Question about the Reactor 1 tent

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2011-08-26 08:09

Hi Mark,
I had a quick question regarding the tent that TEPCO is building to cover Reactor 1. When complete it is supposed to be 160 feet high with a high vent at the top. I was just reading a recent posting that Arnie Gundersen (from his latest video) has concerns about this. He's concerned that the vent at the top of the tent would be a method for sending the isotypes high up into the atmosphere, and that it would make it's way into the West Coast on the jet stream. I wanted to get your thoughts on if you think the isotypes will be vented high enough to reach the jet stream.
Thanks, Jen

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Not an issue

Submitted by bandstra on Sat, 2011-08-27 14:45.

Hi Jen,

TEPCO is rightly concerned about the spread of radioactive material from the reactors, which is why they have been planning to build these tents at all. I seriously doubt that they have not thought about the possibility of radioactivity spreading out a vent like Gunderson is suggesting. It would be very odd indeed to maintain positive pressure inside an enclosure meant to contain the release of radioactive material. Is there another source besides Fairewinds for this concern?

Also, it is important to remember that the releases back in March were not at ground level, but at the top of the reactors where the hydrogen explosions occurred. So even if Gunderson is right, the atmospheric transport will not be enhanced. Additionally, the release rate from the reactors right now is at most only one millionth of the release rate at the peak in March, leading to undetectable levels of radioactive isotopes in the air worldwide. For all these reasons, I don't think this vent is an issue.

I am going to change the title of this thread from "Mark, quick question" to "Question about the Reactor 1 tent" so that others can recognize the topic more easily.

Mark [BRAWM Team Member]

Mark, Up to this point, I

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2011-08-28 13:08.

Mark,
Up to this point, I have not heard of another source besides Fairewinds that is having concerns. In other articles that I've read, the plan to place a high vent at the top of tent wasn't mentioned at all. Maybe other posters have additional sources that I haven't come across?
Thanks for the helpful response, Jen