Irradiation test using foreign reactor, 1; Study of irradiation test with capsule temperature control system (Joint research)

Takabe, Yugo; Otsuka, Noriaki; Fuyushima, Takumi; Sayato, Natsuki; Inoue, Shuichi; Morita, Hisashi; Jaroszewicz, J.*; Migdal, M.*; Onuma, Yuichi; Tobita, Masahiro*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2022-040, 45 Pages, 2023/03

JAEA-Technology-2022-040.pdf:6.61MB

Because of the decommission of the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR), the domestic neutron irradiation facility, which had played a central role in the development of innovative nuclear reactors and the development of technologies to further improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of light water reactors, was lost. Therefore, it has become difficult to pass on the operation techniques of the irradiation test reactors and irradiation technologies, and to train human resources. In order to cope with these issues, we conducted a study on the implementation of irradiation tests using overseas reactors as neutron irradiation sites as an alternative method. Based on the "Arrangement between the National Centre for Nuclear Research and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency for Cooperation in Research and Development on Testing Reactor," the feasibility of conducting an irradiation test at the MARIA reactor (30 MW) owned by the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) using the temperature control system, which is one of the JMTR irradiation technologies, was examined. As a result, it was found that the irradiation test was possible by modifying the ready-made capsule manufactured in accordance with the design and manufacturing standards of the JMTR. After the modification, a penetration test, an insulation continuity test, and an operation test in the range of room temperature to 300C, which is the operating temperature of the capsule, were conducted and favorable results were obtained. We have completed the preparations prior to transport to the MARIA reactor.

Statistical analysis of simulated oceanic dispersion of dissolved radionuclide hypothetically released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant using long-term oceanographic reanalysis data

Ikenoue, Tsubasa; Kawamura, Hideyuki; Kamidaira, Yuki

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 11 Pages, 2022/05

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2079569

We conducted numerical simulations on the oceanic dispersion of dissolved radionuclide hypothetically released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant using long-term oceanographic reanalysis data. We evaluated the characteristics and trends of dissolved radionuclide behavior in the ocean using statistical analysis based on the simulation results. The surface meridional current at the release point in the Fukushima coastal ocean and the Kuroshio Extension significantly affected the north-south transport of the surface radionuclide in the Fukushima coastal ocean and the eastward transport of the offshore surface radionuclide, respectively. Because the surface kinetic energy in the coastal to the offshore area was larger, the range of the dispersed surface radionuclide tended to be larger. In summer (July-September), the increased frequency radionuclide entrainment by the Kuroshio Extension because of the surface southward radionuclide transport in the Fukushima coastal ocean and the large surface kinetic energy caused a large dispersed surface radionuclide. In winter (January-March), the decreased frequency radionuclide entrainment by the Kuroshio Extension because of the surface northward radionuclide transport in the Fukushima coastal ocean and the small surface kinetic energy caused a small dispersed surface radionuclide.

Chemical characterization of a volatile dubnium compound, DbOCl

Chiera, N. M.*; Sato, Tetsuya; Eichler, R.*; Tomitsuka, Tomohiro; Asai, Masato; Adachi, Sadia*; Dressler, R.*; Hirose, Kentaro; Inoue, Hiroki*; Ito, Yuta; et al.

Angewandte Chemie; International Edition, 60(33), p.17871 - 17874, 2021/08

https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202102808

The formation and the chemical characterization of single atoms of dubnium (Db, element 105), in the form of its volatile oxychloride, was investigated using the on-line gas phase chromatography technique, in the temperature range 350 - 600 C. Under the exact same chemical conditions, comparative studies with the lighter homologs of group-5 in the Periodic Table clearly indicate the volatility sequence being NbOCl TaOCl DbOCl. From the obtained experimental results, thermochemical data for DbOCl were derived. The present study delivers reliable experimental information for theoretical calculations on the chemical properties of transactinides.

Summary results of subsidy program for the "Project of Decommissioning and Contaminated Water Management (Development of Analysis and Estimation Technology for Characterization of Fuel Debris (Development of Technologies for Enhanced Analysis Accuracy and Thermal Behavior Estimation of Fuel Debris))"

Koyama, Shinichi; Nakagiri, Toshio; Osaka, Masahiko; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Kurata, Masaki; Ikeuchi, Hirotomo; Maeda, Koji; Sasaki, Shinji; Onishi, Takashi; Takano, Masahide; et al.

Hairo, Osensui Taisaku jigyo jimukyoku Homu Peji (Internet), 144 Pages, 2021/08

https://dccc-program.jp/3797

JAEA performed the subsidy program for the "Project of Decommissioning and Contaminated Water Management (Development of Analysis and Estimation Technology for Characterization of Fuel Debris (Development of Technologies for Enhanced Analysis Accuracy and Thermal Behavior Estimation of Fuel Debris))" in 2020JFY. This presentation summarized briefly the results of the project, which will be available shortly on the website of Management Office for the Project of Decommissioning and Contaminated Water Management.

