#Contaminated Water Treatment System: 53% Operating Rate for the Week

Diposkan oleh Pengetahuan dan Pengalaman on Wednesday, July 20, 2011

It's the lowest operating rate ever, since the system went into full operation with highly contaminated water about a month ago.

The news was released one day after the announcement of the successful completion of the "step 1" in TEPCO/Japanese government's "roadmap" to somewhere (over the rainbow, way up high... it is not reality-based any more, if ever).

From Yomiuri Shinbun (7/20/2011):

東京電力は20日、福島第一原子力発電所の汚染水処理システムの稼働率(19日までの1週間)がこれまでで最低の53%だったと発表した。

TEPCO announced on July 20 that the operating rate of the contaminated water treatment system at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant for the week ended on July 19 was 53%, the lowest ever since the system started the full operation.

 東電は7月の目標稼働率を当初、80%としていた。

TEPCO's target operating rate for July was 80%.

 稼働率は、ほぼ1週間ごとに算出。稼働率が低迷しているは、システムに流せる汚染水量が毎時37立方メートルと定格流量(毎時50立方メートル)を大幅に下回っていることや、トラブルで停止したことが理由。流量がこのままでは、トラブルなしで連続運転できても稼働率は74%にしかならず、東電は今後の処理目標の見直しもあるとしている。

The company calculates the operating rate every week. The reasons for the low operating rate are: low flow rate of 37 cubic meters (tonnes) per hour, instead of 50 cubic meters per hour as the system is designed, and stoppage due to various problems. At the current flow rate, even if there was no problem and the system could be run continuously, the operating rate would only be 74%. TEPCO says it is possible that the target for water treatment may be revised.

 流量低下は、配管にたまった汚泥が原因と見られるが、現時点では原因を特定できていない。東電は今後、システムの改善を図り、20日からの1週間で70%、8月は90%に稼働率を上げたいとしている。

The low flow rate may be caused by the sludge in the pipes, but at this point TEPCO hasn't been able to identify the cause. The company will try to improve the system somehow, and hopes to raise the operating rate to 70% during the week starting July 20, and to 90% in August.

Highly radioactive sludge that no one can touch. Or it could be rotten fish bits.

TEPCO must be counting on Toshiba's SARRY, which is supposed to come online in early August. TEPCO had better hope SARRY will deliver.