Background aerial monitoring and UAV radiation monitoring technology development for emergency response and preparedness in the fiscal year 2024 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Ochi, Kotaro; Sasaki, Miyuki; Nakama, Shigeo; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Sanada, Yukihisa; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2025-015, 171 Pages, 2026/03

JAEA-Technology-2025-015.pdf:11.43MB

On March 11, 2011, the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami caused the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, releasing radioactive material. Since then, Aerial Radiation Monitoring (ARM) with manned helicopters has been used to assess radiation distribution quickly. In FY2024, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), under commission from the Nuclear Regulation Authority, conducted ARM around the Shimane Nuclear Power Station, producing background dose rate maps validated against ground and other data. During a nuclear emergency drill, UAV training flights complemented manned monitoring, confirming the effectiveness of real-time communication and rapid mapping. The UAV data system was developed and demonstrated for real-time analysis and multi-platform use. Skill training for multicopters was also conducted to strengthen operational capability. Additionally, joint monitoring with the U.S., France, South Korea, and Canada provided insights into international technologies and practices, emphasizing the value of information sharing. This report summarizes the results and technical challenges from these FY2024 activities, contributing to the advancement of emergency radiation monitoring.

Effect of nanoscale cellular structure on the mechanical properties of Inconel 718 with unique hierarchical structure fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

Cho, K.*; Yamashita, Kippei*; Kakutani, Shinnosuke*; Saito, Takuma*; Sasaki, Taisuke*; Sawaizumi, Katsuhiko*; Okugawa, Masayuki*; Koizumi, Yuichiro*; Mayama, Tsuyoshi*; Kikukawa, Taichi*; et al.

Acta Materialia, 303, p.121696_1 - 121696_18, 2026/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121696

Decommissioning state of Plutonium Fuel Fabrication Facility; Dismantling the Glove Box W-4,W-5,W-6-1,W-6-2 and equipment interior

Nagai, Yuya; Kimura, Yasuhisa; Takeuchi, Kentaro; Shuji, Yoshiyuki; Kawasaki, Takeshi; Hirano, Koji*; Tomiyama, Noboru*; Usui, Yasuhiro*; Nidaira, Seiichiro*; Shinozaki, Tomohiro*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2025-003, 110 Pages, 2025/10

JAEA-Technology-2025-003.pdf:11.5MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) manages wide range of nuclear facilities. Many of these facilities are required to be performed adjustment with the aging and complement with the new regulatory standards and the earthquake resistant, since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident. It is therefore desirable to promote decommissioning of facilities that have reached the end of their productive life in order to reduce risk and maintenance costs. However, the progress of facility decommissioning require large amount of money and radioactive waste storage space. In order to address these issues, JAEA has formulated a "The Medium/Long-Term Management Plan of JAEA Facilities" with three pillars: (1) consolidation and prioritization of facilities, (2) assurance of facility safety, and (3) back-end countermeasures. In this plan, Plutonium Fuel Fabrication Facility has been selected as primary decommissioned facility, and dismantling of equipment in the facilities have been underway. The following gloveboxes were dismantled between March 2020 and March 2022: Glovebox No. W-4, which houses the roasting furnace, washing and dewatering tank, and washing waste tank; Glovebox No. W-5, which houses the weighing tank; Glovebox No. W-6-1, which houses the flocculation-sedimentation tank, slurry-receiving tank, neutralization tank, and receiving tank; and Glovebox No. W-6-2, which houses the adjustment tank, adjustment liquid agitator, adsorption tower, discharge tank, discharge tank agitator, and adsorption tower. This report summarizes the results of the work and the findings obtained through the dismantling of these gloveboxes.

neutron diffraction study on the strength and ductility enhancement mechanism of hydrogen-charged SUS310S stainless steel

Ito, Tatsuya; Ogawa, Yuhei*; Gong, W.; Mao, W.*; Kawasaki, Takuro; Okada, Kazuho*; Shibata, Akinobu*; Harjo, S.

Hamon, 35(3), p.129 - 133, 2025/08

Linking combustion-derived magnetite and black carbon; Insights from magnetic characterization of PM in downwind East Asia

Nozomu, Tsuchiya*; Ikemori, Fumikazu*; Kawasaki, Kazuo*; Yamada, Rena*; Hata, Mitsuhiko*; Furuuchi, Masami*; Iwamoto, Yoko*; Kaneyasu, Naoki*; Sadanaga, Yasuhiro*; Watanabe, Takahiro; et al.

Environmental Science & Technology, 59(21), p.10400 - 10410, 2025/05

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c14187

Black carbon (BC) is a typical primary aerosol emitted from combustion. While its co-existence with iron oxides (FeO) has recently been reported, the extent of bias caused by FeO mixing to the BC observations is largely unknown. To identify the dominant FeO emission sources and associated overestimation of BC, magnetics properties of PM collected at a remote site in East Asia was investigated in combination with detailed isotopic and chemical analyses. Consequently, biomass burning events did not enhance aerosol magnetism as they did for the mass concentration of BC, whereas coal burning events coincided with periods of high magnetization. Therefore, magnetization/BC ratio is proposed as a highly selective indicator for identifying combustion sources (i.e. coal, oil or biomass burning).

