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Yokoyama, Keisuke; Watanabe, Masashi; Onishi, Takashi; Yano, Yasuhide; Tokoro, Daishiro*; Sugata, Hiromasa*; Kato, Masato*
JAEA-Research 2025-002, 18 Pages, 2025/05
JAEA-Research-2025-002.pdf:1.73MB
It is advocated as a development target of fast reactors (FRs) to allow for the of use of mixed oxide (MOX) fuels containing minor actinide (MA) separated and recovered from spent fuels with the aim of reducing the volume and toxicity of high-level radioactive waste generated from nuclear reactors. In the development of MAMOX fuels, it is important behavior to understand the thermal properties such as thermal conductivity for fuel design and analysis of the irradiation. However, there are only a few reports on the thermal properties of MA-MOX fuels, and neither the effects of MA contents nor of oxygen non-stoichiometry in MOX fuels on their thermal conductivities have been fully understood. In this study, the thermal conductivities of MOX fuels with up to 15% Am content were measured at near-stoichiometric composition and the relationship between thermal conductivity and Am content was evaluated. Moreover, the thermal conductivities of Am-doped UO
fuels were also measured and evaluated by comparison with Am-MOX to evaluate the effect of Am content. The fuel samples used in this study were three types of MOX with a Pu content of 30% and different Am contents (5%, 10%, and 15%), and UO containing 15% Am. The thermal conductivities of specimens were calculated from the thermal diffusivities measured by the laser flash method, the density of the specimens and, the heat capacity at constant pressure. The oxygen partial pressure during the measurement was controlled at that of the targeted near-stoichiometric composition. The thermal conductivities of all specimens exhibited a decline with increasing temperature and Am content, with a particularly pronounced reduction observed below 1,173 K. The results of the classical phonon scattering model analysis of the measured thermal conductivities showed that the effect of lattice strain due to the Am addition was significant on the thermal resistivity change, and the effect was comparable for both MOX and UO.
Pu
Am
)O
Yokoyama, Keisuke; Watanabe, Masashi; Usui, Akane; Seki, Takayuki*; Onishi, Takashi; Kato, Masato
Nuclear Materials and Energy (Internet), 42, p.101908_1 - 101908_6, 2025/03
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.00(Nuclear Science & Technology)Oxygen potential of high Am content MOX, (UPuAm)O, was measured at 1273 K, 1473 K, 1573 K, and 1623 K. by gas equilibrium method using thermogravimeter. Comparing the measured data with the literature data, it was found that the addition of 15% Am increases the oxygen potential of (U, Pu)O
by 100-150 kJ/mol for the same Pu content and O/M ratio. The proportion of cations in the stoichiometric composition was determined as (U
U
Pu
Am
)O, assuming the presence of Am
and partial oxidation of U
to U
. The relationship between oxygen partial pressure and deviation x from stoichiometry in (UPuAm)O was analyzed by defect chemistry model. The equation to represent the O/M ratio was derived as a function of temperature and oxygen partial pressure. A part of this study includes the results of MEXT Innovative Nuclear Research and Development Program Grant Number JPMXD0219214921.
Yamamoto, Keisuke; Nakagawa, Takuya; Shimojo, Hiroto; Kijima, Jun; Miura, Daiya; Onose, Yoshihiko*; Namba, Koji*; Uchida, Hiroaki*; Sakamoto, Kazuhiko*; Ono, Chika*; et al.
JAEA-Technology 2024-019, 211 Pages, 2025/02
JAEA-Technology-2024-019.pdf:35.35MB
The uranium enrichment facilities at the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) were constructed sequentially to develop uranium enrichment technology with centrifugal separation method. The developed technologies were transferred to Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited until 2001. And the original purpose has been achieved. Wastewater Treatment Facility, one of the uranium enrichment facilities, was constructed in 1976 to treat radioactive liquid waste generated at the facilities, and it finished the role in 2008. In accordance with the Medium/Long-Term Management Plan of JAEA Facilities, interior equipment installed in this facility had been dismantled and removed since November 2021 to August 2023. This report summarizes the findings obtained through the work related to the contamination inspection methods cancellation the controlled area of Wastewater Treatment Facility from September 2023 to March 2024.
