ALPS (partially) running again

October 28, 2013

ALPS partially restarted in Fukushima plant

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131028_28.html

The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has resumed its trial run of a key water decontamination system. It was shut down due to malfunctions.

Tokyo Electric Power Company on Monday began test-running one of 3 channels of the Advanced Liquid Processing unit, or ALPS. ALPS is capable of removing 62 different kinds of radioactive substances, excluding tritium.

Operation of the channel was suspended in June following leaks of unprocessed radioactive water.

TEPCO engineers discovered holes in the tank storing the contaminated water. Corrosion is apparently to blame. Work to prevent corrosion has been ongoing in all 3 channels of the ALPS system.

A test-run of another ALPS channel began about a month ago. The remaining channel is scheduled for a trial-run mid November.

Repeated suspensions of the unit have delayed the start of full-fledged operation till next year. Full operation was due to begin this autumn.

TEPCO plans to build 3 more ALPS channels next year. They also plan to set up a facility with higher water processing capabilities with government aid.

The utility hopes to complete decontaminating all its stored wastewater by March 2015.

But the question remains whether the trouble-marred ALPS system is capable of functioning over long periods.