Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has begun to install equipment for a radioactive waste storage facility at the Fukushima Daiichi site. The facility will temporarily store sludge that has been generated in the processing of contaminated water.
![Sludge](/Pictures/web/e/m/e/20111114SludgeStorageTank.jpg)
One of the sludge storage tanks
MHI says the facility will include sludge storage tanks, a system to process off-gas from the tanks, a ventilation and air-conditioning system, a control system and utility facilities.
The cylindrical sludge storage tanks (diameter 3.2 m; length 13.5m) will be made from 25 mm thick iron. Eight tanks (with storage capacities of up to 90 cubic meters) will be installed horizontally in a room surrounded by 1-meter thick concrete walls.
The tanks will also function to agitate waste sludge and scavenge hydrogen, MHI said.
MHI is one of a number of companies that has been supporting recovery efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. MHI has been involved in the conversion of a ‘Mega-Float’ for storage of contaminated water as well as the supply of forklift trucks with radiation-shielded cabins to handle rubble at the accident site.