Fukushima Daiichi No. 3 RPI continuity test

TEPCO has reported the results of a series of tests to determine wire continuity in the position indication probes (Rod Position Indication equipment) on No. 3 reactor plant at Fukushima Daiichi in order to attempt, indirectly, to determine condition of the bottom of the reactor pressure vessel.

As with this same test at No. 1 plant, TEPCO announces that the results are not in any way conclusive. None of the detectors passed any test. Below is an illustration from TEPCO just like that we saw for No. 1 plant. Of course it differs in that there are many more fuel elements, control rods and there are five sections or divisions of RPI equipment that don't match up neatly to quadrants.


TEPCO will in all likelihood complete this same test for No. 2 plant in the next day or two and we'll place that illustration here as well.

So far there is still no solid evidence as to the exact condition of the bottom of any of the pressure vessels beyond what we've been reporting on this blog for many months.

12:00 Noon Eastern Wednesday September 21, 2011
ATOMIC POWER REVIEW