Background aerial monitoring and UAV radiation monitoring technology development for emergency response and preparedness in fiscal year 2023 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Nakama, Shigeo; Sasaki, Miyuki; Ochi, Kotaro; Sawahata, Yoshiro*; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Haginoya, Masashi*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2024-022, 170 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Technology-2024-022.pdf:15.09MB

On March 11, 2011, the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake caused a tsunami that led to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, releasing radioactive material into the environment. Since then, Aerial Radiation Monitoring (ARM) using manned helicopters has been employed to measure radiation distribution. As a commissioned project from the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) utilizes this technology for emergency monitoring during nuclear facility accidents, aiming to provide prompt results by pre-arranging information on background radiation, topography, and control airspaces around nuclear power plants nationwide. In fiscal year 2023, the commissioned project included conducting ARM around the Sendai Nuclear Power Station and preparing related information. To enhance effectiveness during emergencies, ARM and the first domestic training flight of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were conducted during the FY2023 Nuclear Energy Disaster Prevention Drill. Furthermore, UAVs radiation monitoring technology was advanced by selecting UAVs and investigating their performance. This report summarizes the results and technical issues identified providing insights to improve emergency preparedness.

Annual report on the effluent control of low level liquid waste in Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories FY2023

Kokubun, Yuji; Hosomi, Kenji; Seya, Natsumi; Nagaoka, Mika; Inoue, Kazumi; Koike, Yuko; Hasegawa, Ryo; Kubota, Tomohiro; Hirao, Moe; Iizawa, Shogo; et al.

JAEA-Review 2024-053, 116 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Review-2024-053.pdf:3.26MB

Based on the regulations (the safety regulation of Tokai Reprocessing Plant, the safety regulation of nuclear fuel material usage facilities, the radiation safety rule, the regulation about prevention from radiation hazards due to radioisotopes, which are related with the nuclear regulatory acts, the local agreement concerning with safety and environment conservation around nuclear facilities, the water pollution prevention act, and by law of Ibaraki Prefecture), the effluent control of liquid waste discharged from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories of Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been performed. This report describes the effluent control results of the liquid waste in the fiscal year 2023. In this period, the concentrations and the quantities of the radioactivity in liquid waste discharged from the reprocessing plant, the plutonium fuel fabrication facilities, and the other nuclear fuel material usage facilities were much lower than the limits authorized by the above regulations.

neutron diffraction study to elucidate hydrogen effect on the deformation mechanism in Type 310S austenitic stainless steel

Ito, Tatsuya; Ogawa, Yuhei*; Gong, W.; Mao, W.*; Kawasaki, Takuro; Okada, Kazuho*; Shibata, Akinobu*; Harjo, S.

Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Steel Science (ISSS 2024), p.237 - 240, 2024/11

https://doi.org/10.2355/isijisss.2024.0_237

Radiation monitoring via manned helicopter around the nuclear power station in the fiscal year 2022 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Nagakubo, Azusa; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Akutsu, Yuichiro*; Arai, Yoshinori*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2023-027, 146 Pages, 2024/03

JAEA-Technology-2023-027.pdf:18.12MB

By the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO's) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), caused by tsunami triggered by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the surrounding environment. After the accident, Airborne Radiation Monitoring (ARM) via manned helicopter has been applied as a method to quickly and extensively measure the distribution of radiation. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has continuously conducted ARM via manned helicopter around FDNPS. In this report, we summarize the results of the ARM around FDNPS in the fiscal year 2022, evaluate the changes of ambient dose rates and other parameters based on the comparison to the past ARM results, and discuss the causes of such changes. In order to contribute to improve the accuracy of ambient dose rate conversion, we analyzed the ARM data taking into account undulating topography, and evaluated the effect of this method. Furthermore, the effect of radon progenies in the air on the ARM was evaluated by applying the discrimination method to the measurement results.

Annual report on the effluent control of low level liquid waste in Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories FY2022

Kokubun, Yuji; Nakada, Akira; Seya, Natsumi; Nagaoka, Mika; Koike, Yuko; Kubota, Tomohiro; Hirao, Moe; Yoshii, Hideki*; Otani, Kazunori*; Hiyama, Yoshinori*; et al.

JAEA-Review 2023-052, 118 Pages, 2024/03

JAEA-Review-2023-052.pdf:3.67MB

Based on the regulations (the safety regulation of Tokai Reprocessing Plant, the safety regulation of nuclear fuel material usage facilities, the radiation safety rule, the regulation about prevention from radiation hazards due to radioisotopes, which are related with the nuclear regulatory acts, the local agreement concerning with safety and environment conservation around nuclear facilities, the water pollution control law, and by law of Ibaraki Prefecture), the effluent control of liquid waste discharged from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories of Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been performed. This report describes the effluent control results of the liquid waste in the fiscal year 2022. In this period, the concentrations and the quantities of the radioactivity in liquid waste discharged from the reprocessing plant, the plutonium fuel fabrication facilities, and the other nuclear fuel material usage facilities were much lower than the limits authorized by the above regulations.