Testing a new method to stop water leakage

June 24, 2017

Test to stop water leakage conducted in Fukushima

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170624_16/

A research institute working on decommissioning the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant has started testing a method to stop leakage of highly contaminated water.

Nuclear fuels in reactors No. 1 through No. 3 melted during the 2011accident. This caused highly contaminated water to flow into the containment vessels outside the reactors.

It's believed the water is leaking inside the buildings through cracks in equipment that link the reactor with the containment vessel.

The International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning is developing a method to fill the equipment with concrete.

The institute has started testing the new method at its facility in Naraha Town, Fukushima Prefecture.

Mock equipment containing water was set up in a building at the facility.

Concrete was poured into it through pipes and hoses.

The test is being remotely controlled, with the height of the accumulating concrete measured every 10 minutes.

About 200 cubic meters, or 4,800 tons of concrete will be infused over an 8-hour period.

Researchers at the institute say they will see if the concrete will solidify and stop the water leakage.