Nov. 19, 2013: [...] the real challenge: removing melted or partially melted fuel from the three reactors that had meltdowns, and figuring out how to treat and store it so it won't heat up and start a nuclear reaction again. "This is an unprecedented task that nobody in the world has achieved. We still face challenges that must be overcome," said Hajimu Yamana, a Kyoto University nuclear engineer who heads a government-affiliated agency that is overseeing technological research and development for the cleanup. [...] Computer simulations show the melted fuel in Unit 1, whose core damage was the most extensive, has breached the bottom of the primary containment vessel and even partially eaten into its concrete foundation, coming within about 30 centimeters (one foot) of leaking into the ground. "We just can't be sure until we actually see the inside of the reactors," Yamana said.
Story link: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_NUCLEAR_DECOMMISSIONING?SITE =AP <http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_NUCLEAR_DECOMMISSIONING?SIT E=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT> &SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT II have read credible estimates elsewhere - from recognized nuclear power experts, including one of the administrators of the Hanford cleanup -- that the ultimate cleanup & containment costs will run into the many hundreds of billions of dollars. Chris -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
