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Journal Articles

Differential pressure changes of a high airflow-type HEPA filter during solvent fire in reprocessing facilities

Tashiro, Shinsuke; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Ono, Takuya; Amano, Yuki; Yoshida, Ryoichiro; Abe, Hitoshi

Nuclear Technology, 208(7), p.1205 - 1213, 2022/07

 Times Cited Count:0 Percentile:0.01(Nuclear Science & Technology)

A clogging behavior of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter at solvent fire accidents for reprocessing facilities has been studied. In this study, the burning rates of 30% tri-butyl phosphate (TBP)/dodecane (DD) mixed solvent and DD solvent and the differential pressure ($$Delta$$P) of a high airflow typed HEPA filter applied in the actual facilities in Japan were measured. It was confirmed that the mainly burned was DD at the early stage of the mixed solvent burning and the TBP at the late stage. Furthermore, it was found that the $$Delta$$P rapidly rose at the late stage of the mixed solvent burning. The increase of the release ratio of the unburned particulate composition (TBP, its degraded solvent and inorganic phosphorus (P$$_{2}$$O$$_{5}$$)) was considered to contribute to the rapid rise. The correlating formulas with the $$Delta$$P and the mass of the loading particulates, except for the region of the rapid rise of $$Delta$$P, could be induced.

Journal Articles

Release of radioactive materials from high active liquid waste in small-scale hot test for boiling accident in reprocessing plant

Yamane, Yuichi; Amano, Yuki; Tashiro, Shinsuke; Abe, Hitoshi; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Yoshida, Kazuo; Ishikawa, Jun

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 53(6), p.783 - 789, 2016/06

 Times Cited Count:4 Percentile:43.6(Nuclear Science & Technology)

The release behavior of radioactive materials from high active liquid waste (HALW) has been experimentally investigated under boiling accident conditions. In the experiments using HALW obtained through laboratory scale reprocessing, release ratio was measured for the FP nuclides such as Ru, $$^{99}$$Tc, Cs, Sr, Nd, Y, Mo, Rh and actinides such as $$^{242}$$Cm, $$^{241}$$Am. As a result, the release ratio was 0.20 for Ru and 1$$times$$$$10^{-4}$$ for the FP and Ac nuclides. Ru was released into the gas phase in the form of both mist and gas. For its released amount, weak dependency was found to the initial concentration in the test solution. The release ratio decreased with the initial concentration. For other FP nuclides and actinides as non-volatile, released into the gas phase in the form of mist, the released amount increased with the initial concentration. The release ratio of Ru and NOx concentration increased with temperature of the test solutions. They were released almost at the same temperature between 200 and 300$$^{circ}$$C. Size distribution of the mist and other particle was measured.

Journal Articles

Release Characteristics of Ruthenium from Highly Active Liquid Waste in Drying Step

Tashiro, Shinsuke; Amano, Yuki; Yoshida, Kazuo; Yamane, Yuichi; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Abe, Hitoshi

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 14(4), p.227 - 234, 2015/12

The release characteristics of Ru from highly active liquid waste (HALW) have been investigated under the condition of accidental evaporation to dryness by boiling of HALW. Using a laboratory-scale apparatus, non-radioactive simulated HALW (s-HALW) was heated with an external heater to dryness to observe the release characteristics of Ru and gaseous nitrogen oxides. As a result, Ru was significantly released between 120 and 300 $$^{circ}$$C of the s-HALW. The cumulative release ratio of Ru was 0.088. It was also found that the partially released amount of Ru against the temperature of the s-HALW had two peaks with one maximal at about 140 $$^{circ}$$C and maximum at about 240 $$^{circ}$$C. Referring to the results of the release rate of gaseous nitrogen oxides and the volume of condensate, which was a collection of the mixed vapors of steam and nitric acid released from the s-HALW, we discussed the causes of Ru release around these peaks.

