Fukushima Daiichi: Water in motion.

Japanese media are reporting that TEPCO has begun pumping the water from the No. 2 plant pipe tunnel, outside, into the plant's main condenser. This condenser can hold about 3000 tons of water. Once the tunnel is clear, the turbine building will have to be cleared and then TEPCO can examine restoration of recirculating cooling for this reactor plant.

It is very interesting that the various agencies have noted that the spikes in atmospheric releases are correlative with various events at No. 2 plant, including the "explosive sound" in the lower part of the reactor building that seems to correspond with the failure of the suppression pool's integrity. So, although this plant's reactor core is said to be less fully damaged than, say, No. 1's and although this plant's reactor building is essentially the only one left nearly intact the total contribution to aerially spread contamination for this plant seems to be said to be high.

Another major event not yet fully explained, by the way, is the discovery of neutron-emitting sources at some locations up to a mile away from the site. This is probably from the fuel storage pool accident at No. 4 plant, although TEPCO and NISA do point out that it's possibly from No. 3 plant as well. In the final analysis, it probably does not matter from the standpoint of future actions to be taken because this is theoretically possible from either event.

Some plant and system diagrams to come today on this site.

10:10 AM Eastern Tuesday 4/12
ATOMIC POWER REVIEW