Robot Inspection Of Unit 3 Finds Increasing Radiation Levels, New Robot Fails.

TEPCO reports the results of a robot inspection in unit 3 at Fukushima Daiichi. The initial work was to look at the improvised duct hose to remove gas from the reactor containment.

The new robot FRIGO-MA failed to work due to a bug. TEPCO sent in Packbot and Quince instead. TEPCO did not state the nature of the inspection other than to look at the gas duct hose. It appears the concern was due to increasing radiation levels in the area. TEPCO was likely inspecting the duct as the source of the possible increase. No leaks or damage were found on the duct.

What they found was that the containment door and track were the source of the increased radiation levels. Workers had a .52 mSv exposure dose for their work. Packbot received a 650 mSv dose and Quince a 186 mSv dose. The robots were in the building for about 1.5 hours. TEPCO does not note how long they were in the high radiation area. The doses for the robots show how dangerous the levels in the reactors still are and how they are saving workers from high exposures.

The first graphic is the levels for the containment hatch and rail. Levels from 2011 are included to compare to the new levels showing the increase.

Radiation levels on the 1st floor of unit 3 for November 2012

TEPCO handout (Japanese) handouts_121128_01-j

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