Results of environmental impact investigations as part of environmental monitoring investigation in backfilling of shafts and tunnels of Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (2022)

Takeuchi, Ryuji; Nishio, Kazuhisa*; Kokubu, Yoko

JAEA-Data/Code 2023-013, 74 Pages, 2024/01

JAEA-Data-Code-2023-013.pdf:4.2MB

The Tono Geoscience Center of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting the environmental monitoring investigation to confirm the environmental impacts associated with the backfilling of shafts and tunnels at the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU). This report summarizes the results of the environmental impact investigations conducted as part of the environmental monitoring investigation around the MIU Site in FY2022, which include groundwater level measurement in wells, river flow rate measurement, water analysis of Hazama river, noise and vibration surveys, and soil survey.

Upgrade of the small-angle neutron scattering diffractometer SANS-J at JRR-3

Kumada, Takayuki; Motokawa, Ryuhei; Oba, Yojiro; Nakagawa, Hiroshi; Sekine, Yurina; Micheau, C.; Ueda, Yuki; Sugita, Tsuyoshi; Birumachi, Atsushi; Sasaki, Miki; et al.

Journal of Applied Crystallography, 56(6), p.1776 - 1783, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576723009731

The combination of the existing position-sensitive photomultiplier and the 3He main detector with focusing devices, and the newly installed front detectors in SANS-J at JRR-3 covers small-angle neutron scattering signals in the range of the magnitude of the scattering vector Q from 0.002 to 6 nm-1 gaplessly with three standard device layouts. The installation of the front detector and a graphical user interface system largely improved the usability of SANS-J.

Operation, test, research and development of the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) (FY2021)

Department of HTTR

JAEA-Review 2023-016, 82 Pages, 2023/09

JAEA-Review-2023-016.pdf:2.31MB

The High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) is the first Japanese High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) with 30MW in thermal power and 950C of maximum outlet coolant temperature that is constructed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency located at Oarai-machi, Higashiibaraki-gun, Ibaraki-ken, Japan. The purpose of the HTTR is establishment of basic HTGR technologies, demonstration of HTGR safety characteristics and so on. The HTTR has had a lot of experience of HTGRs' operation and maintenance throughout rated power operations, safety demonstration tests, long-term high temperature operations and demonstration tests relevant to HTGRs' R&Ds. In the fiscal year 2021, as the HTTR completed activities to conform to the New Regulatory Requirements of Nuclear Regulation Authority, The HTTR restarted since the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake and carried out the Loss-of-forced cooling test without Vessel Cooling System (VCS) operational at 9MW (Three gas circulators trip and VCS is stopped.) as the safety demonstration test. This report summarizes the activities carried out in the fiscal year 2021, which were the situation of the New Regulatory Requirements screening of the HTTR, the operation and maintenance of the HTTR, R&Ds relevant to commercial-scale HTGRs, the international cooperation on HTGRs and so on.

Report of backfilling and restoration works in the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory

Takeuchi, Ryuji; Mikake, Shinichiro; Ikeda, Koki; Nishio, Kazuhisa*; Kokubu, Yoko; Hanamuro, Takahiro

JAEA-Review 2023-007, 114 Pages, 2023/07

JAEA-Review-2023-007.pdf:12.02MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center has been conducting the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project to enhance the reliability of geological disposal technologies through investigations of the deep geological environment in the crystalline rock (granite) at Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan since fiscal year 1996. Backfilling and restoration works in the MIU site have been being conducted based on "the MIU Project from FY2020 onwards" which is defined the way forward of backfilling and restoration works and environmental monitoring investigations in the MIU site, since fiscal year 2020. This report summarizes the outline, process, and achievements of the construction and the safety patrol of the backfilling and restoration works in the MIU site performed from May 16, 2020 to January 16, 2022.

Case study activities for nuclear security culture development in JAEA

Amano, Tsukasa; Shibata, Ryodai; Sato, Yoshiharu; Yamazaki, Katsuyuki; Shiromo, Hideo; Nakamura, Hironobu

Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting 2023 (Internet), 6 Pages, 2023/05

In Japan, about 10 years have passed since the law obligated nuclear operators to develop and maintain a nuclear security culture. During this period, the global nuclear situation has changed significantly, and it is becoming important to maintain a stance that emphasizes compliance with regulations and nuclear security culture. In JAEA, the policy of legal compliance and developing nuclear security culture is determined by the president of JAEA. For legal compliance and developing nuclear security culture, many activities are carried out based on that policy. Finally, these activities are evaluated and improved it every year. Case study is the one of activities that can obtain skills for legal compliance and developing nuclear security culture, such as sensitivity of nuclear security risks, correct understanding of the laws. The procedure for the case study was created with reference to a method called KY-Training which is often applied to safety training program in Japan. KY-Training is a training that participants (groups) can reach the conclusion how to respond to cases through four questions. Firstly, participants are given illustrations and descriptions which has potential of nuclear security risks. Then, participants make discussion according to four questions. Consequently, participants can effectively become aware of nuclear security risks. In the 2022 case study, we prepared 23 cases so that they can select choose freely according to role of participants such as in charge of nuclear security, guards, general employees. Finally, participants are asked to fill a questionnaire to evaluate effectiveness of case study. The result of questionnaires indicated that the case study was able to lead to improvement sensitivity of nuclear security risks and correct understanding of the laws. Overall, case study results suggested that JAEA's efforts were implying sufficiently to develop and maintain a nuclear security culture.

