Experimental investigation of nonisothermal interaction between Fe-Zr melt and stainless steel forming "metallic debris" in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Ito, Ayumi*; Kanno, Tatsuya*; Iwama, Takayuki*; Ueda, Shigeru*; Sato, Takumi; Nagae, Yuji

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 217, p.111333_1 - 111333_14, 2025/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111333

In the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 2, the formation of a metallic pool, mainly comprising Fe and Zr, has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to the failure of the reactor pressure vessel. This study focuses on material interactions during the early core degradation that led to metallic pool formation in the late phase of the in-vessel degradation process. Initially, two compositions, Fe-87Zr and Fe-15Zr (at%), were heated to the liquidus temperature of 1723 K, dropped onto SS at lower temperatures, and the metallographic structure of the reaction products was examined. Subsequently, the Fe-87Zr melt at temperatures ranging from 1723 to 1873 K was dropped onto oxidized SS to evaluate the influence of the oxide layer on degradation. This study confirmed that the liquidus temperatures of all intermetallic compounds were below 2000 K, and the metallic debris could be a source of the "metallic pool formation" predicted by recent severe accident analysis.

Sm synchrotron-radiation-based Mssbauer spectroscopy of Sm-based heavy fermion compounds

Tsutsui, Satoshi; Higashinaka, Ryuji*; Mizumaki, Masaichiro*; Kobayashi, Yoshio*; Nakamura, Jin*; Ito, Takashi; Yoda, Yoshitaka*; Matsuda, Tatsuma*; Aoki, Yuji*; Sato, Hideyuki*

Interactions (Internet), 245(1), p.9_1 - 9_10, 2024/12

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-024-01851-y

Local and electronic structures of NaNbO, AgNbO, and KNbO

Yoneda, Yasuhiro; Kobayashi, Toru; Tsuji, Takuya; Matsumura, Daiju; Saito, Yuji; Noguchi, Yuji*

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 63(9), p.09SP12_1 - 09SP12_10, 2024/09

https://doi.org/10.35848/1347-4065/ad72fc

NaNbO, AgNbO, and KNbO with ABO-type perovskite system is known to possess good ferroelectric properties. We directly determined the rattling space of each atom through local structure analysis. This analysis revealed the bonding sites with large fluctuations varied with varying ion size. Experimental evidence including soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy, indicates that the A-site ions are hybridized with oxygen.

Adsorption behavior of platinum-group metals and Co-existing metal ions from simulated high-level liquid waste using HONTA and Crea impregnated adsorbent

Osawa, Naoki*; Kim, S.-Y.*; Kubota, Masahiko*; Wu, H.*; Watanabe, So; Ito, Tatsuya; Nagaishi, Ryuji

Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 56(3), p.812 - 818, 2024/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2023.09.001

Local structure analysis of BiNaTiOBaTiO solid solutions

Yoneda, Yasuhiro; Kobayashi, Toru; Tsuji, Takuya; Matsumura, Daiju; Saito, Yuji; Noguchi, Yuji*

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 62(SM), p.SM1006_1 - SM1006_8, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.35848/1347-4065/ace3cd

BiNaTiOBaTiO (BNTBT) solid solutions have been extensively studied because they exhibit good piezoelectric properties. In addition, a wide variety of phases are observed depending on the BT composition. Soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments of BNTBT solid solutions were performed using synchrotron radiation. From the electronic structure and local structure of BNTBT solid solution, the substitution effect of BT occurred mainly at the A site, which is the substitution site of Ba. The rhombohedral strain of the TiO octahedron did not change with the change in BT composition, suggesting that the change in the electronic structure at the O- absorption edge is due to the change in the hybridization state.

Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors

Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Morishita, Masaki*; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ando, Masanori; Ashida, Takashi; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Doda, Norihiro; Enuma, Yasuhiro; Ezure, Toshiki; Fukano, Yoshitaka; et al.

Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors; JSME Series in Thermal and Nuclear Power Generation, Vol.3, 631 Pages, 2022/07

https://shop.elsevier.com/books/sodium-cooled-fast-reactors/morishita/978-0-12-824076-2

This book is a collection of the past experience of design, construction, and operation of two reactors, the latest knowledge and technology for SFR designs, and the future prospects of SFR development in Japan. It is intended to provide the perspective and the relevant knowledge to enable readers to become more familiar with SFR technology.

Mn L-edge EXAFS and magnetic EXAFS studies on the halfmetallic ferromagnet CoMnSi

Kogo, Junya*; Fujiwara, Hidenori*; Sekiyama, Akira*; Saito, Yuji; Umetsu, Rie*; Niki, Kaori*

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 91(3), p.034702_1 - 034702_12, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSJ.91.034702

Extraction behavior of a novel functionalized ionic liquid for separation of platinum group metals from aqueous nitric acid solution

Ito, Tatsuya; Osugi, Haruka*; Osawa, Naoki*; Takahashi, Tadayuki*; Kim, S.-Y.*; Nagaishi, Ryuji

Analytical Sciences, 38(1), p.91 - 97, 2022/01

https://doi.org/10.2116/analsci.21P057

A novel ionic liquid (IL) functionalized with thiodiglycol amic acid containing a soft S donor was synthesized for the effective and efficient extraction of platinum group metals (Ru, Rh, and Pd) from aqueous nitric acid solutions, such as high-level radioactive liquid waste (HLLW). The IL allowed a rapid extraction of Pd(II) with an extraction ratio of approximately 100%. The extractions of Ru(III) and Rh(III) by the IL were slower than that of Pd(II), but the rates were accelerated by temperature elevation. The extractions of Ru(III) and Rh(III) at 50C reached equilibrium within 4 and 8 h, respectively, with the extraction ratios of over 90% without assisting agents or other methods for the extraction system. Furthermore, the IL could extract more than 90% of Ru(III), Rh(III), and Pd(II) from the simulated HLLW within 2 h at 50C.

Review of engagement activities to promote awareness of radiation and its associated risk amongst the Japanese public before and after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Sakoda, Akihiro; Nomura, Naoki*; Kuroda, Yujiro*; Kono, Takahiko; Naito, Wataru*; Yoshida, Hiroko*

Journal of Radiological Protection, 41(4), p.1258 - 1287, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6498/ac2678

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, many radiation experts directly experienced a vast gap between ideal and real public understanding (PU) of radiation in risk communication. Therefore, this study collated and reviewed information about PU activities for radiation and its risk that six Japanese academic societies - which seemed to be socially neutral expert communities - related to radiation and radiation risk conducted before and after the accident. Activities these radiation-related societies provided to general public were discussed from the following perspectives: (1) difficulties in two-way communication due to resources, motivation, public interest and concerns; (2) balance between academic research and PU activities; (3) academic societies' building trust with the public whilst ensuring member experts' neutrality and independence; (4) discussions among academic societies to prepare for public engagement. We hope that this paper encourages experts and academic societies in radiation protection to hold more national and international discussions about their roles in public communication and outreach.

Detecting halfmetallic electronic structures of spintronic materials in a magnetic field

Fujiwara, Hidenori*; Umetsu, Rie*; Kuroda, Fumiaki*; Miyawaki, Jun*; Kashiuchi, Toshiyuki*; Nishimoto, Kohei*; Nagai, Kodai*; Sekiyama, Akira*; Irizawa, Akinori*; Takeda, Yukiharu; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 11(1), p.18654_1 - 18654_9, 2021/09

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97992-z