Hot cell equipment improvement effortsat Analytical Laboratory in Tokai Reprocessing Plant

Ishibashi, Atsushi; Masui, Kenji; Goto, Yuichi; Yamamoto, Masahiko; Taguchi, Shigeo; Ishikawa, Satoshi*; Ishikawa, Tomoya*

Nihon Hozen Gakkai Dai-19-Kai Gakujutsu Koenkai Yoshishu, p.18 - 21, 2023/08

An inner-box typed hot cell for analysis of highly radioactive samples has been operated for about 40 years in Tokai Reprocessing Plant since its installation in 1980. During the operation of analytical hot cell, improvement and upgrades including auxiliary equipment have been performed, in addition to keep the equipment in proper condition through periodic inspections and maintenance. This paper describes about these efforts for analytical hot cell and its results.

Estimation of double-differential cross-sections of Be(p,xn) reaction for new nuclear data library JENDL-5

Kunieda, Satoshi; Yamamoto, Kazuyoshi; Konno, Chikara; Iwamoto, Yosuke; Iwamoto, Osamu; Wakabayashi, Yasuo*; Ikeda, Yujiro*

Journal of Neutron Research, 24(3-4), p.329 - 335, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.3233/JNR-220019

We have evaluated double-differential cross-sections (DDX) of the Be(p,xn) reaction based on the function proposed by Wakabayashi et al. up to 12 MeV. Through compilation in the ENDF-6 format file, data processing, and neutronics analysis with MC simulation codes MCNP and PHITS to thick target yield (TTY) measurements, the function was re-confirmed to give more reasonable DDX data than those in our previous library JENDL-4.0/HE and ENDF/B-VIII.0. We finally decided to reduce the absolute cross-sections by 15% for our new nuclear data library JENDL-5 since the prediction ability of neutronics simulation was much better than that based on the original function. Through comprehensive comparisons of the simulation results on TTY at different proton energies and neutron emission angles, we conclude that JENDL-5 gives the best estimation in the world.

Development of nuclear data processing code FRENDY version 2

Tada, Kenichi; Yamamoto, Akio*; Kunieda, Satoshi; Konno, Chikara; Kondo, Ryoichi; Endo, Tomohiro*; Chiba, Go*; Ono, Michitaka*; Tojo, Masayuki*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 10 Pages, 2023/00

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2278600

Nuclear data processing code is important to connect evaluated nuclear data libraries and radiation transport codes. The nuclear data processing code FRENDY version 1 was released in 2019 to generate ACE formatted cross section files with simple input data. After we released FRENDY version 1, many functions were developed, e.g., neutron multi-group cross section generation, explicit consideration of the resonance interference effect among different nuclides in a material, consideration of the resonance upscattering, ACE file perturbation, and modification of ENDF-6 formatted file. FRENDY version 2 was released including these new functions. It generates GENDF and MATXS formatted neutron multi-group cross section files from an ACE formatted cross section file or an evaluated nuclear data file. This paper explains the features of the new functions implemented in FRENDY version 2 and the verification of the neutron multigroup cross section generation function of this code.

Analysis of work activities involved in clearance verification process of decommissioning Fugen Nuclear Power Plant

Yamamoto, Kosuke; Yanagihara, Satoshi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(12), p.1527 - 1535, 2022/12

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2071350

A series of work activities involved in clearance verification process was analyzed from the viewpoint of work efficiency at Fugen. As a result, decontamination required the most manpower expenditure. In addition, most of clearance candidate materials were very low contamination before the decontamination work. The analysis indicates that it will be effective for these lower radioactivity parts to reduce effort of decontamination activity or to skip the decontamination scenario considering that radioactivity was enough low. In addition, sample monitoring is possible scenario depending on the degree of contamination rather than to monitor all unit for clearance verification. When the manpower is evaluated based on the actual results of Fugen in consideration of these conditions, the clearance verification process could make the efficiency less than 37% in case of Fugen decommissioning.