Formation of clusters in dilute neutron-rich matter

Tanaka, Junki*; Yang, Z.*; Typel, S.*; Adachi, Satoshi*; Bai, S.*; Van Beek, P.*; Beaumel, D.*; Fujikawa, Yuki*; Han, J.*; Heil, S.*; et al.

Science, 371(6526), p.260 - 264, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abe4688

By employing quasi-free -cluster-knockout reactions, we obtained direct experimental evidence for the formation of clusters at the surface of neutron-rich tin isotopes. The observed monotonous decrease of the reaction cross sections with increasing mass number, in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction, implies a tight interplay between -cluster formation and the neutron skin.

Dynamics of proteins with different molecular structures under solution condition

Inoue, Rintaro*; Oda, Takashi*; Nakagawa, Hiroshi; Tominaga, Taiki*; Saio, Tomohide*; Kawakita, Yukinobu; Shimizu, Masahiro*; Okuda, Aya*; Morishima, Ken*; Sato, Nobuhiro*; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 10, p.21678_1 - 21678_10, 2020/12

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78311-4

Incoherent quasielastic neutron scattering (iQENS) is a fascinating technique for investigating the internal dynamics of protein. However, both low flux of neutron beam and absence of analytical procedure for extracting the internal dynamics from iQENS profile have been obstacles for studying it under physiological condition (in solution). Thanks to the recent development of neutron source, spectrometer and computational technique, they enable us to decouple internal dynamics, translational and rotational diffusions from the iQENS profile. The internal dynamics of two proteins: globular domain protein (GDP) and intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) in solution were studied. It was found that the average relaxation rate of IDP was larger than that of GDP. Through the detailed analyses on their internal dynamics, it was revealed that the fraction of mobile H atoms in IDP was much higher than that in GDP. Interestingly, the fraction of mobile H atoms was closely related to the fraction of H atoms on highly solvent exposed surfaces. The iQENS study presented that the internal dynamics were governed by the highly solvent exposed amino acid residues depending upon protein molecular architectures.

Frontline of R&D for decommissioning and waste disposal, 1; R&D for processing and disposal of low-level radioactive waste and closure of uranium mine

Tsuji, Tomoyuki; Sugitsue, Noritake; Sato, Fuminori; Matsushima, Ryotatsu; Kataoka, Shoji; Okada, Shota; Sasaki, Toshiki; Inoue, Junya

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 62(11), p.658 - 663, 2020/11

no abstracts in English

Corrosion monitoring in humidity-controlled environment simulating gamma ray irradiation

Omori, Atsushi*; Akiyama, Eiji*; Abe, Hiroshi*; Hata, Kuniki; Sato, Tomonori; Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Inoue, Hiroyuki*; Taguchi, Mitsumasa*; Seito, Hajime*; Tada, Eiji*; et al.

Zairyo To Kankyo, 69(4), p.107 - 111, 2020/04

https://doi.org/10.3323/jcorr.69.107

To evaluate the effect of oxidants, which are formed by radiolysis of water under gamma ray irradiation, on the corrosion of a carbon steel in humid environment, ozone was introduced as a model oxidant in to humidity-controlled air at 50C in a thermo-hygrostat chamber. Corrosion monitoring was performed by using an Atmospheric Corrosion Monitor-type (ACM) sensor consisting of a carbon steel anode and an Ag cathode. The output current of the ACM sensor was increased with the increase in relative humidity and it was obviously increased with the increase in the introduced ozone concentration at each relative humidity. The results indicate that ozone accelerates the corrosion of the carbon steel. The effect of ozone on the corrosion acceleration is attributed to the fast reduction reaction and fast dissolution reaction in to water compared to that of oxygen.

A Simulation of radiolysis of chloride solutions containing ferrous ion

Hata, Kuniki; Inoue, Hiroyuki*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(9-10), p.842 - 850, 2019/09

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1585986

To investigate the effect of dissolved species from steels on the radiolysis processes of Cl, radiolysis simulations of solutions containing both Cl and Fe were carried out. The results showed that the generation of radiolytic products (HO, O and H) increased mainly by the addition of Fe, and a drop in the pH was caused by the hydrolysis of Fe. This pH drop enhanced the reactivity of Cl with OH, which induced additional generation of HO and O. These results show that low concentrations of Cl (1 10 mol/dm = 35ppm) in the presence of Fe could influence the generation of HO and O during water radiolysis. However, it is considered that these effects of Fe and low concentration of Cl on water radiolysis are less important for corrosion of steels due to the low concentrations of HO and O generated. The other process, such as dissolution of iron enhanced by FeOOH, might predominantly induce corrosion under the conditions of solutions with low concentrations of HO and O.

Annual report on the effluent control of low level liquid waste in Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories FY2017

Nakano, Masanao; Fujita, Hiroki; Mizutani, Tomoko; Nagaoka, Mika; Inoue, Kazumi; Koike, Yuko; Yamada, Ryohei; Yoshii, Hideki*; Hiyama, Yoshinori*; Otani, Kazunori*; et al.

JAEA-Review 2018-028, 120 Pages, 2019/02

JAEA-Review-2018-028.pdf:2.69MB

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 2017. 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.