In October, an expandable tube robot will be deployed at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to test removing debris from the main containment chamber of reactor No. 2. This operation is more than two years behind schedule, highlighting the challenges faced in the recovery efforts after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced plans to use these robots to collect debris with the ultimate goal of removing highly radioactive molten nuclear fuel from the destroyed reactors.
Experts believe that the cleanup target of 30-40 years set by the Japanese government and TEPCO may be overly optimistic, given the challenges and delays faced in the decommissioning process. The removal of melted fuel debris is a critical step in this process, and the use of robots and drones to access and survey the reactors’ interiors is essential.
During a demonstration at a shipyard in Kobe, Japan, pincer-mounted devices were shown slowly picking up small particles weighing less than 3 grams. The company plans to use these robots to collect debris in testing at the Fukushima plant, with experts believing that it is a significant milestone towards future decommissioning operations. TEPCO is committed to conducting safe and stable testing to ensure the success of the cleanup efforts at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The deployment of these robots with pincers and telescopic tubes will help TEPCO collect molten fuel debris at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as part of its cleanup efforts following the 2011 disaster. Despite being more than two years behind schedule, this operation marks a significant milestone towards future decommissioning operations.
The cleanup target set by TEPCO and Japanese government may be overly optimistic given challenges faced during decommissioning process. However, experts believe that removal of melted fuel debris is critical step towards future decommissioning operations.
Robots are becoming increasingly important for inspecting and collecting data from difficult-to-reach areas such as reactors’ interiors. With their ability to maneuver through tight spaces without human intervention, they can provide valuable insights into areas where human workers cannot enter.
Overall, TEPCO’s deployment of an expandable tube robot at reactor No. 2 marks an important step towards safely removing highly radioactive molten nuclear fuel from damaged reactors at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
In conclusion, using robots with pincers and telescopic tubes will help TEPCO collect molten fuel debris at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as part of its cleanup efforts following the 2011 disaster. Despite being more than two years behind schedule, this operation marks a significant milestone towards future decommissioning operations. Robots are becoming increasingly important for inspecting and collecting data from difficult-to-reach areas such as reactors’ interiors.
