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.
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.