AmO at 1473, 1573, and 1673 KWatanabe, Masashi; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Vauchy, R.; Kato, Masato; Sugata, Hiromasa*; Seki, Takayuki*; Hino, Tetsushi*
Journal of Nuclear Materials, 599, p.155232_1 - 155232_5, 2024/10
Times Cited Count：2 Percentile：75.80(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)Oxygen potential data of UAmO were measured at 1473, 1573, and 1673 K by thermogravimetry. In U
An
O, where An stands for Pu or Am, and for a given value of y and Oxygen/Metal ratio, the oxygen potential of UAmO is higher than that of UPuO. The valence of cations in the hypostoichiometric region is similar to that of Nd-doped UO. At the stoichiometric composition, it is estimated to be Am, U, and U (for charge compensation of Am). The experimental data were analyzed using a defect chemistry model, and a relationship connecting the oxygen-to-metal ratio, the temperature, and the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure was proposed.
Yoshida, Keisuke; Kato, Shingo; Okuyama, Shinichi; Ishimori, Yuu; Inoue, Mutsuo*
Journal of Nuclear and Radiochemical Sciences (Internet), 24, p.1 - 12, 2024/08
Umino, Yoshinori; Kato, Keisuke; Tanigawa, Masafumi; Kobayashi, Daisuke; Obu, Tomoyuki; Kimura, Yuichi*; Nemoto, Ryo*; Tajiri, Kazuma*
Nihon Hozen Gakkai Dai-19-Kai Gakujutsu Koenkai Yoshishu, p.33 - 36, 2023/08
In the basic laboratory of the Plutonium Conversion Development Facility in Tokai Reprocessing Plant, tests had been conducted to obtain effective data for manufacturing mixed plutonium and uranium oxide powder by irradiating a mixture of plutonium and uranium solution with microwaves. The test has already been completed, and we are currently dismantling and removing equipment. In this paper, techniques related to equipment renewal, dismantling and removal works inside the glove-box are discussed.
Kato, Masato; Machida, Masahiko; Hirooka, Shun; Nakamichi, Shinya; Ikusawa, Yoshihisa; Nakamura, Hiroki; Kobayashi, Keita; Ozawa, Takayuki; Maeda, Koji; Sasaki, Shinji; et al.
Materials Science and Fuel Technologies of Uranium and Plutonium mixed Oxide, 171 Pages, 2022/10
Innovative and advanced nuclear reactors using plutonium fuel has been developed in each country. In order to develop a new nuclear fuel, irradiation tests are indispensable, and it is necessary to demonstrate the performance and safety of nuclear fuels. If we can develop a technology that accurately simulates irradiation behavior as a technology that complements the irradiation test, the cost, time, and labor involved in nuclear fuel research and development will be greatly reduced. And safety and reliability can be significantly improved through simulation of nuclear fuel irradiation behavior. In order to evaluate the performance of nuclear fuel, it is necessary to know the physical and chemical properties of the fuel at high temperatures. And it is indispensable to develop a behavior model that describes various phenomena that occur during irradiation. In previous research and development, empirical methods with fitting parameters have been used in many parts of model development. However, empirical techniques can give very different results in areas where there is no data. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to construct a scientific descriptive model that can extrapolate the basic characteristics of fuel to the composition and temperature, and to develop an irradiation behavior analysis code to which the model is applied.
Kobayashi, Daisuke; Yamamoto, Masahiko; Nishida, Naoki; Miyoshi, Ryuta; Nemoto, Ryo*; Hayashi, Hiroyuki*; Kato, Keisuke; Nishino, Saki; Kuno, Takehiko; Kitao, Takahiko; et al.
Nihon Hozen Gakkai Dai-18-Kai Gakujutsu Koenkai Yoshishu, p.237 - 240, 2022/07
All gloves attached to glove-box in Tokai Reprocessing Plant have a fixed expiration date and have to be replaced every 4-year. However, degrees of glove deterioration are different depending on its usage environment (frequency, chemicals, radiation, etc.), because of rubber products. Therefore, physical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, hardness of gloves are measured, and the life-time of gloves are estimated. As a result, gloves without any defects in its appearance have enough physical property for acceptance criteria of new glove. The extrapolated physical property of glove is sufficiently larger than the reported values of damaged glove. No deterioration in physical properties of gloves, that are periodically replaced without any defects in its appearance, is observed and the usable life-time of the glove is estimated to be 8 years.
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
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.