Estimation of creep behavior of thick rubber bearings from 47 years observation in an actual building

Masaki, Nobuo*; Kato, Koji*; Yamamoto, Tomohiko; Miyagawa, Takayuki*; Fujita, Satoshi*; Okamura, Shigeki*

Nihon Kenchiku Gakkai Gijutsu Hokokushu, 28(68), p.81 - 84, 2022/02

https://doi.org/10.3130/aijt.28.81

no abstracts in English

Fundamental study on seismic safety margin for seismic isolated structure using the laminated rubber bearings

Fukasawa, Tsuyoshi*; Miyagawa, Takayuki*; Uchita, Masato*; Yamamoto, Tomohiko; Miyazaki, Masashi; Okamura, Shigeki*; Fujita, Satoshi*

Nihon Kikai Gakkai Rombunshu (Internet), 87(898), p.21-00007_1 - 21-00007_17, 2021/06

https://doi.org/10.1299/transjsme.21-00007

This paper describes a fundamental study on the seismic safety margin for the isolated structure using laminated rubber bearings. The variation of the seismic response assumed in the isolated structure will occur under the superposition of "Variations in seismic response due to input ground motions" and "Error with design value accompanying manufacture of the isolation devices ". The seismic response analysis which allows to their conditions is important to assess the seismic safety margin for the isolated structure. This paper clarifies that the seismic safety margin of the isolated structure, which consists of rubber bearings, for Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) is ensured against the basis ground motions of Japan Electric Association Guide 4601 (JEAG4601) and SFR through the seismic response analysis considering the variation factors of seismic response. In addition, a relationship between the seismic safety margin and the excess probability of linearity limits is discussed using the results of seismic response analysis.

Thermally altered subsurface material of asteroid (162173) Ryugu

Kitazato, Kohei*; Milliken, R. E.*; Iwata, Takahiro*; Abe, Masanao*; Otake, Makiko*; Matsuura, Shuji*; Takagi, Yasuhiko*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Hiroi, Takahiro*; Matsuoka, Moe*; et al.

Nature Astronomy (Internet), 5(3), p.246 - 250, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-01271-2

Here we report observations of Ryugu's subsurface material by the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. Reflectance spectra of excavated material exhibit a hydroxyl (OH) absorption feature that is slightly stronger and peak-shifted compared with that observed for the surface, indicating that space weathering and/or radiative heating have caused subtle spectral changes in the uppermost surface. However, the strength and shape of the OH feature still suggests that the subsurface material experienced heating above 300 C, similar to the surface. In contrast, thermophysical modeling indicates that radiative heating does not increase the temperature above 200 C at the estimated excavation depth of 1 m, even if the semimajor axis is reduced to 0.344 au. This supports the hypothesis that primary thermal alteration occurred due to radiogenic and/or impact heating on Ryugu's parent body.

Summary of temporal changes in air dose rates and radionuclide deposition densities in the 80 km zone over five years after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident

Saito, Kimiaki; Mikami, Satoshi; Ando, Masaki; Matsuda, Norihiro; Kinase, Sakae; Tsuda, Shuichi; Yoshida, Tadayoshi; Sato, Tetsuro*; Seki, Akiyuki; Yamamoto, Hideaki*; et al.

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 210, p.105878_1 - 105878_12, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.12.020

The Surface composition of asteroid 162173 Ryugu from Hayabusa2 near-infrared spectroscopy

Kitazato, Kohei*; Milliken, R. E.*; Iwata, Takahiro*; Abe, Masanao*; Otake, Makiko*; Matsuura, Shuji*; Arai, Takehiko*; Nakauchi, Yusuke*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Matsuoka, Moe*; et al.

Science, 364(6437), p.272 - 275, 2019/04

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav7432

The near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu, the target of Hayabusa2 sample return mission, is believed to be a primitive carbonaceous object. The Near Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on Hayabusa2 acquired reflectance spectra of Ryugu's surface to provide direct measurements of the surface composition and geological context for the returned samples. A weak, narrow absorption feature centered at 2.72 micron was detected across the entire observed surface, indicating that hydroxyl (OH)-bearing minerals are ubiquitous there. The intensity of the OH feature and low albedo are similar to thermally- and/or shock-metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. There are few variations in the OH-band position, consistent with Ryugu being a compositionally homogeneous rubble-pile object generated from impact fragments of an undifferentiated aqueously altered parent body.

Physical property evaluation of valve seal material at analytical radioactive liquid waste storage tanks in reprocessing facility

Goto, Yuichi; Yamamoto, Masahiko; Kuno, Takehiko; Inada, Satoshi

Nihon Hozen Gakkai Dai-15-Kai Gakujutsu Koenkai Yoshishu, p.489 - 492, 2018/07

Radioactive liquid waste from the Tokai Reprocessing Facility Analytical Laboratory is temporarily stored in intermediate waste storage tank by using receiving valves. Then, the liquid waste is transferred to liquid treatment facility by using liquid feed valves. The deterioration of the gasket part of these valves (leakage of waste liquid) was confirmed in 2004. Since then, the material of gaskets was changed from polyethylene to Teflon. In 2016, the gaskets were replaced by periodical update. Therefore, physical properties of used gaskets were investigated, and the relevance between radioactive level and degradation degree was evaluated.