Tanks for holding radioactive Fukushima liquid are too fragile and flimsy – Breaking open much easier than expected
Published: December 26th, 2012 at 9:28 pm ET
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Flimsy waste tanks cause new delay in Fukushima plant decontamination
Source: THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Date: December 26, 2012
Tanks designed to hold radioactive filtrate at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant are proving too fragile to be used, and the operator has announced a further delay in starting up machinery that cleans contaminated water.
[... It was] to begin operation at the plant in September.
[...] they are unable to predict when the equipment may finally come online.
The vessels are hoisted and lowered as they are filled and replaced by empty containers. In the event of an accident, they need to be strong enough to withstand a fall without releasing their radioactive contents.
TEPCO confirmed that the vessels could sustain a fall from a height of 6 meters in an upright position. But tests found the tanks were breaking and spilling their contents when dropped on from a height of only 3 meters in an upside-down position. [...]
Published: December 26th, 2012 at 9:28 pm ET
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