Status of PIE technology development in JAEA-Oarai

Tanaka, Kosuke  ; Kawamata, Kazuo; Yoshimochi, Hiroshi; Sozawa, Shizuo; Onose, Shoji ; Niimi, Motoji; Asaka, Takeo

Post irradiation examination (PIE) facilities have been operated for about 40 years at the Oarai Research and Development Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency to investigate the performance and soundness of irradiated fuels and materials. The JMTR Hot Laboratory (JMTR-HL) was founded in 1971 mainly to examine the objects irradiated in the Japan Material Testing Reactor (JMTR). The Alpha-Gamma Facility (AGF) was constructed as the first laboratory to perform PIE of plutonium-bearing fuels for Japanese fast reactor development programs. This facility started hot operation in 1971 and has performed physical, metallurgical, and chemical examinations of irradiated fuels including uranium plutonium mixed oxide fuels. A renewal plan for the JMTR-HL and AGF is now in progress, associated with re-operation of the JMTR.