEPCO's handout for the press on June 17 (in Japanese only):

• Kurion's system tested: from 3:45AM to 2PM, June 14 (10 hours and 15 minutes)

• Areva's system tested: from 1:10PM to 8:35PM, June 15 (7 hours and 25 minutes)

• Kurion+Areva tested: from 10:40PM, June 15 to 12:20AM, June 16 (1 hour 40 minutes)

• Entire system tested: from 12:20AM to 7:20PM, June 16 when the system stopped (19 hours)

• Entire system test resumed: from 1:00PM to ??? (NHK says the full run started in the evening, so 6 hours? making the total system test run of 25 hours)

If the "hot" water ever leaks like the low contamination water did (to the tune of 6 tonnes), I hope TEPCO and the participating companies have a plan ready to fix the leak.

Other potential Murphy moments would include:

• Heavy rain

• Seawater (neither Kurion's nor Areva's system has dealt with contaminated seawater)

• Super "hot" radioactive sludge from the process, estimated to be 2,000 tonnes (no one knows what to do with them)

Even the cesium absorption towers (cylinders) need storage space after the run every day. TEPCO will need to replace one a day.

NHK World (6/17/2011):

A system to decontaminate highly radioactive water has gone into service at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The system is considered key to dealing with the build-up of contaminated water that is hampering work to bring the reactors under control.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, activated the system on Friday evening after conducting final test-runs.

The utility earlier found water leaking from one of the system's 4 components -- a US-made cesium absorption device -- forcing the test-runs to be called off on Thursday.

TEPCO later determined that a mistakenly closed valve in the pipes had clogged the water, which then damaged a safety valve in one of the absorption units and caused the leak. The broken valve has been replaced.

Highly radioactive water is building up in reactor facilities at a rate of 500 tons per day. TEPCO hopes to cool the reactors by decontaminating the runoff and re-circulating the water.

Stable operations of the decontaminators will now be important, as the system has suffered glitches both before and during the test-runs.

Friday, June 17, 2011 20:51 +0900 (JST)

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Kurion's System Leak Was Due to High Pressure in One of Cesium Absorption Towers

Accordingly, the safety valve, called the "rupture disk", ruptured as designed to release the pressure and let the water flow out, according to Asahi Shinbun (in Japanese; 12:01PM JST 6/17/2011).

Why did the pressure go up in that particular set of towers (most upstream of the 4 sets)? Because a valve was closed shut downstream. TEPCO hinted it may have been a human error, that a worker closed that downstream valve by mistake.

The total amount of water leaked was more than 6,000 liters [or 6 tonnes].

TEPCO will replace the ruptured "rupture disk" as well as the same disks for the other three sets of towers, and hopes to start the full run by midnight on June 17.

I was told by a former TEPCO nuclear plant engineer that something else is likely involved when the company wants to blame workers for a malfunction or an accident. We'll see if that's the case here.

The contaminated water situation must be getting really bad for TEPCO to hurry on with the full run that will process the highly contaminated water heavily mixed with seawater.

On the side note, Yomiuri Shinbun reports that the CEO of Areva, Anne Lauvergeon, will not be reappointed at the end of June, in the decision made by the office of the President of France, despite the urging by the company's executive board. Areva is 90% owned by the French government, and the CEO is rumored to have had disagreements with President Nicolas Sarkozy. The new CEO is going to be Luc Oursel, current COO of the company in charge of international marketing and projects. Oursel's name was missing in the letter by the company's executive board urging the reappointment of Anne Lauvergeon, as Reuters reports.

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Contaminated Water Treatment at #Fukushima I: Final Test Run of the Entire System Started

TEPCO finished the testing of Areva's decontamination system (no word yet as to how successful it was) and started the test run of the entire system (oil/strontium removal - cesium removal (Kurion) - decontamination (Areva) - desalination) at 12:20AM JST, June 16.

The test is scheduled to run for 30 to 40 hours before the full run starts with the high contamination water sometime on June 17.

I still don't quite get it. Why did TEPCO (or the Japanese government) need both Kurion's and Areva's systems? They both treat the same radioactive materials - strontium and cesium. It looks like a political arrangement to me, as the US couldn't just let France's Areva take the credit for cleaning up the contaminated water at a nuke plant with the wrecked GE reactors.

NHK World English: (6/16/2011):

The operator of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant has begun testing a complex system to decontaminate highly radioactive wastewater.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, began the test run early on Thursday ahead of full-fledged operation on Friday.

More than 110,000 tons of the toxic wastewater has accumulated at the plant after months of using water to cool overheating nuclear fuel. The water is hampering work to bring the facility under control.

TEPCO is struggling to find storage space for the water, which is accumulating at a rate of 500 tons daily.

The treatment system combines 4 devices, including those made by French and US makers.
The French-made device uses a special chemical agent to treat the contaminated water. The US-made device is designed to remove radioactive cesium. Tuesday's testing showed it reduced cesium by one-3,000th.

TEPCO plans to reduce the level of radioactive substances to one-10,000th before moving decontaminated water to temporary tanks.

Technical problems delayed the test by 4 days.

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Test Run of Areva's System Starts

TEPCO started the test run of Areva's decontamination system at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant using the "low" contamination water at 1:10PM JST on June 15, according to the information to the press for June 15 (in Japanese only; no foreign reporters attend TEPCO's pressers).

No word or information as to whether the test run has completed yet.

After the successful test run of the Areva system, TEPCO will start the test run of both Kurion and Areva's systems together on June 16. The company hopes to start processing the "high" contamination water right after the successful test run of both systems.

TEPCO is running out of storage space for the high contamination water at the plant. There is only 2,200 tons capacity left for the high contamination water at the plant before the water has nowhere else to go, according to Yomiuri Shinbun (link is in Japanese).

Incidentally, the same information sheet from TEPCO says one worker at the plant was caught smoking a cigarette at the dock. At least he wasn't carrying a bucket of uranium like those at Tokai Nuclear Power Plant in 1999.

What's interesting to me is the measurement of this worker's radiation, which was low. But the internal radiation exposure (0.24 millisievert) is almost twice as much as the external exposure (0.13 millisievert).

Of course it is quite possible (even likely) that the external exposure number is not very trustworthy because of the deliberate under-counting which was almost the norm at any nuclear power plant in Japan for the maintenance work.

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