Fukushima nuclear plant moves closer to 'cold shutdown'

[AsahinaKimi]

In this June 1, 2011 file photo released by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), workers inspect equipment inside the cesium absorption tower, part of the radioactive water processing facilities at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture. (AP Photo/TEPCO)

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Wednesday all three crippled reactors at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have met a key condition in achieving a stable state known as "cold shutdown."

The utility made the announcement after the temperature reading at the base of the No. 2 reactor pressure vessel at the plant, which has been crippled since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, fell below 100 C.

Bringing the temperature at the base of each vessel to below 100 C is a key condition for achieving a cold shutdown of the plant. The Nos. 1 and 3 reactor vessels are already below 80 C.



In this June 12, 2011 photo released on July 5, 2011, by Tokyo Electric Power Co., masked workers in protective outfits prepare to drop a sliding concrete slab into a slit of the upper part of the sluice screen for the Unit 2 reactor at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, in their effort to decrease the leaking of radiation contaminated water into the ocean. (AP Photo/Tokyo Electric Power Co.)

As of 5 p.m., the base of the No. 2 reactor vessel was at 99.4 C, the utility known as TEPCO said.

more
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110929p2g00m0dm017000c.html

[AsahinaKimi]

1. bumping for the night crew..

eom.

[applegrove]

2. Thanks for the post. I've passed it on.

[Generic Other]

3. The first encouraging word!

Thanks.