Tsuruga reactor not equipped with vent to relieve pressure
Jul. 4, 2011
The No. 1 reactor at the Tsuruga nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture is not equipped with a vent to discharge steam from the reactor container to relieve inside pressure in case of emergency, sources close to the matter said Sunday.
Among 30 boiling-water reactors in Japan, the Tsuruga reactor is the only one that lacks the system as its operator, Japan Atomic Power Co., believed it is less likely the container would be damaged due to pressure buildup, and thus setting up of the system had low priority.
However, the company decided to install the system during ongoing regular checkups as venting has been needed to put crippled reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant under control, according to the sources.
It has been estimated that the probability that pressure increase would damage the reactor is around 1 percent, but that at the No. 1 reactor at the Fukushima plant was also 1 percent, leading the company to install the system, according to the company.
The No. 1 reactor at the Tsuruga plant, the oldest reactor in Japan, started operations in 1970 and has been undergoing a 14-month inspection since January.
The company announced in 2002 that it would suspend operation of the reactor in 2010 and eventually decommission it, but it later decided to continue operations through 2016.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on July 4, 2011)
Among 30 boiling-water reactors in Japan, the Tsuruga reactor is the only one that lacks the system as its operator, Japan Atomic Power Co., believed it is less likely the container would be damaged due to pressure buildup, and thus setting up of the system had low priority.
However, the company decided to install the system during ongoing regular checkups as venting has been needed to put crippled reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant under control, according to the sources.
It has been estimated that the probability that pressure increase would damage the reactor is around 1 percent, but that at the No. 1 reactor at the Fukushima plant was also 1 percent, leading the company to install the system, according to the company.
The No. 1 reactor at the Tsuruga plant, the oldest reactor in Japan, started operations in 1970 and has been undergoing a 14-month inspection since January.
The company announced in 2002 that it would suspend operation of the reactor in 2010 and eventually decommission it, but it later decided to continue operations through 2016.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on July 4, 2011)
