TEPCO searching for 'missing' radioactive water

[robdogbucky]

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is trying to locate thousands of tons of radioactive water that has leaked from one of the damaged reactors.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, says contaminated water is apparently leaking from the No.1 reactor, which is in a state of meltdown. TEPCO has injected more than 10,000 tons of water into the reactor since the March 11th disaster damaged the plant. But, less than half that amount is believed to remain in the reactor or its container vessel. The utility says the leaked water is likely in the basement of the reactor building -- still a no-go zone due to concerns over high radiation levels.

TEPCO is considering using remote-controlled robots to check the situation, but says the wireless links needed to control them may not reach the basement and that it has to explore other options as well. Injected water is continuing to stabilize the reactor, but any radioactive water that has leaked could hamper the effort.

TEPCO says it hopes to come up with ways to retrieve and purify contaminated water to use it to cool the reactor again.

Friday, May 13, 2011 21:27 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/13_34.html

[AndyTiedye]

1. Put Those Robots in a Mesh Network

If they set up a mesh network, the robots can relay commands for each other, so range won't be so much of a problem.