Journal Articles

Experimental study on boiling accident of high active liquid waste in reprocessing

Uchiyama, Gunzo; Tashiro, Shinsuke; Amano, Yuki; Abe, Hitoshi; Yamane, Yuichi; Yoshida, Kazuo; Ishikawa, Jun

Proceedings of 21st International Conference & Exhibition; Nuclear Fuel Cycle for a Low-Carbon Future (GLOBAL 2015) (USB Flash Drive), p.1056 - 1063, 2015/09

The experimental study for source term data of radioactive materials has been conducted at a boiling accident of high active liquid waste (HALW) in reprocessing plants. In the study, three kinds of tests have been conducted including a cold small scale test, a cold engineering scale test and a hot small scale test. The following results were obtained: Ruthenium and Technetium were released into the gas phase in the form of both mist and gas under the boiling accident conditions of a simulated HALW. Non-volatile fission products (FPs) such as Nd and Cs were released into the gas phase in the form of mist. The release ratios of non-volatile FPs from a vessel of the simulated HALW were about 10$$^{-4}$$. The release ratios of actinide nuclides such as Am were almost the same as those of non-volatile FPs.

Journal Articles

Trends of nitrogen oxide release during thermal decomposition of nitrates in highly active liquid waste

Amano, Yuki; Watanabe, Koji; Tashiro, Shinsuke; Yamane, Yuichi; Ishikawa, Jun; Yoshida, Kazuo; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Abe, Hitoshi

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 14(2), p.86 - 94, 2015/06

Radioactive materials could be released into air due to the accidental boiling of high active liquid waste (HALW) in reprocessing plants. Volatile radioactive nuclides, such as ruthenium, are released from the tanks into the atmosphere. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are also released due to the thermal decomposition of metal nitrates in HALW. The released NOx transport volatile ruthenium and cause redox reactions associated with the composition or decomposition of volatile ruthenium. In this study, NOx release data were obtained by heating simulated HALW up to 600$$^{circ}$$C. As a result, the release of NOx from the simulated HALW was observed from 200$$^{circ}$$C to 600$$^{circ}$$C, and the main release of NOx was observed at about 340$$^{circ}$$C. All the lanthanide nitrates were found to decompose in the simulated HALW, and the thermal decomposition temperature of the lanthanide nitrates decreased after the addition of ruthenium dioxide to the mixed lanthanide nitrates solution.

Journal Articles

Release of radioactive materials from simulated high level liquid waste at boiling accident in reprocessing plant

Tashiro, Shinsuke; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Amano, Yuki; Abe, Hitoshi; Yamane, Yuichi; Yoshida, Kazuo

Nuclear Technology, 190(2), p.207 - 213, 2015/05

 Times Cited Count:5 Percentile:46.16(Nuclear Science & Technology)

The release behavior of radioactive materials from high active liquid waste (HALW) has been investigated under boiling accident conditions. Results of the experiment using a nonradioactive simulated HALW found Ru to be a volatile element under the accident conditions and to be released into the gas phase in the form of both mist and gas. The Ru release rate and the apparent Ru volatilization rate constant were obtained under the boiling conditions of simulated HALW. The other fission product elements such as Cs were found to be nonvolatile and to be released into the gasphase in the form of mist. The mist size distribution near the surface of the simulated HALW in the reactor vessel was found to range from 0.05 to 20 $$mu$$m with a peak diameter of $$sim$$ 2 $$mu$$m.

Journal Articles

Development of the method to assay barely measurable elements in spent nuclear fuel and application to BWR 9$$times$$9 fuel

Suyama, Kenya; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Fukaya, Hiroyuki; Umeda, Miki; Yamamoto, Toru*; Suzuki, Motomu*

Nuclear Back-end and Transmutation Technology for Waste Disposal, p.47 - 56, 2015/00

In fission products in used nuclear fuel, there are several stable isotopes which have large neutron absorption effect. It is known that there are several hardly measurable elements in such important fission products. JAEA had been developed the method to assess the amount of fission products which are hardly measurable and have large neutron capture cross section, under the auspices of the JNES. In this development, the measurement method was developed combining a simple and effective chemical separation scheme of fission products from used nuclear fuel and ICP-MS with high-sensitivity and high-precision. This method was applied to the measurement program for used BWR 9$$times$$9 fuel assembly. This method is applicable to the required measurement for the countermeasure to the accident of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plants of Tokyo Electric Power Company. This presentation describes the measurement method developed in the study as well as the future measurement plan in JAEA.

