New power line could restore cooling systems at Fukushima Daiichi plant

Source: Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Sendai and Tokyo, Japan --
A new power line that could restore the electric cooling systems at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is nearing completion, its operator said Thursday, as international concern mounted over the crisis.

The new line to the nuclear complex, 150 miles north of Tokyo, would revive electric-powered pumps, allowing officials to maintain a steady water supply to troubled reactors and spent fuel pools, Tokyo Electric Power Co. spokesman Naoki Tsunoda was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Officials plan to try it "as soon as possible" but he could not say when. The company is also trying to repair its existing power line.

Last week's earthquake and tsunami knocked out power to the cooling systems, triggering a series of breakdowns and missteps that exposed fuel rods to the air at one reactor and released dangerous levels of radiation outside the plant.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-japan-quake-daiichi-20110317,0,5721172.story

Nice to hear some possible positive developments.

IF all the cooling pumps haven't been damaged by explosions and are still functional
IF all piping hasn't been damaged by explosions
IF they can get valves configured properly
IF there aren't any serious leaks

Yes, this is potentially good news. However....

- as far as I could follow

...beyond "Three Mile Island" (Level 5) and doesn't go to Level 7 (Chernoybl--massive radiation release to the atmosphere (that could turn Japan into a waste land, and devastate people and sea life thousands of miles away). Level 6 would mean something like the present situation--years of limited radiation releases (cancer causing) and probable widespread ocean/fisheries damage, as plant owners "manage" a ruined nuclear power facility. This 6-unit nuclear plant is far, far, far gone. It is never coming back. The trouble is that it doesn't end there, with nuclear power. The disaster goes on and on. Restoring the electrical system, if that works, is how they keep this at Level 6. And I really don't know if "good news" is the appropriate term for it. It's like saying, "We have to cut off your arms and legs but the 'good news' is, we don't have to cut off your head."

too many explosions, too much damage. I don't think power at this point is going to help. Maybe if the power had been there the first day maybe.

:shrug:

Or a whole country full of plants, connected to the power grid.

But, the pumps won't work during the times that Fukushima is in one of the rolling blackout zones.

:hi: