Unit 1 Torus Inspection: Analysis & New Additional Images

The SimplyInfo team has been reviewing TEPCO’s latest effort to inspect unit 1 at Fukushima Daiichi. Work was done by putting a scope through a pipe penetration hole in the floor down into the torus room. Based on the survey data from the inspection, radiation levels in unit 1 are extremely high. Fukushima worker Happy11311 mentioned workers can not be inside unit 1 for more than 30 minutes due to the high radiation levels. Our research shows that working conditions may be even less than 30 minutes before the worker receives his annual dose.

The torus room at unit 1 is heavily damaged. Pipes show extensive corrosion, paint appears to be corroded or burned off of surfaces. The below water conditions are even worse. In contrast to the torus at unit 2 that was previously inspected, unit 1 is almost like another world. Images for unit 2 torus from April 2012 

The water in the torus room is warmer than readings for the containment. The radiation levels inside the torus room are extremely high, some at quite lethal levels. The radiation levels are higher the lower into the torus room they went. We noted early on in the disaster that the radiation levels in the drywell at unit 1 would dramatically jump after stronger earthquakes. This may tie in to what is now being seen in the torus. The high reading of around 10 Sv/h in the torus is similar to the 10 Sv/h reading found last August at the base of unit 1’s vent stack.

① OP.10200  19.5mSv/h
② OP.9200 625mSv/h
③ OP.8200 1290mSv/h
④ OP.7700 1440msv/h
⑤ OP.7200 1410mSv/h
⑥ OP.6200 2030mSv/h
⑦ OP.5200 4520mSv/h
⑧ OP.4200 10300mSv/h
⑨ OP.4000 8190mSv/h(8 Sv/h)
⑩ OP.3200 3550mSv/h(3.55 Sv/h)
⑪ OP.2200 2770mSv/h(2.77 Sv/h)
⑫ OP.1200 10^8～10^9 (100000 Sv/h ～1000000 Sv/h?)
⑬ OP. 200 10^8～10^9 (100000 Sv/h ～1000000 Sv/h?)
⑭ OP. -800 10^8～10^9 (100000 Sv/h ～1000000 Sv/h?)
⑮ OP.-1230 10^8～10^9 (100000 Sv/h ～1000000 Sv/h?)
* TEPCO cites instrument failure with the highest readings saying that the instrument went back down after being removed but they were able to give these radiation data ranges out of the inspection below the water. TEPCO sometimes cites instrument failure when the readings are beyond the instrument’s capability.  

Some comments from the group:
• The dark marks on pipes could be from corium splatter burns. They have a directional pattern from the center of the reactor area out.
•Quite clearly there is a large breach in the primary containment to let this stuff out into the room.  It is possible that corium lurks at the bottom of the room where the rad readings seemed out of range.
• Initial condition of the metals appear to be corroded, possibly burned looking in spots, flakes of debris come off the metal and the water currents move or as the probe touches the metal
• Some of the piping surface looks like it definitely was burned, perhaps a mark that would be made by corium dripping onto it from above
• There doesn’t seem to be any sign of flow as the debris falls so the pool could be stagnant with the heavier debris settling to the bottom which would form some sort of sediment base
• An explosion could have taken place inside containment causing the burn marks and bulged pipes
• Radiation levels from the table are the highest of any I have seen so far at Fukushima
• The rad levels suggest clearly interface with the fuel, probably corium but it is not known where it may be, other areas around the torus could likely be higher or lower
• 103,000 mSv/Hr translates into 10 4th power Rem/hr,  clearly lethal radiation levels for handling of the waste.
• The workers noted on the TEPCO documents had only rubber gloves.. it looks like they have shoes on under the coveralls (yellow coveralls)… no instrument held over the opening of the hole, no preparations for extremely contaminated cabling once they pull out… they should be in scott air packs for air… no sniffer hose down the hole which would go to a constant air monitor. Clearly a lack of radiological controls for protection of the workers
• No mention of air activity readings., no sample taking of water to determine isotopes
• No shielding for the workers from potential radiation “shine” streaming up through the hole
• The TEPCO reports did not list workers estimated and total exposure as normally are listed on work inside the reactors.

Images, with full  video at the end. Images can be reused just please leave the water mark on the image and a link back to our site would be appreciated.
TEPCO document on the inspection:  handouts_120627_02-e

 

 

debris floating in the water in the torus room.

Workers at unit 1 Fukushima Daiichi doing the scope work

hand rail pipe inside torus room

hand rail pipe inside torus room, normally painted orange.

hand rail pipe inside torus room, normally painted orange.

Pipes heavily corroded and surface damaged.

Pipes heavily corroded and surface damaged.

close up of railing

Paint marks on concrete wall and electric cable with insulation burned or melted off.

Pipe in front of cable with insulation melted or burned off.

Heavily corroded equipment and pipe.

Pipe with possible crack or damage

Pipes with burn, splatter or corrosion marks in a directional pattern. These marks appear to have originated from a source off to the right of the camera. This would be the central reactor area.

Pipes with burn, splatter or corrosion marks in a directional pattern. These marks appear to have originated from a source off to the right of the camera. This would be the central reactor area.

close up of same pipe.

close up of the burn or corrosion marks on a flat piece of steel.

Water surface in torus room, water full of small debris.

Water with scope in water, very cloudy and full of debris.

Metal underwater

Heavy corrosion in areas under water is so thick it looks almost like corral with a very porous nature. Some of the next images are examples of the same thing.

what looks like possible scorch marks in a now underwater area

pipe with damage or damaged insulation cover, under water.

underwater sediment

under water sediment

damage to pipe surface,

damage to pipes

more surface damage to pipes

This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team
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