An Experimental investigation for atmospheric effects on Cs chemisorption onto stainless steel

Nakajima, Kunihisa  ; Suzuki, Eriko   ; Miyahara, Naoya; Osaka, Masahiko  

Chemical interaction between cesium (Cs) vapor and stainless steel (SS) surface known as chemisorption can cause a significant amount of Cs retention on the inner surfaces within the reactor pressure vessel during a light water reactor severe accident (SA). Although the chemisorption is known to be influenced with temperature and atmosphere, their dependancies are not yet fully understood. Therefore, the Cs chemisorption behaviours under mixed gases of steam and hydrogen were experimentally examined to contribute to a better understanding of the chemisorption behaviours under various atmospheres experienced during the SA at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. As a result, it was found that the deposited amounts of Cs onto the SS in the steam-containing atmosphere were much higher than those in the no steam atmosphere. It was considered that Cs revaporization from a chemisorbed product was one of the reasons why the deposited amounts under the reducing atmosphere decreased.