More than four years after the triple meltdown, Tokyo Electric Power Co. on Oct. 20 got its first look inside the containment vessel of the No. 3 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
More than four years after the triple meltdown, Tokyo Electric Power Co. on Oct. 20 got its first look inside the containment vessel of the No. 3 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
Images from an industrial endoscope inserted into the containment vessel along a wall confirmed no damage to pipes and other equipment, according to TEPCO.
The early survey results for the days-long study also found radiation levels inside the containment vessel were 1 sievert per hour, a reading too high for humans to work there.
TEPCO also said 6.4 meters of water had accumulated on the bottom of the containment vessel, which was in line with the utility’s estimate.
Water temperatures were 33 to 35 degrees and air temperatures were 26 to 27 degrees inside the vessel, according to TEPCO.
The survey is being carried out to prepare for the eventual extraction of melted fuel from the containment vessel.
TEPCO carried out endoscope surveys at the containment vessels for No. 1 and No. 2 reactors in 2012. The radiation level at the No. 3 reactor was lower than those at the No. 1 and No. 2 reactor buildings.