None of the six reactors at the plant have operated since the earthquake. But explosions have damaged four of the buildings, and fuel in the reactors and spent fuel stored in the buildings is in danger of melting and releasing radioactive materials.
Reactor 1
MARCH 18, 9:45 PMJapanese authorities raise the assessment of severity of the accident to a 5 out of 7 on the international nuclear event scale.MARCH 18The plant expects to run a power cable to the reactor by Saturday to restart water pumps needed to cool fuel rods.March 12, 8:20 PMWorkers start flooding the reactor with seawater in a desperate effort to cool it.MARCH 12, 5:00 PMRadioactive materials, including an isotope of iodine, are detected.March 12, 3:36 PMAn explosion blows the roof and top walls off the reactor building. The reactor containment vessel is not significantly damaged.March 12, 5:22 AMThe pressure-suppression pool stops working properly.March 12, 3:48 AMOperators start injecting water into the reactor to cool it.March 11, 3:41 PMBackup diesel generators for running the plant's cooling systems fail.March 11, 2:46 PMAn earthquake sparks a tsunami. The reactor shuts down automatically, though its fuel continues to produce large amounts of heat.
Outer building is damaged and it is presumed that there was a partial meltdown. Small amounts of radioactivity have been vented. Reactor has 400 fuel assemblies, the spent fuel pool has 292.
Reactor 2
MARCH 18, 7:15 PMJapanese authorities raise the assessment of severity of the accident to a 5 out of 7 on the international nuclear event scale.MARCH 18There is an uncontrolled steam release from the reactor. The plant expects to run a power cable to the reactor by Saturday.MARCH 15, 6:14 AMAn explosion near the pressure suppression pool damages the containment vessel around the reactor.MARCH 12, 3:48 AMOperators start injecting water into the reactor to cool it.March 11, 3:41 PMBackup diesel generators for running the plant's cooling systems fail.MARCH 11, 2:46 PMAn earthquake sparks a tsunami. The reactor shuts down automatically, though its fuel continues to produce large amounts of heat.
Partial meltdown is presumed to have occurred. The primary containment vessel is cracked and some radioactivity has vented. Reactor has 548 fuel assemblies, the spent fuel pool has 587.
Reactor 3
MARCH 19, 12:45 AMFire engines hose down the building for 25 minutes to try to fill up the spent fuel pool.MARCH 18, 7:15 PMJapanese authorities raise the assessment of severity of the accident to a 5 out of 7 on the international nuclear event scale.MARCH 18, 2:00 PMFire trucks are again used to try to hose down the building and the spent fuel pool.MARCH 17, 7:00 PMWater cannon trucks spray water on the reactor building for an hour, though it is unknown if it has any effect.MARCH 17, 9:48 AMHelicopters make four passes to dump water on the building in an effort to cover the spent fuel, which may have been exposed to the air.MARCH 14, 11:01 AMAn explosion damages the reactor building and the primary containment vessel. Eleven workers are injured.MARCH 13, 9:00 AMPlant operators detect increasing levels of radioactive material.MARCH 13, 6:00 AMInjection of water fails and officials warn that an explosion is possible.MARCH 12, 8:25 PMA safety valve is opened to reduce pressure and seawater containing boric acid is injected in the reactor.MARCH 12, 3:48 AMOperators start injecting water into the reactor to cool it.March 11, 3:41 PMBackup diesel generators for running the plant's cooling systems fail.MARCH 11, 2:46 PMAn earthquake sparks a tsunami. The reactor shuts down automatically, though its fuel continues to produce large amounts of heat.
The reactor used uranium and plutonium, which may produce more toxic radioactivity. The spent fuel pool may have become uncovered. Reactor has 548 fuel assemblies, the spent fuel pool has 514.
Reactor 4
MARCH 17Engineers say the spent fuel pool appears to be leaking as water is disappearing too quickly to be only caused by evaporation.MARCH 17, 5:00 AMThe chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the water covering the spent fuel rods may have boiled off.MARCH 16, 5:45 AMA fire is reported in the building. An inspection 30 minutes later finds no sign of a fire.MARCH 15, 7:00 PMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 183 degrees Fahrenheit (normal is 77 degrees).MARCH 15, 6:00 AMA hydrogen-gas explosion created by chemical reactions with the spent fuel rods damages the building. A fire also breaks out.MARCH 14, 7:08 PMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 183 degrees Fahrenheit.MARCH 11, 2:46 PMAn earthquake hits just off the coast, sparking a tsunami. The reactor was already shut down for maintenance.
Spent fuel rods in a water pool may have become exposed to air, emitting radioactive gases. An explosion and fire have damaged the building. No fuel assemblies in reactor; 548 were removed for maintenance and are part of 1,479 in spent fuel pools.
Reactor 5
MARCH 18, 3:00 AMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 150 degrees Fahrenheit (normal is 77 degrees).MARCH 17, 12:00 PMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 148 degrees Fahrenheit.MARCH 16, 12:00 PMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 145 degrees Fahrenheit.MARCH 15, 7:00 PMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 141 degrees Fahrenheit.MARCH 14, 7:08 PMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 139 degrees Fahrenheit.MARCH 11, 2:46 PMAn earthquake hits just off the coast, sparking a tsunami. The reactor was already shut down for maintenance.
The reactor is shut down and the building is not damaged. But there is concern that spent fuel in the building may become exposed to air. Reactor has 548 fuel assemblies, the spent fuel pool has 826.
Reactor 6
MARCH 18, 3:00 AMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 144 degrees Fahrenheit (normal is 77 degrees).MARCH 16, 12:00 PMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 140 degrees Fahrenheit.MARCH 15, 7:00 PMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 137 degrees Fahrenheit.MARCH 14, 7:08 PMTemperature in the spent fuel pool is 136 degrees Fahrenheit.MARCH 11, 2:46 PMAn earthquake hits just off the coast, sparking a tsunami. The reactor was already shut down for maintenance.
The reactor is shut down and the building is not damaged. But there is concern that spent fuel in the building may become exposed to air. Reactor has 764 fuel assemblies, and there are 1,136 in spent fuel pools.
The path of the Radiation Plume
(Speculation is that the radiation will be diluted so much that it won't pose health risks, but it is coming here, make no mistake. Plan for the worst, hope for the best, stay positive.-jef)
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