R&D and maintenance management of the WASTEF Facility (FY2021)

Sano, Naruto; Yamashita, Naoki; Hoshino, Kazutoyo*; Tsukada, Manabu*; Sawauchi, Fumiya*; Otake, Yoshinori; Ichise, Kenichi ; Tagami, Susumu

The Waste Safety Testing Facility (WASTEF) was established in 1982 as an experimental facility for long-term storage of solidified high-level radioactive waste generated in the reprocessing of spent light water reactor fuel and the subsequent safety assessment of geological disposal. It is a historic facility that started operation in 1982. This facility consists of 5 concrete cells, 1 lead cell, 6 glove boxes, and 7 hoods, and is a large-scale facility that can use nuclear fuel materials including uranium and plutonium and radioactive isotopes including TRU. In this facility, research and development requested by the research department is carried out in the Hot Material Examination Section. In addition, patrol inspections, self-inspections, etc. are also carried out as maintenance management based on safety regulations. This report summarizes the overview of WASTEF facilities, the results of operation, maintenance and management work in FY2021, and the future outlook.