Behavior of simulated spent fuel in subcritical water

亜臨界水中における模擬使用済燃料の挙動

峯尾 英章  ; 鈴木 公; 森田 泰治  

Mineo, Hideaki; Suzuki, Tadashi; Morita, Yasuji

使用済燃料から核分裂生成物(FP)を抽出溶媒等を全く用いずに分離する方法として亜臨界水を用いる方法を検討した。二酸化ウランに燃焼度45,000MWdtに見合う量のFP元素(Sr, Zr, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd及びSm)酸化物を含む12.728gの模擬使用済燃料を、核分裂性物質金属成分の模擬として52mgのMo-Ru-Rh-Pd合金とともに10mlの反応容器に装荷し、亜臨界水を通過させた。亜臨界水の温度は523, 573, 623及び663Kで圧力は29MPaである。溶解量は温度が上昇するとともに減少した。523Kにおいて、Ba, Mo及びPrは5%以上が溶解し、SrやRhは1%程度が溶解した。Zrの溶解率は0.3%程度であった。その他のランタノイド(La, Ce, Nd及びSm)は0.1%溶解しウランと同程度であった。この結果から亜臨界水により使用済燃料のFPの一部の分離が可能であることが示唆された。今後、より小さな粒径での試験を実施する。

Behavior of spent nuclear fuel in subcritical water was investigated to look at the feasibility of fission-products (FPs) separation without organic solvent. The study employed unirradiated UO particles simulating spent fuel burned up to 45,000MWdt, which includes FP elements in oxide form: Sr, Zr, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm. Also, alloy particles consisted of Mo, Ru, Rh and Pd were prepared to simulate the metallic phase of FP. 12.728 g of the fuel and 52 mg of the alloy were placed in a 10 ml pressure vessel, where subcritical water was fed. The temperature was 523, 573, 623 and 663K, while the pressure was kept at 29MPa. Dissolved fraction decreased with elevating temperature. It was found that more than 5% of Ba, Mo and Pr were respectively dissolved. The dissolved fraction of Sr and Rh were about 1%, and about 0.3% for Zr. La, Ce, Nd and Sm, indicated almost the same result as U, which was about 0.1%. It was suggested that the subcritical water could separate portion of FP. Further study would be carried out with smaller-sized fuel.