Spent fuel was removed from Fukushima NPP Unit 3
On February 28, 566 fuel assemblies were removed from the holding tank at Unit 3 of the Fukushima-Daiichi NPP (Japan). The same work has already been carried out at power unit № 4, next in line are units № 1 and 2.
Work on the seizure of fuel assemblies continued from April 15, 2019.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) announced that on February 28, the last six fuel assemblies from the used fuel pool were removed and placed without transport containers in the fuel rack of the common storage pool.
The fuel removal facility above unit 3’s reactor building. Image: Tepco
According to the operator, the extraction of fuel from the 3rd unit storage pool consisted of a series of preparatory tasks: cleaning of concrete fragments from the highest floors and decontamination of the premises on them; construction of fuel extraction cover and installation of a fuel handling machine. All these tasks were performed in conditions of high radiation background, so they used remote-controlled equipment.
To facilitate the fuel extraction process, Tepco has constructed a separate structure 54 meters high: a steel frame, ventilation filters and an arched section at the top, to which the crane can be adapted.
The company carried out similar work to remove 1,331 used assemblies in 2014 at the 4th power unit, which suffered major damage.
