[meteorite-list] OT- TEPCO Press Release

From: Barrett <BarrettWF_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:27:29 -0600
Message-ID: <02b301cbe3ee$aa5db2a0$ff1917e0$_at_net>

  
Press Release (Mar 16,2011)
Impact to TEPCO's Facilities due to Tohoku-Taiheiyou-Oki Earthquake (as of
2:00PM)
 

Below is the status of TEPCO's major facilities that suffered from the
Tohoku-Taiheiyou-Oki Earthquake that occurred at 2:46PM, March 11th 2011.
*new items are underlined

[Nuclear Power Station]
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station:
 Units 1 to 3: shutdown due to earthquake
 Units 4 to 6: outage due to regular inspection at the occurrence of
               earthquake

*The national government has instructed to evacuate for those local
 residents within 20km radius of the site periphery and to remain
 indoors for those local residents within 30km radius of the site
 periphery.

*Since the value of radioactive materials (iodine, etc) at the site
 (outside) measured by monitoring car exceeded the ordinary level,
 it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in article 15,
 clause 1 occurred (Extraordinary increase of radiation dose at site
 boundary).
 - 4:17 pm, March 15th at the main gate of the site
 - 11:05 pm, March 15th at the main gate of the site

* Unit 1
 The explosive sound and white smoke was confirmed near Unit 1 after
 the big quake occurred at 3:36pm, March 12th. We have started sea
 water injection at 8:20 pm and then boric acid into the reactor.

*Unit 2
 At 1:25 pm, March 14th, since the Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System
 has failed, it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in
 article 15, clause 1 occurred (failure of reactor cooling function).
 At 5:17 pm, while the water level in the reactor reached the top of the
 fuel rod, we have restarted the water injection with the valve operation.
 At approximately 6:14 am, March 15th, the extraordinary sound was
 confirmed near the suppression chamber and the pressure inside the
 chamber decreased afterwards. It was determined that there is a
 possibility that something extraordinary happened in the suppression
 chamber. While sea water injection to the reactor continued, TEPCO
 employees and workers from other companies not in charge of injection
 work started tentative evacuation to a safe location.
 Sea water injection to the reactor is still under operation.

*Unit 3
 At 6:50 am, March 14th, while water injection to the reactor was under
 operation, the pressure in the reactor containment vessel increased to
 530 kPa. As a result, at 7:44 am, it was determined that a specific
 incident stipulated in article 15, clause 1 occurred (abnormal increase
 of the pressure of reactor containment vessel). Afterwards, the pressure
 has gradually decreased (as of 9:05 am, 450 kPa).

 At approximately 11:01 am, March 14th, an explosion followed by white
 smoke occurred near Unit 3. 4 TEPCO employees and 3 workers from other
 companies (all of them are conscious) have sustained injuries and they
 were already dispatched to the hospital by ambulances.

*Unit 4
 At approximately 6:00 am, March 15th, an explosive sound occurred and
 the damage in the 5th floor roof of Unit 4 reactor building was
 confirmed. At 9:38 am, the fire near the north-west part of 4th floor
 of Unit 4 reactor building was confirmed. At approximately 11:00 am,
 TEPCO employee confirmed that the fire was off.

 At approximately 5:45 am, a TEPCO employee discovered a fire at the
 northwest corner of the Nuclear Reactor Building. TEPCO immediately
 reported this incident to the fire department and the local government
 and prepared to extinguish the fire. However, during an inspection at
 approximately 6:15 am, TEPCO staff found no signs of fire.

Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station:
 Units 1 to 4: shutdown due to earthquake
*The national government has instructed evacuation for those local
 residents within 10km radius of the periphery.

*As the radiation dose at the site boundary exceeded the limitation,
 it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in article 15,
 clause 1 occurred (Extraordinary increase of radiation dose at site
 boundary) at 9:58 pm, March 14th and at 0:00 am, March 15th.

*Reactor cooling function was restored and cooling of rectors was
 conducted. As a result, all reactors achieved cold shutdown: Unit 1
 at 5:00 pm, March 14th, Unit 2 at 6:00 pm, March 14th, Unit 3 at
 0:15 pm, March 12th, Unit 4 at 7:15 am, March 15th.

* (Unit 1)
 As it is confirmed that the temperature of the Emergency Equipment
 Cooling Water System *1 has increased, at 3:20 pm, March 15th, we
 stopped the Residual Heat Removal System (B) for the inspection.
 Subsequently, failure was detected in the power supply facility
 associated with the pumps of the Emergency Equipment Cooling Water
 System. At 4:25 pm, March 15th, after replacing the power facility,
 the pumps and the Residual Heat Removal System (B) have been
 reactivated.

* (Unit 4)
 As it is confirmed that the pressure at the outlet of the pumps of
 the Emergency Equipment Cooling Water System*1 has been decreased,
 at 8:05 pm, March 15th, we stopped the Residual Heat Removal System
 (B) for the inspection. Subsequently, failure was detected in the
 power supply facility associated with the pumps of the Emergency
 Equipment Cooling Water System. At 9:25 pm, March 15th, after
 replacing the relevant facility, the pumps and the Residual Heat
 Removal System (B) have been reactivated.

*1:emergency water system in which cooling water (pure water) circulates
  which exchanged the heat with sea water in order to cool down bearing
  pumps and/or heat exchangers etc.

Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Station:
 Units 1, 5, 6, 7: normal operation
 Units 2 to 4: outage due to regular inspection

[Thermal Power Station]
Hirono Thermal Power Station Units 2 and 4: shutdown due to earthquake
Hitachinaka Thermal Power Station Unit 1: shutdown due to earthquake
Kashima Thermal Power Station Units 2, 3, 5, 6: shutdown due to earthquake
Ohi Thermal Power Station Unit 2: shutdown due to earthquake
Higashi-Ohgishima Thermal Power Station Unit 1: shutdown due to earthquake

[Hydro Power Station]
* All the stations have been restored.

[Transmission System, etc.]
All substation failed due to the earthquake have been restored.

[Blackout in TEPCO's Service Area]
Total of about 5,100 households are out of power.
  Tokyo: 0
  Kanagawa Pref.: 0
  Tochigi Pref.: 0
  Chiba Pref.: 0
  Saitama Pref: 0
  Gunma Pref.: 0
  Ibaraki Pref:5,100
  Yamanashi Pref: 0
  Shizuoka Pref: 0 (east of Fuji River)

[Supply and Demand Status within TEPCO's Service Area to Secure Stable
 Power Supply]
Backup supply from Shinshinano Conversion Station: 600MW
Backup supply from Sakuma Conversion Station: 300MW
Backup supply from Higashi Shimizu Conversion Station: 100MW
Backup supply from Kitahon Interconnection Facility: 600MW

Considering the critical balance of our power supply capacity and
expected power demand forward, in order to avoid unexpected blackout,
TEPCO has implemented rolling blackout (planned blackout alternates
from one area to another) since yesterday. We will make our utmost to
secure the stable power supply as early as possible.
For customers who will be subject to rolling blackout, please be
prepared for the announced blackout periods. Also for customers who
are not subject to blackouts, TEPCO appreciates your continuous
cooperation in reducing electricity usage by avoiding using unnecessary
lighting and electrical equipment.

[Others]
Please do NOT touch cut-off electric wires.
In order to prevent fire, please make sure to switch off the electric
appliances such as hair drier and to shut down the breaker of distribution
board when you leave your house.
For the customer who has in-house power generation, please secure fuel for
generator.
Received on Wed 16 Mar 2011 11:27:29 AM PDT