#1Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster Scott Brandon, Jay Pearson, Tiffany Rodriguez, Maria Salas#2What Happened Current Issues Action Plan Overview 9/16/2013 2#3What Happened at Fukushima • Earthquake of 9.0 magnitude hit East cost of Japan • Power Lines to Fukushima collapsed • Plant left without primary source of power • "Scram Mode" Backup Generators below plant kicked in 9/16/2013 3#4What Happened at Fukushima 15 meter tall Tsunami hit coast • Power plant only had 6 meter wall • Water flooded the site ⚫ Rendered the underground Diesel Generators useless Backup power now gone 9/16/2013 4#5What Happened at Fukushima Temperature and Pressure rose drastically within plants • Pressure Release Valve was ordered opened - Failed Build-up eventually caused sites 1,2,3 to explode • Released radioactive air into atmosphere Spilled contaminated water into ocean 9/16/2013 5#6Current Issues Cesium-137 used as material • Half life of 30 years Drinking water declared unsafe Cannot farm, soil exposure to radioactivity • Blackouts still present in surrounding area 3 of 6 reactors active • No alternative power solution for the area 9/16/2013 6#7Groundwater contamination at Fukushima Excess water from cooling system transfered to storage tanks Temporary storage tanks Tank leak Groundwater flow Source: Reuters Reactor building Turbine building Steel wall Figure 1 - Groundwater contamination diagram. [1] (under construction) Sea 9/16/2013#8How the 'ice wall' could work Sea Ice wall' Refrigeration plant Nuclear reactors 3. Coolant water chilled to -20 to -40 degrees pumped in and circulated Storage tanks Groundwater Google Figure 2 - The ice wall. [1] 4. This would create a wall of frozen soil 90 ft (27 metres) deep in 6-8 weeks preventing groundwater flow 1. Shafts drilled into ground around perimeter of damaged reactors. 2. 'Freeze pipes' 9/16/2013 8 Source: Tepco/Reuters#9Current Issues Stop leakage from storage tanks to ground water • Permanent steel wall under construction ⚫ Ice Wall solution, quicker, temporary and risky 9/16/2013#10Prepare for disaster Meet all safety regulations Make QRF 3 Teams Safety and containment Restore and rebuild Action Plan • Medical and communication 9/16/2013 10#11What Happened Current Issues Action Plan Conclusion 9/16/2013 11#12References 1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23940214 2. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of- Plants/Fukushima-Accident-2011/#.UjaozsxVepl 3. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/21/us-japan-fukushima-severity- idUSBRE97K02B20130821 4. http://ens-newswire.com/2013/09/05/japans-government-plans-ice-wall- to-control-fukushima-radiation/ 9/16/2013 12#13Any Questions? 9/16/2013 13