Journal Articles

Investigation of effects of $$gamma$$ ray irradiation on pyrolysis properties of glove-box panel materials

Abe, Hitoshi; Watanabe, Koji; Uchiyama, Gunzo

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 13(4), p.136 - 144, 2014/12

The glove box (GB) is the equipment with some kinds of plastic components which is used for the containment of the radioactive material. In the MOX fuel fabrication facility, MOX is also handled in the GB. Since the plastic panel, which has the largest area of the GB, is used in the long period, it is exposed to high dose from MOX continuously. In this study, to confirm that containment capability of GB can be maintained even under external thermal stress, effect of the $$gamma$$-ray irradiation with $$^{60}$$Co on the pyrolysis properties of the common panel materials which were obtained by TG-DTA has been investigated. As a result, polymethylmethacrylate showed the large peak of mass loss rate at about 260 degrees under the non-irradiation and air condition but it separated into lower and higher temperature sides above 25 kGy. The effect was not observed up to 10 kGy for polymethylmethacrylate, and up to 880 kGy for polycarbonate. By comparing with the estimated total dose of which GB panel would be irradiated in the operation period, it was found that the irradiation from MOX does not have significant effect on the pyrolysis properties of GB panel in the actual facility.

Journal Articles

Development of Ru transfer rate correlation to vapor phase in accident of evaporation to dryness by boiling of reprocessed high-level liquid waste

Yoshida, Kazuo; Tashiro, Shinsuke; Amano, Yuki; Yamane, Yuichi; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Abe, Hitoshi

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 13(4), p.155 - 166, 2014/12

An accident of evaporation to dryness by boiling of high level liquid waste (HLLW) is postulated as one of the severe accidents to occur caused by the loss of cooling function at a fuel reprocessing plant. In this case, a large amount of ruthenium (Ru) will be volatilized and transfer to the vapor phase in the tank, and could be released to the environment. Therefore, the quantitative estimation of released Ru is one of the key issues in the assessment of the accident consequence. To resolve this issue, an empirical correlation for Ru transfer rate to vapor phase with the temperature, nitric acid mol fraction and activity of HLLW has been developed based on the data obtained from the accelerated experiments using simulated HLLW. A simulation study with the developed correlation demonstrated that amount of Ru transfer to vapor phase was in a good agreement with the long term experiment using actual HLLW.

JAEA Reports

Investigation of release behavior of volatile ruthenium species from thermal decomposition of ruthenium nitrosylnitrate

Abe, Hitoshi; Masaki, Tomoo; Amano, Yuki; Uchiyama, Gunzo

JAEA-Research 2014-022, 12 Pages, 2014/11

JAEA-Research-2014-022.pdf:1.03MB

To contribute safety evaluation of boiling and drying accident of high active liquid waste (HALW) in fuel reprocessing plant, release behavior of Ru, which was considered as an important nuclide for evaluating public dose from the volatile viewpoint, has been investigated. It has been reported that release of Ru becomes conspicuously after HALW is dried up. In this work, to grasp the release behavior of Ru, release ratio of Ru with thermal decomposition of Ru nitrate, which would be in the dried HALW, was measured and release rate constant of Ru from the nitrate was estimated. It was found that the calculation result of release rate of Ru from the nitrate with rise of temperature by using the constant could well simulate the result acquired from the beaker-scale experiment.

