Speciation of cesium in a radiocesium-bearing microparticle emitted from Unit 1 during the Fukushima nuclear accident by XANES spectroscopy using transition edge sensor

Takahashi, Yoshio*; Miura, Hikaru*; Yamada, Shinya*; Sekizawa, Oki*; Nitta, Kiyofumi*; Hashimoto, Tadashi*; Yomogida, Takumi; Yamaguchi, Akiko; Okada, Shinji*; Itai, Takaaki*; et al.

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 495, p.139031_1 - 139031_19, 2025/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139031

In this presentation, we analyzed the chemical state of cesium in radiocesium-bearing microparticles (CsMPs) released during the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident using high-resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES) and micro X-ray fluorescence (-XRF). The results identified two forms of cesium: one dissolved in glass and the other enriched on the surfaces of internal voids. The latter is considered to have originally existed as a gas and became concentrated during the cooling and solidification of the molten glass. These findings are crucial for understanding the formation process of CsMPs during the accident, as well as for future decommissioning and safety assessments.

Development of numerical evaluation method for heat transportation with sodium mist in the cover gas region of sodium-cooled fast reactor

Hayakawa, Satoshi*; Hagiwara, Hiroyuki*; Imamura, Akira*; Onoda, Yuichi; Tanaka, Masaaki; Nakamura, Hironori*

Proceedings of 13th Korea-Japan Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS13) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2024/11

In a sodium-cooled fast reactor, a cover gas region filled with argon gas is located above the sodium pool in the main vessel to prevent the hot sodium from contacting the structures. This region involves heat transportation by natural convection of the cover gas, radiation among liquid surface and structures, and sodium phase change between mist and vapor. In this study, the numerical evaluation method has been developed with a commercial CFD code, Fluent, incorporating the sodium mist transport and growth models, and the radiation scattering model. Simulations of a laboratory scale test with a cylindrical cover gas region was carried out for the validation of the method and showed that the temperature distribution and sodium mist concentration in the cover gas region are in good agreements with the test results. A simulation of a pool-type sodium cooled fast reactor has also conducted and the basic aspect of physical phenomena taking place in the cover gas region were evaluated.

Application of CFD code with debris-bed coolability assessment model to pool Type SFR

Nakamura, Hironori*; Hayakawa, Satoshi*; Shibata, Akihiro*; Sasa, Kyohei*; Yamano, Hidemasa; Kubo, Shigenobu

Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2022/10

In order to evaluate long-term coolablity of the debris-bed with decay heat, a three-dimensional calculation method coupled with the debris bed module was developed in this study. The coupled code calculation results show that natural circulation of the coolant between the hot pool and the cold pool is established through the four intermediate heat exchangers after the activation of the dipped direct heat exchangers. The cold pool with the debris-bed is continually cooled not only by the natural circulation flow, but also by heat transfer to the hot pool through the plenum separation plate between the hot pool and the cold pool. The effect of the three-dimensional flow field around the core catcher on the temperature in the debris-bed is about 20K under the current calculation condition.

Molecular dynamic simulations evaluating the effect of the stacking fault energy on defect formations in face-centered cubic metals subjected to high-energy particle irradiation

Terayama, Satoshi*; Iwase, Yuki*; Hayakawa, Sho*; Okita, Taira*; Itakura, Mitsuhiro; Suzuki, Katsuyuki*

Computational Materials Science, 195, p.110479_1 - 110479_12, 2021/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.commatsci.2021.110479

Thermally altered subsurface material of asteroid (162173) Ryugu

Kitazato, Kohei*; Milliken, R. E.*; Iwata, Takahiro*; Abe, Masanao*; Otake, Makiko*; Matsuura, Shuji*; Takagi, Yasuhiko*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Hiroi, Takahiro*; Matsuoka, Moe*; et al.

Nature Astronomy (Internet), 5(3), p.246 - 250, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-01271-2

Here we report observations of Ryugu's subsurface material by the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. Reflectance spectra of excavated material exhibit a hydroxyl (OH) absorption feature that is slightly stronger and peak-shifted compared with that observed for the surface, indicating that space weathering and/or radiative heating have caused subtle spectral changes in the uppermost surface. However, the strength and shape of the OH feature still suggests that the subsurface material experienced heating above 300 C, similar to the surface. In contrast, thermophysical modeling indicates that radiative heating does not increase the temperature above 200 C at the estimated excavation depth of 1 m, even if the semimajor axis is reduced to 0.344 au. This supports the hypothesis that primary thermal alteration occurred due to radiogenic and/or impact heating on Ryugu's parent body.