Assessment report on research and development activities in FY2021 Activity: "Research and development in science and technology using neutron and synchrotron radiation" (Ex-ante evaluation)

Materials Sciences Research Center

JAEA-Evaluation 2022-013, 105 Pages, 2023/03

JAEA-Evaluation-2022-013.pdf:13.08MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (hereafter referred to as "JAEA") consulted an assessment committee, "Evaluation Committee of Research Activities for Research and Development in Science and Technology Using Neutron and Synchrotron Radiation" (hereafter referred to as "Evaluation Committee") for ex-ante evaluation of "Research and Development in Science and Technology Using Neutron and Synchrotron Radiation", in accordance with "General Guideline for the Evaluation of Government Research and Development (R&D) Activities" by Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, "Guideline for Evaluation of R&D in Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology" and "Regulation on Conduct for Evaluation of R&D Activities" by JAEA. In response to the JAEA's request, the Committee assessed the research program and activities on Research and Development in Science and Technology Using Neutron and Synchrotron Radiation in Materials Sciences Research Center (MSRC) and Neutron Science Section (NSS) in Materials and Life Science Division (MLSD) of J-PARC Center during the period from April 2022 to March 2029. The Committee evaluated the management, research and development activities based on the explanatory documents prepared by MSRC and NSS and oral presentations with questions-and-answers by the Director General and the Division Heads of the MSRC and the Deputy Director General and the NSS Section Leader of J-PARC Center. This report summarizes the results of the assessment by the Evaluation Committee with the Committee report attached.

Results of environmental impact investigations as part of environmental monitoring investigation in backfilling of shafts and tunnels of Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (2020-2021)

Takeuchi, Ryuji; Nishio, Kazuhisa*; Hanamuro, Takahiro; Kokubu, Yoko

JAEA-Data/Code 2022-010, 110 Pages, 2023/03

JAEA-Data-Code-2022-010.pdf:6.2MB

The Tono Geoscience Center of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting the environmental monitoring investigation to confirm the environmental impacts associated with the backfilling of shafts and tunnels at the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU). This report summarizes the results of environmental impact investigations conducted as part of the environmental monitoring investigation around the MIU Site from FY2020 to FY2021, which include groundwater level measurement in wells, river flow rate measurement, water analysis of Hazama river, noise and vibration surveys, and soil survey.

On-site training using JMTR and related facilities in FY2019

Nakano, Hiroko; Nishikata, Kaori; Nagata, Hiroshi; Ide, Hiroshi; Hanakawa, Hiroki; Kusunoki, Tsuyoshi

JAEA-Review 2022-073, 23 Pages, 2023/01

JAEA-Review-2022-073.pdf:2.02MB

A practical training course using the JMTR (Japan Materials Testing Reactor) and other research infrastructures was held from July 24th to July 31st in 2019 for Asian young researchers and engineers. This course was adopted as Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA Exchange Program in Science) which is the project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and this course aims to enlarge the number of high-level nuclear researchers/engineers in Asian countries which are planning to introduce a nuclear power plant, and to promote the use of facilities in future. In this year, 12 young researchers and engineers joined the course from 6 countries. This course consists of lectures, which are related to irradiation test research, safety management of nuclear reactors, nuclear characteristics of the nuclear reactors, etc., practical training such as practice of research reactor operation using simulator and technical tour of nuclear facilities on nuclear energy. The content of this course in FY 2019 is reported in this paper.

Toward realizing near surface disposal of LLW generated from research facilities, etc.; Status of development for safety of the disposal by JAEA

Sakai, Akihiro; Kamei, Gento; Sakamoto, Yoshiaki

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 65(1), p.25 - 29, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.3327/jaesjb.65.1_25

Currently, radioactive waste generated from research institutes, etc. is keeping in storage facilities without being disposed of. In order to solve this problem, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is proceeding with the project for concrete-pit disposal and trench disposal of these waste. This paper introduces the characteristics of the waste and disposal facilities planned by the JAEA, as well as the status of development of the siting criteria for the disposal facility.

Assessment report of research and development activities in FY2021; Activity of "Research and Development on Geological Disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste" (Post- and pre-review report)

Geological Disposal Research and Development Department

JAEA-Evaluation 2022-007, 81 Pages, 2022/11

JAEA-Evaluation-2022-007.pdf:2.06MB
JAEA-Evaluation-2022-007-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:37.06MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) consulted the advisory committee, "Evaluation Committee on Research and Development (R&D) Activities for Geological Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste", for post- and pre-review assessment of R&D activities on high-level radioactive waste disposal in accordance with "General Guideline for the Evaluation of Government Research and Development (R&D) Activities" by the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, "Guideline for Evaluation of R&D in Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology" and JAEA's "Regulation on Conduct for Evaluation of R&D Activities". In response to JAEA's request, the Committee reviewed mainly the progress of the R&D project on geological disposal, the relevance of the project outcome and the efficiency of the project implementation during the period of the current and next plan. This report summarizes the results of the assessment by the Committee with the Committee report attached.