Experimental verification of operational conditions for the 3rd glass melter in TVF

Asahi, Yoshimitsu; Fukuda, Shigeki; Shiramizu, Daiki; Miyata, Koshi; Tone, Masaya; Katsuoka, Nanako; Maeda, Yuta; Aoyama, Yusuke; Niitsuma, Koichi; Kobayashi, Hidekazu; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2024-024, 271 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Technology-2024-024.pdf:33.98MB
JAEA-Technology-2024-024-hyperlink.zip:31.96MB

A glass melter for the vitrification process of highly active liquid waste in the Tokai Reprocessing Plant, TVF's 3rd melter, was built, and the glass of 18 vitrified waste canisters in weight was melted and poured through a cold test operation. The molten glass surface was covered by a cold cap from feeding fiberglass cartridges saturated with non-radioactive simulant liquid waste as raw material, whose components are equivalent to actual waste. Differences in inherent characteristics of the thermal behavior between the 2nd and the 3rd melter due to the difference in design were considered to establish the procedure to control the new melter. The melter's condition was stabilized at a higher glass temperature and the cooling of 1 kW less in each of the two main electrodes, compared to the 2nd one. Under 39 kW joule heating of the main electrodes with 26 Nm3/h coolant flow rate, it showed the capability to finish heating the bottom furnace in 5 hours before pouring, 2 hours shorter than the 2nd melter. Measurements of the temperature distributions in molten glass and casing surface yielded data that is efficient for developing a simulation model. After Platinum Group Elements (PGE) concentration saturates in the molten glass, feeding raw material and discharging glass were suspended to examine a holding state, indicating PGE settling could retard. During the holding test, observation of the melting process of the cold cap declared that the surface was covered by a thin layer with almost non-fluidity. It will be a reason for choosing the no-slip condition of a fluid calculation, even in the hot-top condition. The investigation of PGE discharging behavior by analyzing the elemental composition of poured glass showed the accumulated PGE amount in the 3rd melter is small compared to the 2nd melter. Inspection of the melter inside after draining out concluded that there were neither significant residual glass nor refractory fragments.

Analytical work at NUCEF in FY 2005

Fukaya, Hiroyuki; Aoki, Hiromichi; Haga, Takahisa; Nishizawa, Hidetoshi; Sonoda, Takashi; Sakazume, Yoshinori; Shimizu, Kaori; Niitsuma, Yasushi*; Shirahashi, Koichi; Inoue, Takeshi

JAEA-Technology 2007-005, 27 Pages, 2007/03

JAEA-Technology-2007-005.pdf:1.97MB

Analysis of the uranyl nitrate solution fuel is carried out at the analytical laboratory of NUCEF (Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Research Facility), which provides essential data for operation of STACY (Static Experiment Critical Facility), TRACY (Transient Experiment Critical Facility) and the fuel treatment system. Analyzed in FY 2005 were uranyl nitrate solution fuel samples taken before and after experiments of STACY and TRACY, samples for the preparation of uranyl nitrate solution fuel, and samples for nuclear material accountancy purpose. Also analyzed were the samples from raffinate treatment and its preliminary tests. The raffinate was generated, since FY 2000, during preliminary experiments on U/Pu extraction-pulification to fix the operation condition to prepare plutonium solution fuel to be used for criticality experiments at STACY. This report summarizes work related to the analysis and management of the analytical laboratory in the FY 2005.

Annual report on analytical works in NUCEF in FY. 2003

Shimizu, Kaori; Gunji, Kazuhiko*; Haga, Takahisa*; Fukaya, Hiroyuki; Sonoda, Takashi; Sakazume, Yoshinori; Sakai, Yutaka*; Akutsu, Hideyuki; Niitsuma, Yasushi*; Inoue, Takeshi; et al.

