Current situation of OECD/NEA, Preparatory Study on Analysis of Fuel debris (PreADES) project
Nakayoshi, Akira ; Journeau, C.*; Rempe, J.*; Barrachin, M.*; Bottomley, D.; Nauchi, Y.*; Song, J. H.*
In recognition of the broad international interest in learning from post-accident examinations and other activities related to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F), Japan recommended, to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development/Nuclear energy Agency/Committee on Safety of Nuclear Installations (OECD/NEA/CSNI) in 2013, that they identified and followed up on opportunities to address safety research gaps. The CSNI set up the Senior Expert Group (SEG) on Safety Research Opportunities Post-Fukushima (SAREF). In 2016-2017, Preparatory Study on Analysis of Fuel Debris (PreADES) project was recommended by the SEG on SAREF as a near-term project. The PreADES project will summarize the collected knowledge and expertise of debris characterization and identify the needs for debris analyses that will most contribute to the decommissioning of 1F. The project also aims to improve the understanding of severe accidents and reactor safety assessments as well as creating appropriate and optimal methodologies for future debris sampling, retrieval, and storage. Consequently, the project provides important input for a future international project of sample examination based on long-term considerations. The PreADES project launched discussions among interested organizations at the preliminary meeting in July 2017 about the objectives, scope, output, and direction of the project. The contents of the PreADES project were agreed as the three following tasks: Task 1: Joint study on fuel debris' expected properties and characterization, Task 2: Identifying needs and major issues for future fuel debris sampling, retrieval, and analyses, Task 3: Planning of future international R&D framework. Currently, 4th meeting took place on July in Tokyo Japan. Task 1 is almost completed and Task 2 will be summarized soon.