At the Japanese nuclear power plant “Fukushima-1” there was a leak of refrigerant, which was used to freeze the soil around the reactor. The ice barrier was supposed to prevent groundwater from entering the reactor buildings, which were damaged due to the earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
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The Electric Power Company Tokyo Denreku used a solution of calcium chloride for this purpose. The liquid refrigerant was stored at minus 30 degrees Celsius in four tanks.
According to the company, liquid levels in two tanks have dropped. Workers found puddles near the wall and estimated that the amount of leakage was approximately 4 tons.
The company also reports that the pipes through which the liquid circulated may have been partially damaged. The company’s management promises to identify the damaged area and carry out repairs as soon as possible.
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