Proposal for selective isotope transmutation of long-lived fission products using quasi-monochromatic -ray beams

Hayakawa, Takehito; Miyamoto, Shuji*; Hajima, Ryoichi; Shizuma, Toshiyuki; Amano, So*; Hashimoto, Satoshi*; Misawa, Tsuyoshi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 53(12), p.2064 - 2071, 2016/12

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2016.1194776

We have proposed a new selective isotope transmutation method using photonuclear reactions with quasi-monochromatic -ray beams. This method is based on the fact that the particle threshold of a long-lived fission product (LLFP) such as Zr, Pd, or Se is lower than those of stable isotopes of the same chemical element. Therefore, this method has an excellent advantage that LLFPs cannot, in principle, be produced newly even if the target materials include stable isotopes in addition to a LLFP. Laser Compton scattering -ray sources and neutron capture -rays in nuclear reactors are candidates for this method.

Spatial anisotropy of neutrons emitted from the Fe(, n)Fe reaction with a linearly polarized -ray beam

Hayakawa, Takehito; Shizuma, Toshiyuki; Miyamoto, Shuji*; Amano, Sho*; Takemoto, Akinori*; Yamaguchi, Masashi*; Horikawa, Ken*; Akimune, Hidetoshi*; Chiba, Satoshi*; Ogata, Kazuyuki*; et al.

Physical Review C, 93(4), p.044313_1 - 044313_4, 2016/04

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.93.044313

We have measured the azimuthal anisotropy of neutrons emitted from the Fe(, n)Fe reaction with a linearly polarized ray beam generated by laser Compton scattering at NewSUBARU. Neutron yields at the polar angle of 90 have been measured as a function of the azimuthal angle between the detector and the linear polarization plane of the ray beam. The azimuthal anisotropy of neutrons measured at seven angles has been well reproduced using a theoretically predicted function of + cos(2).

Neutron angular distribution in (, n) reactions with linearly polarized -ray beam generated by laser Compton scattering

Horikawa, Ken*; Miyamoto, Shuji*; Mochizuki, Takayasu*; Amano, So*; Li, D.*; Imasaki, Kazuo*; Izawa, Yasukazu*; Ogata, Kazuyuki*; Chiba, Satoshi*; Hayakawa, Takehito

Physics Letters B, 737, p.109 - 113, 2014/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2014.08.024

It was predicted in 1950's, the neutron angular distribution in (, n) reactions with a 100% linearly polarized -ray beam should be anisotropic and described by a simple function of a + b sin at 90 on the beam axis but it has not been experimentally confirmed for middle-heavy nuclides over than half a century. We have verified experimentally this angular distribution on Au, I, and natural Cu using linearly polarized laser Compton scattering -rays at NewSUBARU.

Three-dimensional tsunami analysis for the plot plan of a sodium-cooled fast reactor plant

Hayakawa, Satoshi*; Watanabe, Osamu*; Ito, Kei; Yamamoto, Tomohiko

Nihon Kikai Gakkai Rombunshu, B, 79(808), p.2645 - 2649, 2013/12

https://doi.org/10.1299/kikaib.79.2645

As the practical evaluation method of the effect of tsunami on buildings, the formula of tsunami force has been used. However, it cannot be applied to complex geometry of buildings. In this study, to analyze the effect of tsunami on the buildings of sodium-cooled fast reactor plant more accurately, three-dimensional tsunami analysis was performed. In the analysis, VOF (Volume of Fluid) method was used to capture free surface of tsunami. At the beginning, it was confirmed that the tsunami experiment results was reproduced by VOF method accurately. Next, the three-dimensional tsunami analysis was performed with VOF method to evaluate the flow field around the buildings of the plant from the beginning of the tsunami until the backwash of that.

Development of basic NDA technologies for nuclear material accountancy of debris of melted fuel formed in severe accidents

Seya, Michio; Harada, Hideo; Kitatani, Fumito; Koizumi, Mitsuo; Tsuchiya, Harufumi; Iimura, Hideki; Kureta, Masatoshi; Takamine, Jun; Hajima, Ryoichi; Hayakawa, Takehito; et al.

Proceedings of INMM 54th Annual Meeting (CD-ROM), 9 Pages, 2013/07

The forming of MF in a severe accident of a nuclear reactor may change the category of the nuclear reactor from item facility to non-item facility. Taking this removal process into account, the damaged reactor could be categorized as a bulk-handling facility. The NM accountancy is essential for the safeguards of a bulk-handling facility. This paper presents a categorization of debris of MF (into cut or small rock-like debris and particle (or grain)-like debris) and a selection of possible NDA technologies which could be applied to the NM accountancy of MF debris. The paper introduces two NDA technologies for NM accountancy of debris: NRD for particle-like (or grain-like) debris, and NRF NDA using LCS rays for cut or small rock-like debris. The paper also describes about the development of basic parts of these two technologies and near future plan.