Journal Articles

Transient extraction behavior analysis of plutonium in reprocessing

Uchiyama, Gunzo; Abe, Hitoshi

Proceedings of 20th International Solvent Extraction Conference (ISEC 2014), p.1167 - 1172, 2014/09

A simulation study and an experimental study were conducted for the consideration of a scenario of criticality accident at raffinate solution tanks in separation cycle in reprocessing plants. In a simulation study, transient extraction behavior of Pu has been studied with the solvent extraction simulation code, ESSCAR to understand the effect of process parameters in separation cycle. In the experimental study, extraction behaviors of nitrous acid and dibutyl phosphate (DBP) which influence the extraction behavior of Pu in separation cycles were investigated by using a mixer-settler under a $$gamma$$-ray irradiation condition. It was found that the concentrations of nitrous acid in both organic and aqueous phases were 1 $$times$$ 10$$^{-4}$$ M and 2 $$times$$ 10$$^{-5}$$ M, respectively. The concentrations of DBP in both organic and aqueous phases were 5 $$times$$ 10$$^{-4}$$ M and 8 $$times$$ 10$$^{-5}$$ M, respectively.

Journal Articles

Release behavior of radioactive materials at a boiling accident of high active liquid waste in reprocessing plants

Uchiyama, Gunzo; Tashiro, Shinsuke; Amano, Yuki; Abe, Hitoshi; Yamane, Yuichi; Yoshida, Kazuo; Ishikawa, Jun

Proceedings of International Waste Management Symposia 2014 (WM2014) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2014/05

The experimental study for source term data of radioactive materials has been conducted at a boiling accident of high active liquid waste (HALW) in a reprocessing plant. In the small scale cold test using a non-radioactive simulated HALW, the release behavior of FP elements from the simulated HALW were investigated under various boiling accident conditions. In the engineering scale cold test, the release behavior of FP elements at boiling accident conditions was investigated mainly as a spatial function. In the small scale hot test using a radioactive simulated HALW, the release behavior of radioactive materials (FP, alpha nuclides) were obtained under typical boiling accident conditions. In the small scale hot test, the release fractions of Ru and non-volatile FPs obtained were almost the same as those of the small scale cold test.

JAEA Reports

Examination of measurement method of isotopic composition of fission products in spent fuel

Fukaya, Hiroyuki; Suyama, Kenya; Sonoda, Takashi; Okubo, Kiyoshi; Umeda, Miki; Uchiyama, Gunzo

JAEA-Research 2013-020, 81 Pages, 2013/10

JAEA-Research-2013-020.pdf:3.81MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency conducted a project "Isotopic Composition measurement of Fission Products in Spent Fuel from FY2008 to FY2011" by the entrustment of Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization. In that project, we measured the isotopic composition of neodymium isotopes which are important to evaluate the burnup value of spent nuclear fuel by using two different methods and obtained different results. So that we carried out the follow-up measurement in order to investigate the reason of the difference between two neodymium measurements. It was found that we needed correction to the measurement results of neodymium for two samples and a part of other fission products for all samples in total five samples. This report summarizes the all works carried out in this follow-up measurement and obtained results.

Journal Articles

Study on release and transport of aerial radioactive materials in reprocessing plant

Amano, Yuki; Tashiro, Shinsuke; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Abe, Hitoshi; Yamane, Yuichi; Yoshida, Kazuo

Proceedings of International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference; Nuclear Energy at a Crossroads (GLOBAL 2013) (CD-ROM), p.1411 - 1417, 2013/09

Journal Articles

Corrosion behavior of a titanium alloy in hot nitric acid condensate

Takeuchi, Masayuki; Sano, Yuichi; Nakajima, Yasuo; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Nojima, Yasuo*; Fujine, Sachio*

Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 7(6), p.1090 - 1096, 2013/06

The corrosion behavior of a titanium-5% tantalum alloy (Ti-5Ta) in hot nitric acid condensate was investigated to understand aging behavior of reprocessing equipments. On the basis of long-term immersion tests, it was determined that the corrosion of Ti-5Ta in nitric acid condensate is accelerated with an increase in the concentration. The corrosion rate was nearly constant during the immersion test and the coupons suffered from uniform corrosion. In addition, it is important to note that the nitric acid concentration in the condensate increased on addition of metal salts to the heated nitric acid solution. The larger valence of metal ions was contributed to the increase in the concentration of nitric acid condensate. Consequently, the metal salt in the heated nitric acid solution accelerates the corrosion of Ti-5Ta in the condensate. Therefore, the nitric acid condensate condition should be carefully considered for the corrosion environment of titanium and its alloys.

