Toward long-term storage of nuclear materials in MOX fuels fabrication facility

MOX燃料製造施設における核燃料物質の長期保管にむけて

廣岡 瞬 ; 中道 晋哉  ; 松本 卓; 土持 亮太; 村上 龍敏 

Hirooka, Shun; Nakamichi, Shinya; Matsumoto, Taku; Tsuchimochi, Ryota; Murakami, Tatsutoshi

プルトニウム(Pu)を含む核燃料物質の保管は安全や計量管理等の観点から慎重な配慮が必要であるが、保管に関する技術的な情報に関しては、イギリスやアメリカからの報告例が僅かに存在するのみである。日本も多量のPuをウラン-プルトニウム混合酸化物(MOX)燃料の形態で所有しており、その形状や性質、含まれる不純物等に応じて適切な保管管理を行うことが重要である。本報告では、日本原子力研究開発機構のプルトニウム燃料技術開発センターが所有する様々なMOX燃料とその保管方法、また、保管中に起こった問題や今後の長期保管における対策について報告する。

Storage of plutonium (Pu)-containing materials requires extremely strict attention in terms of physical safety and material accounting. Despite the emphasized importance of storage management, only a few reports are available in the public, e.g., experience in PuO storage in the UK and safety standards in the storage of Pu-containing materials in the US. Japan also stores more U-Pu mixed oxide (MOX) mostly in powder form. Adopting an appropriate storage management is necessary depending on the characteristics of MOX items such as raw powder obtained by reprocessing of spent Light Water Reactor fuels, research and development on the remains of fuel fabrication, which can contain organic materials, and dry-recycled powder during fuel fabrication. Stagnation in fuel fabrications and experience in degradation of MOX containers during extended period of storage have led to the review of the storage method in the Plutonium Fuel Development Center in Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The present work discusses the various nuclear materials, storage methods, experience in degradation of containers that occur during storage, and strategies for future long-term storage.