Evaluation on secondary radioactive contamination remaining in JMTR Reactor Facility

Nagata, Hiroshi; Otsuka, Kaoru; Omori, Takazumi; Hanakawa, Hiroki; Ide, Hiroshi

JAEA-Technology 2022-029, 55 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Technology-2022-029.pdf:2.77MB

Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) was decided as a one of decommission facilities in April 2017. The activation activity of secondary radioactive contamination remaining in the reactor facility was evaluated in order to submit the decommissioning plan to the Nuclear Regulation Authority. Total activation activity was 2.7310Bq after 12 years, 1.4610Bq after 21 years, respectively. The system with high activation activity was the primary cooling system in JMTR. The relatively large radionuclide was H-3, Fe-55, Co-60, Ni-63, Sr-90 and Cs-137. The radioactivity level was classified based on the values of the obtained radioactivity concentration. As a result, the primary cooling system and the drain system was classified as L2, and others was classified as L3. The nuclide that affected classification result was only Co-60 in irradiation facility of HR-1 and OSF-1. H-3, Co-60, Sr-90, Cs-137 and so on were affected classification in other system. When treating and disposing of radioactive waste, evaluation will be carried out based on appropriate methods.

Evaluation on activation activity of radioactive materials remaining in JMTR Reactor Facility

Nagata, Hiroshi; Otsuka, Kaoru; Omori, Takazumi; Ide, Hiroshi

JAEA-Technology 2022-017, 113 Pages, 2022/08

JAEA-Technology-2022-017.pdf:6.17MB

Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) was decided as a one of decommission facilities in April 2017. The activation activity of radioactive materials remaining in the reactor facility was evaluated in order to submit the decommissioning plan to the Nuclear Regulation Authority. Total activation activity was 9.310 Bq after the permanent shutdown of reactor, 2.710 Bq after 21 years, 1.010 Bq after 40 years and 2.410 Bq after 100 years. The structure with high activation activity was the core structural materials in JMTR such as beryllium frame, aluminum reflector, etc., and the material was stainless steel, beryllium, etc. The ratio of nuclides to the total amount of activated radioactivity was highest in H-3 until about 40 years after the reactor shutdown, and then in Ni-63. For reference, the radioactivity level was classified based on the results of the obtained radioactivity concentration. The ratio of the weight of each radioactivity level to the total weight was 0.3-0.4% (10-13t) for L1, 0.0-0.4% (0-14t) for L2, 1.0-1.2% (32-39t) for L3 and 98.0-98.7% (about 3200t) for CL until 100 years after the reactor shutdown. It was found that those classified as CL account for more than 90% of the total. When treating and disposing of radioactive waste, evaluation will be carried out based on appropriate methods, including evaluation results of secondary pollutants.

Development of dissolved hydrogen concentration control apparatus by solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis method

Nakano, Hiroko; Fuyushima, Takumi; Tsuguchi, Akira*; Nakamura, Mutsumi*; Takeuchi, Tomoaki; Takemoto, Noriyuki; Ide, Hiroshi

JAEA-Technology 2022-007, 34 Pages, 2022/06

JAEA-Technology-2022-007.pdf:3.35MB

In order to investigate the phenomenon of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) for structural materials at the light water reactor (LWR), it is important to manage a water quality for simulating high-temperature and high-pressure water. Generally, dissolved hydrogen (DH) concentration in water loop has been controlled by the bubbling method of pure hydrogen gas or standard gas with high hydrogen concentration. However, it is necessary to equip the preventing hydrogen explosion in the area installed experimental apparatus. In general, in order to prevent accident by hydrogen, it is required to take measures such as limiting the amount of leakage, eliminating hydrogen, shutting off the power supply, and suppressing combustion before an explosion occurs. Thus, the dissolved hydrogen concentration control apparatus by electrolysis method has been developed which has two electrolysis cells to control DH concentration by electrolyzing water loop. In this study, small basic experimental devices were set up. The preliminary data were acquired regarding the simple performance of two electrolysis cells and the change of DH concentration in circulation. Based on the preliminary data, the dissolved hydrogen concentration control apparatus was designed to be connected to the high-temperature and high-pressure water loop test equipment. This report describes the test results with the small basic experimental devices for the design of the dissolved hydrogen concentration control apparatus.

Basic design of the Hot Laboratory exhaust stack

Morita, Hisashi; Daigo, Fumihisa; Sayato, Natsuki; Watahiki, Shunsuke; Kojima, Kazuki; Nakayama, Kazuhiko; Ide, Hiroshi

JAEA-Technology 2021-030, 166 Pages, 2022/05

JAEA-Technology-2021-030.pdf:3.65MB

When the roof of the JMTR Hot Laboratory (HL) building was repaired for rain leaks in January, 2015, thinning was found at one of the anchor bolts on base of the HL exhaust stack. Moreover, the thinning of some anchor bolts and gaps between the anchor bolt nuts and flange plate was found in the later investigation for the exhaust stack. Since the possibility of the exhaust stack collapsing cannot be denied, it was removed. Therefore, it became necessary to rebuild a new exhaust stack as soon as possible. The design of the new exhaust stack was based on the measures to prevent rainwater intrusion into the base, which was the cause of the thinning of the anchor bolts found in the investigation, and on the new regulatory standards established after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Furthermore, since the new exhaust stack corresponds to buildings and structures that must undergo building confirmation, the soundness of the new exhaust stack against seismic force and wind load was evaluated based on the Building Standards Law and the Stack Structure Design Guideline. This report described the basic design of the new exhaust stack.

