TEPCO Forced To Hault Its Operation Clean Up To Its Nuclear Reactors After Cleaning Robot Camera Crushed Due to High Radiation

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An attempt using a robotic technology to inspect and clean the reactor of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Station which was devastated by a huge tsunami in March 2011, failed. A remote-controlled robot had to be removed before its work be completed after having camera problems caused by high radiation levels.

According to Abc News, Tokyo Electric Power Company spokesman Takahiro Kimoto said that the problem underscores the challenges in decommissioning the wrecked of the nuclear plant. High radiation, inadequate cleaning and structural damage limits probes and thereafter to complete the job.

"This may require more radiation-resistant cameras and other equipment to continue the task". Takahiro also added, "we will further study the outcome before deciding on the deployment of the scorpion".

Scorpion is the second robot supposed to follow up the first robot's tasks. Per Tokyo Electric Power Company, the scorpion will do the more detailed examination to assess the damage of the reactor's structure and fuel as well as it will measure the radiation and temperatures.

Late last month, the radiation was only having 530 Sieverts but lately, it reaches to 650 Sieverts per hour. "It is also very likely that at this stage the fuel was burned through the pressure vessel during the meltdown", Tokyo Power Company Holding Inc. said.

Japanese Times reported that the Japanese government was hoping that the previous results were wrong. But Tokyo Electric and Power Company official said that 500 to 600 Sieverts are basically correct. The camera of that was installed in the robot was designed for 1,000 Sieverts of cumulative exposure.

The robot was equipped with a high-pressure water pump to wash off deposits up to 2 centimeters thick that is suspected to be the melted remains of paint and cable insulations. It cleaned about a meter but, as it goes deeper, deposits also become tougher to remove.

The cleaning-up and the assessment of the condition of the reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Station are still in its early stage. Decommissioning it would take at least decades to effect.