JAERI-Tech 2004-078, 27 Pages, 2005/02

JAERI-Tech-2004-078.pdf:1.84MB

Analysis of the uranyl nitrate solution fuel are carried out at the analytical laboratory, NUCEF (the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Research Facility), which provide essential data for the operations of STACY (the Static Experiment Critical Facility), TRACY (the Transient Experiment Critical Facility) and the fuel treatment system.In the FY 2003, analysis of the uranyl nitrate solution fuel from STACY/TRACY on its pre- and post-operations, analysis of the uranyl nitrate solution under preparation stage for the fuel and analysis for nuclear material accountancy purpose, have been conducted. In addition, analysis on the third U/Pu extraction/separation tests among the preliminary tests to confirm adjustment condition of plutonium solution fuel for its further use at STACY from 2000, and analysis on the experiments to treat extraction waste, were conducted. A total number of analytical samples in the FY 2003 were 156.This report summarizes works related to the analysis and management of the analytical laboratory in the FY 2003.

Present status of chemical analysis of uranyl nitrate solution used for the criticality experiments in NUCEF

Haga, Takahisa*; Gunji, Kazuhiko; Fukaya, Hiroyuki; Sonoda, Takashi; Sakazume, Yoshinori; Sakai, Yutaka; Niitsuma, Yasushi; Togashi, Yoshihiro; Miyauchi, Masakatsu; Sato, Takeshi; et al.

JAERI-Tech 2004-005, 54 Pages, 2004/02

JAERI-Tech-2004-005.pdf:2.06MB

Criticality experiments using uranyl nitrate solution fuel are being conducted at STACY (the Static Experiment Critical Facility) and TRACY (the Transient Experiment Critical Facility) in NUCEF (the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Safety Engineering Research Facility). Chemical analyses of the solution have been carried out to take necessary data for criticality experiments, for treatment and control of the fuel, and for safeguards purpose at the analytical laboratory placed in NUCEF. About 300 samples are analyzed annually that provide various kinds of data, such as uranium concentration, isolation acid concentration, uranium isotopic composition, concentration of fission product (FP) nuclides, tri-butyl phosphoric acid (TBP) concentration, impurities in the solution fuel and so on. This report summarizes the analytical methods and quality management of the analysis for uranyl nitrate solution relating to the criticality experiments.

Annual report on analytical works in NUCEF in F.Y. 2000

Tanoue, Takahiro; Gunji, Kazuhiko; Haga, Takahisa*; Fukaya, Hiroyuki; Sonoda, Takashi; Sakazume, Yoshinori; Niitsuma, Yasushi; Miyauchi, Masakatsu; Shirahashi, Koichi; Sato, Takeshi

JAERI-Tech 2001-071, 30 Pages, 2001/11

JAERI-Tech-2001-071.pdf:4.15MB

Analytical results of uranyl nitrate solution are essential data for the operation of the Static Experiment Critical Facility (STACY), the Transient Experiment Critical Facility (TRACY) and the fuel treatment system in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Safety Engineering Research Facility (NUCEF). Analytical works were carried out for the determination of fuel characteristics before and after criticality experiments, fuel preparation and nuclear material accountancy in FY. 2000. In accordance with handling and dissolution of mixed oxide(MOX) powder in the fuel treatment system of NUCEF ,the preliminary tests for dissolution of the MOX powder in nitric acid solution have started since the end of 2000 ,after the MOX powder transfer to the NUCEF. The analytical works were carried out for the preliminary tests. A total number of analytical samples in FY. 2000 were 483 samples . This report summarizes the data on analytical works in FY.2000.

Development of the measurement technology of inside melter, 2

Nakazaki, Katsutoshi; Takaya, Akikazu; Kato, Junya; Kobayashi, Masahiro; Matsumura, Tadayuki; Niitsuma, Koichi; Fujiwara, Koji

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Evaluation of corrosion in the equipment containing high level radioactive liquid waste

Sumi, Hirotaka; Makigaki, Hikaru; Nakayama, Jiro; Niitsuma, Koichi; Kodaka, Akira

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Repair of the crane in the vitrification cell in Tokai Vitrification Facility (TVF)

Matsumura, Tadayuki; Takaya, Akikazu; Sumi, Hirotaka; Ishii, Kiyonori; Niitsuma, Koichi; Kodaka, Akira; Fujiwara, Koji

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English