Tepco appears to be having difficulty locating the nuclear fuel at Fukushima No. 1

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120120f1.html

Friday, Jan. 20, 2012

Scientists say they can find melted reactor fuel

Muons hold key, team believes, but authorities have yet to seek their help to peer inside crippled reactors

By MINORU MATSUTANI
Staff writer

One major mystery — and a source of serious concern — at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant is the exact location of the molten fuel from reactors 1, 2 and 3.

Hindered by the dangerously high radiation coming from the melted rods, Tokyo Electric Power Co. can't determine where the fuel came to rest. Tepco does say, however, that computer simulations indicate the fuel should still be inside the reactors' primary containment vessels. snip

The scientists say this could help Tepco determine the location of the fuel and accelerate the effort to dismantle the crippled reactors.

"It's technically possible to look inside reactors by using our technology. Japan is in big trouble now and we are ready to help whenever necessary," said Mitsuhiro Nakamura, an assistant professor at Nagoya University's Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe.

[Botany]

1. It might have melted down

[gratuitous]

2. Did they check their other pants pockets?

But I'm relieved to know TEPCO's computer simulations - done with the best available data and nothing omitted, I'm sure - "indicate" that the fuel "should" still be in the primary containment vessels. Very reassuring. So there's no need for anyone else to get all nosy about this.

[hedgehog]

3. Under the bed?

[HopeHoops]

4. "Gee boss, I dunno. I was sure I left it 'round here somewheres."

[Warren DeMontague]

5. What is "In The Japanese Ground Water Table", Alex.

2nd Most Popular Answer? What is "The Pacific Ocean"

[Melissa G]

6. Too sad and possibly true. n/t

[Poll_Blind]

7. It's on sale...at the Tsukiji fish market.nt

PB

[neverforget]

8. Not a headline I want to read regarding nuclear reactors