Investigation on soundness of JMTR Facility piping by ultrasonic thickness measurement

Omori, Takazumi; Otsuka, Kaoru; Endo, Yasuichi; Takeuchi, Tomoaki; Ide, Hiroshi

JAEA-Review 2021-015, 57 Pages, 2021/11

JAEA-Review-2021-015.pdf:6.3MB

The JMTR reactor facility was selected as a decommissioning one in the Medium/Long-Term Management Plan of JAEA Facilities formulated on April 1, 2017. Therefore, the decommissioning plan was submitted to Nuclear Regulation Authority on September 18, 2019, and the approval was obtained on March 17, 2021 after two amendments. Currently, preparations for decommissioning are underway. The JMTR reactor facility has been aged for more than 50 years since the first criticality in March 1968. However, some of the water piping systems has not been updated since its construction, and there is a possibility of pipe wall thinning due to corrosion, etc. Therefore, the integrity of the water piping was investigated for the facilities that circulate cooling water and pump radioactive liquid waste. In this investigation, the main circulation system of the reactor primary cooling system, the pool canal circulation system, the CF pool circulation system, the drainage system of the liquid waste disposal system, and the hydraulic rabbit irradiation system of the main experimental facility were measured for the pipe wall thickness using the Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement (UTM) method. These values satisfied the technical standards for research and test reactor facilities. No loss of integrity is expected to occur during the upcoming decommissioning period. In the future, we will periodically confirm that there is no wall thinning in the piping of the cooling water circulation and the water transmission system during the decommissioning period by using this result as basic data.

Radiochemical research for the advancement of Mo/Tc generator by (n, ) method, 3

Fujita, Yoshitaka; Seki, Misaki; Namekawa, Yoji*; Nishikata, Kaori; Daigo, Fumihisa; Ide, Hiroshi; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Sano, Tadafumi*; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; Hori, Junichi*; et al.

KURNS Progress Report 2020, P. 136, 2021/08

no abstracts in English

Research on activation assessment of a reactor structural materials for decommissioning, 2

Seki, Misaki; Ishikawa, Koji*; Sano, Tadafumi*; Nagata, Hiroshi; Otsuka, Kaoru; Omori, Takazumi; Hanakawa, Hiroki; Ide, Hiroshi; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; et al.

KURNS Progress Report 2019, P. 279, 2020/08

https://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/PUB/report/PR/ProgRep2019/ProgressReport2019_online.pdf

no abstracts in English

On-site training using JMTR and related facilities in FY2018

Eguchi, Shohei; Nakano, Hiroko; Otsuka, Noriaki; Nishikata, Kaori; Nagata, Hiroshi; Ide, Hiroshi; Kusunoki, Tsuyoshi

JAEA-Review 2019-012, 22 Pages, 2019/10

JAEA-Review-2019-012.pdf:3.37MB

A practical training course using the JMTR and other research infrastructures was held from July 31st to August 7th in 2018 for Asian young researchers and engineers. This course was adopted as Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA Exchange Program in Science) which is the project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and this course aims to enlarge the number of high-level nuclear researchers/engineers in Asian countries which are planning to introduce a nuclear power plant, and to promote the use of facilities in future. In this year, 11 young researchers and engineers joined the course from 6 countries. This course consists of lectures, which are related to irradiation test research, safety management of nuclear reactors, nuclear characteristics of the nuclear reactors, etc., practical training such as practice of research reactor operation using simulator and technical tour of nuclear facilities on nuclear energy. The content of this course in FY 2018 is reported in this paper.

Status of JMTR decommissioning plan formulation, 2

Otsuka, Kaoru; Ide, Hiroshi; Nagata, Hiroshi; Omori, Takazumi; Seki, Misaki; Hanakawa, Hiroki; Nemoto, Hiroyoshi; Watanabe, Masao; Iimura, Koichi; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; et al.

UTNL-R-0499, p.12_1 - 12_8, 2019/03

no abstracts in English

Synthesized research report in the second mid-term research phase; Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project and Geo-stability Project

Hama, Katsuhiro; Mizuno, Takashi; Sasao, Eiji; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Sato, Toshinori; Fujita, Tomoo; Sasamoto, Hiroshi; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Yokota, Hideharu; et al.

JAEA-Research 2015-007, 269 Pages, 2015/08

JAEA-Research-2015-007.pdf:68.65MB
JAEA-Research-2015-007(errata).pdf:0.07MB

We have synthesised the research results from Mizunami/Horonobe URLs and geo-stability projects in the second mid-term research phase. It could be used as technical bases for NUMO/Regulator in each decision point from sitting to beginning of disposal (Principal Investigation to Detailed Investigation Phase). High quality construction techniques and field investigation methods have been developed and implemented and these will be directly applicable to the National Disposal Program (along with general assessments of hazardous natural events and processes). It will be crucial to acquire technical knowledge on decisions of partial backfilling and final closure by actual field experiments in Mizunami/Horonobe URLs as main themes for the next phases.