PuAm
)O (z = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15)Yokoyama, Keisuke; Watanabe, Masashi; Tokoro, Daishiro*; Sugimoto, Masatoshi*; Morimoto, Kyoichi; Kato, Masato; Hino, Tetsushi*
Nuclear Materials and Energy (Internet), 31, p.101156_1 - 101156_7, 2022/06
Times Cited Count：6 Percentile：67.31(Nuclear Science & Technology)In current nuclear fuel cycle systems, to reduce the amount of high-level radioactive waste, minor actinides (MAs) bearing MOX fuel is one option for burning MAs using fast reactor. However, the effects of Am content in fuel on thermal conductivity are unclear because there are no experimental data on thermal conductivity of high Am bearing MOX fuel. In this study, The thermal conductivities of near stoichiometric (UPuAm)O solid solutions(z = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) have been measured between room temperature (RT) and 1473 K. The thermal conductivities decreased with increasing Am content and satisfied the classical phonon transport model ((A+BT)
) up to about 1473 K. A values increased linearly with increasing Am content because the change in ionic radius affects the conduction of the phonon due to the solid solution in U and Am. B values were independent of Am content.
Hirooka, Shun; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Kato, Masato
Proceedings of International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles; Sustainable Clean Energy for the Future (FR22) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2022/04
Property studies on Am/Np-bearing MOX were carried out and how the properties influences on the irradiation behaviors was discussed. Both Am and Np inclusions increase the oxygen potential of MOX. Inter-diffusion coefficients obtained by using diffusion couple technique indicate that the inter-diffusion coefficient is larger in the order of U-Am, U-Pu and U-Np. Also, the inter-diffusion coefficients were evaluated to be larger at the O/M = 2 than those of O/M 
2 by several orders. The increase of oxygen potential with Am/Np leads to higher vapor pressure of UO
and the acceleration of the pore migration along temperature gradient during irradiation. The redistributions of actinide elements were also considered with the relationship of the pore migration and diffusion in solid state. Thus, the obtained inter-diffusion coefficients directly influence on the redistribution rate. The obtained properties were modelled and can be installed in a fuel irradiation simulation code.
Kusano, Kanya*; Ichimoto, Kiyoshi*; Ishii, Mamoru*; Miyoshi, Yoshizumi*; Yoden, Shigeo*; Akiyoshi, Hideharu*; Asai, Ayumi*; Ebihara, Yusuke*; Fujiwara, Hitoshi*; Goto, Tadanori*; et al.
Earth, Planets and Space (Internet), 73(1), p.159_1 - 159_29, 2021/12
Times Cited Count：7 Percentile：38.33(Geosciences, Multidisciplinary)The PSTEP is a nationwide research collaboration in Japan and was conducted from April 2015 to March 2020, supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. It has made a significant progress in space weather research and operational forecasts, publishing over 500 refereed journal papers and organizing four international symposiums, various workshops and seminars, and summer school for graduate students at Rikubetsu in 2017. This paper is a summary report of the PSTEP and describes the major research achievements it produced.
Onda, Yuichi*; Taniguchi, Keisuke*; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Kato, Hiroaki*; Takahashi, Junko*; Wakiyama, Yoshifumi*; Coppin, F.*; Smith, H.*
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (Internet), 1(12), p.644 - 660, 2020/12
Times Cited Count：142 Percentile：90.10(Environmental Sciences)Onda, Yuichi*; Taniguchi, Keisuke*; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Kato, Hiroaki*; Takahashi, Junko*; Wakiyama, Yoshifumi*; Coppin, F.*; Smith, H.*
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (Internet), 1(12), P. 694_1, 2020/12
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.00(Environmental Sciences)Nancekievill, M.*; Espinosa, J.*; Watson, S.*; Lennox, B.*; Jones, A.*; Joyce, M. J.*; Katakura, Junichi*; Okumura, Keisuke; Kamada, So*; Kato, Michio*; et al.
Sensors (Internet), 19(20), p.4602_1 - 4602_16, 2019/10
Times Cited Count：9 Percentile：44.74(Chemistry, Analytical)In order to contribute to fuel debris search at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, we developed a system to search for submerged fuel debris by mounting a sonar on the remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The system can obtain 3D images of submerged fuel debris in real time by using the positioning system, depth sensor, and collected sonar data. As a demonstration test, a simulated fuel debris was installed at the bottom of the water tank facility at the Naraha Center for Remote Control Technology Development, and a 3D image was successfully obtained.