Journal Articles

Effects of oxidation states of Np on polarization curve of stainless steel in boiling 3M-HNO$$_{3}$$

Kato, Chiaki; Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Yamamoto, Masahiro; Ban, Yasutoshi; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Nojima, Yasuo*; Fujine, Sachio*

ECS Transactions, 53(21), p.45 - 55, 2013/05

 Times Cited Count:2 Percentile:76.68

Neptunium ion contained as one of the fission products in reprocessing solutions is known as a corrosion accelerator of the stainless steel. But it is not clear why remarkable acceleration of corrosion is caused by a slight amount of the Np ion in boiling nitric acid solution. Neptunium has several oxidation states in nitric acid solution. These changeable oxidation states of Np in nitric acid solution are regarded as the cause. Therefore an evaluation of the electrochemical behaviors on stainless steel in nitric acid solution related to the oxidation state of Np is required in order to understand the corrosion acceleration mechanism. A specially designed electrochemical test cell integrated with optical cell for spectroscopic analysis was used for this purpose. From results of electrochemical tests, cathodic reaction on stainless steel was activated by Np ions. Np(VI) ion made the corrosion potential shift nobler than Np(V) and nobler corrosion potential causes increasing corrosion current and accelerating corrosion of stainless steel in nitric acid solution. Np(V) was easily oxidized to Np(VI) in nitric acid solution and Np(VI) was the stable state in boiling 3M-HNO$$_{3}$$. It was considered that role of Np ions was that of mediator to accelerate corrosion due to activating cathodic reaction and re-oxidizing cycle in boiling 3M-HNO$$_{3}$$.

JAEA Reports

Experiment on evaluation of confinement capability of fuel cycle facility under combustion of combustible materials (Contract research)

Abe, Hitoshi; Tashiro, Shinsuke; Watanabe, Koji; Uchiyama, Gunzo

JAEA-Research 2012-035, 26 Pages, 2013/01

JAEA-Research-2012-035.pdf:1.94MB

To contribute on confirmation of safety of fuel cycle facilities, an evaluation method for soundness of confinement capability of the facilities under fire accident has been investigated. Organic extraction solvents, zinc stearate, which is added into MOX powder in MOX fuel preparation process, and typical lubricating oil were considered to be examination objects as the representative combustible materials in the facilities. Combustion property data, such as mass loss rate and soot release fraction, of them and clogging property data of HEPA filter with combustion of the organic extraction solvents were measured. As the results, it was found that soot release fraction from burning 30%TBP/70%dodecane was larger than that of the other materials including dodecane and very rapid rise of differential pressure of HEPA filter, which has not been reported, would be induced in the last stage of combustion of 30%TBP/70%dodecane. Furthermore, it was confirmed that zinc stearate, of which combustibility has not been considered, burned continuously in the condition which was heated from outside.

Journal Articles

Corrosion study of titanium-5% tantalum alloy in hot nitric acid condensate

Takeuchi, Masayuki; Sano, Yuichi; Nakajima, Yasuo; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Nojima, Yasuo*; Fujine, Sachio*

Proceedings of 20th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering and the ASME 2012 Power Conference (ICONE-20 & POWER 2012) (DVD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2012/07

