Faulty welding cited in radioactive leak in Japan
asahi.com：Faulty welding cited in radioactive leak - ENGLISH: "Faulty welding cited in radioactive leak
07/12/2005
The Asahi Shimbun
Faulty welding and lax government oversight were primarily to blame for a leak last month of radioactive water at a reprocessing plant operated by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture.
Japan Nuclear Fuel officials announced the results Tuesday of its investigation into the latest leak.
The reprocessing plant has been beset by problems. A leak was discovered in 2001, and a subsequent investigation found 291 instances of faulty or inadequate welding.
After repairs of shoddy work, the central government approved the results of an inspection that found no more flaws at the plant in January 2004.
The latest revelation by Japan Nuclear Fuel seems to suggest government inspectors overlooked more faulty welding work at the facility.
The latest leak occurred on June 8 in a pool used to cut rods made up of a composite of spent nuclear fuel rods.
The inside of the concrete pool is covered with stainless steel sheets, but Japan Nuclear Fuel officials found minuscule holes in corners of the pool.
According to Japan Nuclear Fuel officials, the stainless steel sheets ordinarily are shaped before the concrete is covered. However, because the sheet did not match the angle of the outer concrete, the company in charge of the work made cuts in the corner area and welded together other materials to connect the sheets. The company also concealed the fact that the steel sheet was used improperly.
The company that installed the stainless steel sheet did not notify Japan Nuclear Fuel officials that it had deviated from its work methods.
Because of the patchwork nature of the work, some welded areas only had a thickness of 0.05 millimeter.
Japan Nuclear Fuel officials believe that additional work on the pool last December may have applied pressure on the steel sheets and led to holes developing in thinner parts of the metal.(IHT/Asahi: July 12,2005)"
07/12/2005
The Asahi Shimbun
Faulty welding and lax government oversight were primarily to blame for a leak last month of radioactive water at a reprocessing plant operated by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture.
Japan Nuclear Fuel officials announced the results Tuesday of its investigation into the latest leak.
The reprocessing plant has been beset by problems. A leak was discovered in 2001, and a subsequent investigation found 291 instances of faulty or inadequate welding.
After repairs of shoddy work, the central government approved the results of an inspection that found no more flaws at the plant in January 2004.
The latest revelation by Japan Nuclear Fuel seems to suggest government inspectors overlooked more faulty welding work at the facility.
The latest leak occurred on June 8 in a pool used to cut rods made up of a composite of spent nuclear fuel rods.
The inside of the concrete pool is covered with stainless steel sheets, but Japan Nuclear Fuel officials found minuscule holes in corners of the pool.
According to Japan Nuclear Fuel officials, the stainless steel sheets ordinarily are shaped before the concrete is covered. However, because the sheet did not match the angle of the outer concrete, the company in charge of the work made cuts in the corner area and welded together other materials to connect the sheets. The company also concealed the fact that the steel sheet was used improperly.
The company that installed the stainless steel sheet did not notify Japan Nuclear Fuel officials that it had deviated from its work methods.
Because of the patchwork nature of the work, some welded areas only had a thickness of 0.05 millimeter.
Japan Nuclear Fuel officials believe that additional work on the pool last December may have applied pressure on the steel sheets and led to holes developing in thinner parts of the metal.(IHT/Asahi: July 12,2005)"
posted by Greta Jane at Tuesday, July 12, 2005
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