Kamada, So*; Kato, Michio*; Nishimura, Kazuya*; Nancekievill, M.*; Watson, S.*; Lennox, B.*; Jones, A.*; Joyce, M. J.*; Okumura, Keisuke; Katakura, Junichi*
Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology (Internet), 6, p.199 - 202, 2019/01
As a technology development to investigate the distribution of submerged fuel debris in the primary containment vessel (PCV) of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, we are conducting development experiments of sonar system to be mounted in a compact ROV. The experiments were conducted in two types of water tanks with different depths, simulating the PCV, using sonar with different sizes, ultrasonic frequencies, and beam scanning method, and simulated fuel debris. As a result, we characterized the shape discrimination performance of the simulated debris, and the noise due to multi-path in narrow closed space.
Nancekievill, M.*; Jones, A. R.*; Joyce, M. J.*; Lennox, B.*; Watson, S.*; Katakura, Junichi*; Okumura, Keisuke; Kamada, So*; Kato, Michio*; Nishimura, Kazuya*
IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 65(9), p.2565 - 2572, 2018/09
Times Cited Count：27 Percentile：91.67(Engineering, Electrical & Electronic)In order to contribute to the development of technology to search fuel debris submerged in water inside the primary containment vessel of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, we are developing a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system equipped with a compact radiation detector and sonar. A cerium bromide (CeBr) scintillator detector for dose rate monitoring and 
ray spectroscopy was integrated into ROV and experimentally validated with a 
Cs source, both in the conditions of laboratory and submerged. In addition, the ROV combined with the IMAGENEX 831L sonar could characterize the shape and size of a simulated fuel debris at the bottom of the water pool facility.
Nancekievill, M.*; Jones, A. R.*; Joyce, M. J.*; Lennox, B.*; Watson, S.*; Katakura, Junichi*; Okumura, Keisuke; Kamada, So*; Kato, Michio*; Nishimura, Kazuya*
Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA 2017) (USB Flash Drive), 6 Pages, 2017/06
We are developping a submersible ROV system, coupled with radiation detectors aimed at mapping the interior of the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. To map the -ray intensity environment a cerium bromide (CeBr) inorganic scintillator detector sensitive to -rays has been incorporated into the ROV to measure -ray intensity and identify radioactive isotopes. The ROV is a cylindrical shape with a diameter of about 150 mm, and it have two end caps of five pumps each allowing control of the ROV in 5 degree of freedom. It is possible to directly replace the CeBr detector with a single crystal chemical vapour deposition (CVD) neutron detector with a 
Li convertor foil that is capable of mapping the thermal neutron flux.
Kawasaki, Masatsugu; Nakajima, Junya; Yoshida, Keisuke; Kato, Saori; Nishino, Sho; Nozaki, Teo; Nakagawa, Masahiro; Tsunoda, Junichi; Sugaya, Yuki; Hasegawa, Rie; et al.
JAEA-Data/Code 2017-004, 57 Pages, 2017/03
JAEA-Data-Code-2017-004.pdf:2.34MB
In emergency situation of nuclear facilities, we need to estimate the radiation dose due to radiation and radioactivity to grasp the influence range of the accident in the early stage. Therefore, we prepare the case studies of dose assessment for public exposure dose and personal exposure dose and contribute them to emergency procedures. This document covers about accidents of nuclear facilities in Nuclear Science Research Institute and past accident of nuclear power plant, and it can be used for inheritance of techniques of emergency dose assessment.
Ishihara, Keisuke; Yokota, Akira; Kanazawa, Shingo; Iketani, Shotaro; Sudo, Tomoyuki; Myodo, Masato; Irie, Hirobumi; Kato, Mitsugu; Iseda, Hirokatsu; Kishimoto, Katsumi; et al.
JAEA-Technology 2016-024, 108 Pages, 2016/12
JAEA-Technology-2016-024.pdf:29.74MB
Radioactive isotope, nuclear fuel material and radiation generators are utilized in research institutes, universities, hospitals, private enterprises, etc. As a result, various low-level radioactive wastes (hereinafter referred to as non-nuclear radioactive wastes) are produced. Disposal site for non-nuclear radioactive wastes have not been settled yet and those wastes are stored in storage facilities of each operator for a long period. The Advanced Volume Reduction Facilities (AVRF) are built to produce waste packages so that they satisfy requirements for shallow underground disposal. In the AVRF, low-level beta-gamma solid radioactive wastes produced in the Nuclear Science Research Institute are mainly treated. To produce waste packages meeting requirements for disposal safely and efficiently, it is necessary to cut large radioactive wastes into pieces of suitable size and segregate those depending on their types of material. This report summarizes activities of pretreatment to dispose of non-nuclear radioactive wastes in the AVRF.
