Based on the Restoration Plan (submitted on January 31, 2012 and revised on May 31, 2012) prepared in accordance with the Nuclear Operator Emergency Action Plan, Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station is now proceeding with restoration of facilities for maintaining cold shutdown of the station. We report the restoration progress status at the end of August 2012 as shown below.
1. Progress Status of the Restoration Plan
The restoration work for Unit 1-3 is proceeding steadily. On May 17, 2012, the restoration (permanent installation) of the equipments/facilities necessary to maintain cold shutdown state has been completed for Unit 4. The internal inspection after the permanent installation of equipments/facilities has also been completed. An interim progress report was created and submitted to the government on May 31 (As mentioned in the press release issued on May 31, 2012).
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- % in the chart shows the progress rate of restoration work as per the Restoration Plan (Up to the permanent installation) as of the end of August 2012. % in parenthesis shows the progress rate of the previous monthly report. See Appendix 1 for details.
- At the internal inspection after the permanent installation, the equipments subject to the Restoration Plan will be tested (for each unit).
Note: For Unit 2, the rate is the same as the previous month because there was no change in each step. However, the restoration tasks are proceeding steadily.
2. Major Progresses Based on the Restoration Plan (August 2012)
Removal of the power panel (M/C 1HPCS) in Unit 1 Reactor Building Annex
The power panel (M/C 1HPCS) damaged by the Tsunami in Unit 1 Reactor Building Annex was removed on August 29. [See Appendix 1] A new power panel is to be manufactured and permanently installed.
Removal of the control panel of emergency diesel generator (A) in Unit 1 Reactor Building Annex and installation of generators
As for the emergency diesel generator (A) in Unit 1 Reactor Building Annex which was damaged by the Tsunami, the control panel was removed on August 2. The generators newly manufactured and repaired were installed on August 31. [See Appendix 1 & 2] A function check will be performed on these generators.
Permanent installation of seismometers in Unit 1 Reactor Building
All the seismometers
*1 in Unit 1 Reactor Building (12 including 4 damaged by the Tsunami) newly manufactured by June 13 have been permanently installed after a function check was completed on August 6. [See Appendix 1 & 2] An internal inspection is planned for these seismometers.
Permanent installation of power panel (P/C 3C-2) in Unit 3 Seawater Heat Exchanger Building
As for the power panel (P/C 3C-2) in Unit 3 Seawater Heat Exchanger Building which was damaged by the Tsunami, a new power panel was manufactured and installed on January 27. The power panel was permanently installed after a function check was performed on August 27. [See Appendix 1 & 2] An internal inspection is planned for the power panel.
3. Opening Unit 4 Reactor and Removing the Fuel
From the perspective of simplified equipment maintenance, the fuel loaded in the reactor is moved to the spent fuel pool after the soundness inspection of the equipments necessary for opening the reactor and removing the fuel
*2 is completed (Previously announced on January 31, 2012).
As for Unit 4, the permanent installation of equipments/facilities necessary to maintain cold shutdown state was completed on May 17, 2012. The inspection of the equipments necessary for fuel removal has been completed on June 26, 2012 and the soundness of these equipments has been confirmed on July 2, 2012 (Previously announced on July 3, 2012). Currently we are preparing for opening the reactor (planned on September 10). (Previously announced on August 3, 2012)
The opening of Unit 4 reactor will be started on September 10. The concrete hatch, PCV lid, RPV lid, steam dryer and steam-water separator will be removed in order. [See Appendix 3] The fuel removal is planned to be started in early October.
In accordance with the four points to consider
*3 specified by the Nuclear Safety Commission when the cancellation of a nuclear emergency situation was declared, TEPCO is committed to continuously pursuing the measures for restoration from nuclear emergency and further reliability improvement. As for the consideration point 4, the systems subject to the measures were selected at the end of March 2012. We are currently in the process of assessing impact on the selected systems.
Appendixes
1:
Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station: Progress Status Based on the Restoration Plan (As of the End of August 2012) (PDF 104KB)
2:
< Photos > Major Progress Statuses Based on the Restoration Plan (August 2012) (PDF 213KB)
- Installation of the emergency diesel generator (A) in Unit 1 Reactor Building Annex
- Permanent installation of seismometers in Unit 1 Reactor Building
- Permanent installation of power panel (P/C 3C-2) in Unit 3 Seawater Heat Exchanger Building
3:
Flow of Opening Unit 4 Reactor (PDF 67.0KB)
*1 Seismometer
Sends a scram (to quickly insert the control rods in the case of emergency reactor shutdown) signal when a large earthquake occurs during operation
*2 Equipments necessary for opening the reactor and moving the fuel
Overhead traveling crane, fuel handling machine, spent fuel storage rack and spent fuel pool
*3 Four points to consider specified by Nuclear Safety Commission
On December 26, 2011, the Nuclear Safety Commission submitted an opinion to the Prime Minster that the cancellation of a nuclear emergency situation of the TEPCO Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station is allowed to be declared, along with four points to consider for the issuance of the declaration. On January 11, 2012, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry issued instructions to observe the consideration points when preparing and implementing the Restoration Plan for Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station.
1. Part of the facilities at the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station is temporary installation, to which appropriate maintenance should be provided. The dependence rate of the temporary installation should be reduced according to a plan.
2. The safety facilities for part of the residual heat removal systems have not yet been recovered, to which appropriate management should be provided according to the situation until the restoration of these facilities. In preparing for natural disasters and other incidents, all possible measures should be taken to ensure safety.
3. Thorough safety management including the safety of workers should be implemented.
4. Based on the past pressure and temperature records before cold shutdown that showed abnormal values different from those during a regular period, impacts of these elements on the facilities should be considered.