WASHINGTON - TWO of the world's largest cement boom pumps are being rushed to Japan to help cool reactors at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the company that makes the equipment said on Friday.
Two giant trucks equipped with powerful pumps and flexible arms with a 70m reach will be used to shoot water from giant hoses to cool the nuclear reactors, or cement to seal off the site, said Ms Kelly Blickle, a spokesman with the US subsidiary of the German company Putzmeister.
Similar pumps were used in Chernobyl following the April 1986 meltdown, Ms Blickle told AFP. The boom pumps, normally used to pour concrete for bridges and skyscrapers under construction, can feed water over the destroyed buildings and target the reactor hotspots.
Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), the Fukushima plant operator, 'didn't specifically say that they wanted to pump concrete, but it is the option, they don't have to bring in more equipment should that need occur', Ms Blickle said.
The equipment can also be operated via radio remote control - an operator can be some 2km away while maneuvering the boom pump. The company is working on extending that distance to 4km, Ms Blickle said.
Eleven Putzmeister truck-mounted concrete pumps and stationary pumps were used during the Chernobyl accident, the company said. Two US companies had bought the boom pumps, but agreed instead to let Putzmeister re-direct the machines to Japan and delay their orders, Ms Blickle said. -- AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment