Photos: Drones capture initial interior view of melted Fukushima nuclear reactor
Tokyo Electric Power Company, the plant operator, dispatched miniature drones into one of the severely damaged reactors, offering vital insights into its condition.
In 2011, Japan was hit by a devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake.
This was followed by a tsunami that surged up to 30 meters high, inundating parts of the eastern coastline.
The repercussions were many, including significant damage to the Fukushima Daichi nuclear plant’s power supply and cooling systems. Subsequently, multiple reactors on the site suffered meltdowns due to the dual impact of the earthquake and tsunami.
To avert further tragedy, workers filled the reactors with water, resulting in severe contamination. Managing this radioactive water has presented significant technological challenges for the Japanese government.
For years, obtaining clear images of the reactor interiors proved elusive. However, a breakthrough occurred recently. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant operator, deployed miniature drones into one of the most heavily damaged reactors last month, as reported by Interesting Engineering.
Earlier attempts using robots failed to reach the location, but this time the drones provided crucial insights into the condition.
Newly released images reveal the extent of the badly damaged reactors, showing displaced control equipment and deformed materials.
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Bird's eye view of the snake-like robot inside No. 1 reactor
Ever since the catastrophe, the nuclear facility has remained offline. Both the government and TEPCO have been actively working to remove the excessive radioactive melted nuclear fuel that remains inside the reactors. Yet, the decommissioning process is a daunting task. Hindered by technological obstacles and insufficient data, the process has encountered significant delays over the years. The drones were launched to inspect molten debris in areas previously inaccessible. - 2/7
The picture depicts the exterior of the pedestal
The newly released images offer the initial glimpse into the primary containment vessel's main structural support, known as the pedestal. The Associated Press reported that it lies immediately beneath the core of the heavily impacted No. 1 reactor. Previously, crawling robots faced navigational hurdles accessing this area of the facility, primarily due to the substantial debris present on-site. - 3/7
Clump-like brown objects atop the CRD
The high-definition color images offers a chilling look of the pedestal. Within the drone footage, variously shaped and sized brown objects are seen suspended from various locations on the pedestal. The images showcased displaced components of the control-rod drive (CRD) mechanism, which plays an important role in regulating nuclear chain reactions. - 4/7
Mysterious melted clumps
The authorities are uncertain whether the suspended masses are melted fuel or melted equipment. Additional information, such as radiation levels, may aid in determining what is visible in the photos. - 5/7
Inside view of the pedestal
Unfortunately, because the drones had to be lightweight for navigation, they were not equipped with dosimeters to detect radiation. Instead, outfitted with high-definition cameras, the drones navigated through the darkness of the containment vessel to collect critical data. They also sent real-time videos and images to the controllers. - 6/7
An observation of the surface of the pedestal wall
The information acquired by the probe might be used to build technologies and robots for removing molten debris. This will be a critical step in the decommissioning process of the nuclear plant, which is underway for years. - 7/7
Debris of the reactor
There are significant unknowns concerning the reactors ahead. Currently, around 880 tons of highly dangerous melted nuclear fuel remain within the three damaged reactors. The number might be far higher. Despite the hurdles, the government and TEPCO are determined to extract the hazardous melted nuclear fuel from the reactors in the coming years.