A long-term corrosion tendency and metal salt effect in heating nitric acid solution on corrosion behavior of titanium-5% tantalum alloy (Ti-5Ta) in hot nitric acid condensate condition were mainly researched to discuss the aging behavior of reprocessing equipments such as evaporators made of titanium or its alloy. The hot pure nitric acid solution with continuous renewing such as the nitric acid condensate condition is severe corrosion environment for their materials because of the corrosion inhibition effect from titanium ions as corrosion products or oxidizing ions in nitric acid solution. From the results of the long-term corrosion test for total 11,000 hrs, the corrosion of Ti-5Ta in the nitric acid condensate was accelerated with increase of the nitric acid concentration in the condensate. The corrosion rate was nearly constant during the immersion time and the test coupons suffered a uniform corrosion. Thus, from the viewpoints of nitric acid corrosion, the life-time of the reprocessing equipments made of titanium or its alloy will be roughly estimated based on the results of average corrosion rate in operation. It was also found that the kind and concentration of metal salt in the heating nitric acid solution gave a remarkable effect on the concentration of nitric acid vapor and the corrosion of Ti-5Ta in the hot nitric acid condensate. Most of the evaporators for reprocessing plants include metal ions in the heating nitric acid solution, so the metal salt effect is one of the corrosion factors to control the corrosion behavior of titanium alloy in condensate. The nitric acid concentration in the condensate increases by adding the metal salts in the heating nitric acid solution, in addition, the larger valence of metal ions was contributed to the increase of nitric acid concentration in the condensate. Consequently, the metal salts effect in the heating nitric acid solution accelerates the corrosion of Ti-5Ta in the nitric acid condensate.

Journal Articles

Study on corrosion of stainless steel in boiling nitric acid under heat transfer conditions

Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Shiraishi, Hironori; Inoue, Shun; Motooka, Takafumi; Kato, Chiaki; Yamamoto, Masahiro; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Nojima, Yasuo*; Fujine, Sachio*

Proceedings of 20th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering and the ASME 2012 Power Conference (ICONE-20 & POWER 2012) (DVD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2012/07

In PUREX process for spent fuel reprocessing plants, heating portions in the components are severely corroded in the boiling solution under heat transfer (HT) conditions. In this paper, authors have focused on the effects of surface temperature and heat flux on corrosion rates (CRs) of stainless steels in boiling nitric acid under HT conditions. Two types of cells for HT and immersion conditions were applied for corrosion tests. Test solution used was 33 mol/m$$^{3}$$ vanadium added to 3 kmol/m$$^{3}$$ nitric acid solution, and was heated at boiling temperature under atmospheric pressure. Additionally, a boiling curve which was indicated the relation between heat flux and degree of superheating was investigated experimentally. Surface temperatures during corrosion tests were estimated from a boiling curve. The results showed that CR did not depend on heat flux, but depended on surface temperature. Arrhenius plots on CRs indicated that CR was accelerated by solution boiling against non-boiling.

Journal Articles

Uncertainty factors pertaining to critical experiment using low-enriched uranyl nitrate solution

Tonoike, Kotaro; Miyoshi, Yoshinori; Uchiyama, Gunzo

Proceedings of 9th International Conference on Nuclear Criticality (ICNC 2011) (CD-ROM), 11 Pages, 2012/02

Several series of critical experiments have been conducted in the Static Critical Experiment Facility (STACY) to measure critical volume of low-enriched uranyl nitrate solution. Its purpose is to obtain critical benchmark data for validation of computation methods used in the criticality safety analysis of nuclear facilities, especially, reprocessing plants. The experiment series are: homogeneous single-unit system, homogeneous multi-unit system, and heterogeneous system. Experimental conditions such as core tank geometry and fuel solution composition, and measurement results of critical volume were carefully and precisely evaluated to produce critical benchmark data. Sensitivity analysis on uncertainties of such experimental conditions was conducted to estimate overall uncertainties of the benchmarks. In this report, features of each experimental system will be highlighted by describing results of the experiments and the sensitivity analysis. Also presented will be lessons leaned from the experimental and evaluation experience which might be valuable for design of future critical experiments.

163 (Records 1-20 displayed on this page)