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Niwa, Masakazu; Shimada, Akiomi; Asamori, Koichi; Sueoka, Shigeru; Komatsu, Tetsuya; Nakajima, Toru; Ogata, Manabu; Uchida, Mao; Nishiyama, Nariaki; Tanaka, Kiriha; et al.
JAEA-Review 2024-035, 29 Pages, 2024/09
This report is a plan of research and development (R&D) on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), in fiscal year 2024. The objectives and contents of this research are described in detail based on the JAEA 4th Medium- and Long-term Plan (fiscal years 2022-2028). In addition, the background of this research is described from the necessity and the significance for site investigation and safety assessment, and the past progress. The plan framework is structured into the following categories: (1) Development and systematization of investigation techniques, (2) Development of models for long-term estimation and effective assessment, (3) Development of dating techniques.
Nemoto, Takahiro; Fujiwara, Yusuke; Arakawa, Ryoki; Choyama, Yuya; Nagasumi, Satoru; Hasegawa, Toshinari; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Watanabe, Masashi; Onishi, Takashi; Kawamoto, Taiki; et al.
JAEA-Technology 2024-003, 17 Pages, 2024/06
In order to investigate the cause of the increase in differential pressure in the primary helium circulator filter that occurred during the RS-14 cycle, a clogged filter was investigated. As a result of the investigation, deposits caused by silicone oil were confirmed on the surface of the filter element. These results revealed that the cause of filter clogging was silicone oil mixed into the primary system due to performance deterioration of the charcoal filter in the gas circulator of primary helium purification system. As a measure to prevent the recurrence of this event, in addition to the conventional management based on operating hours for replacing of charcoal filter in the gas circulator of primary helium purification system, we have established a new replacement plan for every three years.
Hasegawa, Toshinari; Nagasumi, Satoru; Nemoto, Takahiro; Nakajima, Kunihiro; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Fujiwara, Yusuke; Arakawa, Ryoki; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; Inoi, Hiroyuki; Kawamoto, Taiki
Proceedings of 2024 International Congress on Advanced in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2024) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2024/06
The filter element of the primary gas circulators (PGC) in High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) and its deposits were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observation and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis to find the cause of the increase of the filter differential pressure during the operation in 2021. SEM observation showed that the clumpy deposits and fibrous deposits smaller than the filtration pore size and the rod-shaped deposits larger than the pore size were present on the filter element. EDX analysis showed that the clumpy deposits and fibrous deposits could include silicone oil in the primary helium purification system (PHPS) gas circulators and that the rod-shaped deposits were thermal insulators inside of the co-axial double pipes in the primary cooling system. It is considered that silicone oil leaked from the PHPS gas circulators due to deterioration in the absorption performance of the activated charcoal filter. Next, it could be vaporized and reach PGC's filter element after passing through the reactor core. Since those deposits including silicone oil were present over the entire surface of the filter element, the filter differential pressure could be increased due to a reduction in the pore size and a rise in its flow resistance. The thermal insulator was unrelated to filter clogging because it was present mainly in the lower part of the filter element. Therefore, silicone oil could increase the filter differential pressure, and the graphite powder, which is the cause of the previous issue was unrelated.
Ohashi, Yusuke; Shimaike, Masamitsu; Matsumoto, Takashi; Takahashi, Nobuo; Yokoyama, Kaoru; Morimoto, Yasuyuki
Nuclear Technology, 209(5), p.777 - 786, 2023/05
Times Cited Count:0 Percentile:0.00(Nuclear Science & Technology)At the Ningyo-Toge Center, technical development related to uranium refining conversion and enrichment has been completed, and decommissioning of these facilities has begun. The error between the quantity of dismantled materials estimated from the facility design drawings and the actual quantity of dismantled materials was minimal when averaging over the entire Uranium Refining and Conversion Plant and Uranium Enrichment Engineering Facility, which results indicated that the preliminary estimate of the quantity of dismantled materials for decommissioning was reasonable. Most of the dismantled materials, which have no contamination history and are properly managed were able to be carried out to recyclers as non-radioactive waste (NR). In addition, the possibility of evaluating the uranium concentration of clearance level in dismantled objects was confirmed through gamma-ray measurement tests using mock-up waste.
Yokoyama, Kaoru; Ohashi, Yusuke
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 175, p.109240_1 - 109240_7, 2022/09
Times Cited Count:1 Percentile:19.69(Nuclear Science & Technology)Decommissioning is planned at nuclear facilities that have been discontinued. We examined the evaluation method of uranium radioactivity for concrete waste generated by the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. Since the peaks of Ac-228, Tl-208, and K- 40 are derived from concrete waste, it is difficult to distinguish the 1001 keV peak emitted from the uranium source. We have derived a formula to correct gamma rays from concrete and the environment, and the amount of uranium was quantified. When the weight of concrete waste is about 300 kg, if the weight of uranium is 3 g or more, it can be quantified within a relative error of about 30%. Measurement tests were performed using homogeneous simulated concrete waste. Since uranium contamination is on the concrete surface at the uranium processing facility and small chunks generated by scraping the concrete surface will be stored in a drum and measured, it seems that the test of homogeneous concrete reflects the actual waste.
Otosaka, Shigeyoshi*; Jeon, H.*; Hou, Y.*; Watanabe, Takahiro; Aze, Takahiro*; Miyairi, Yosuke*; Yokoyama, Yusuke*; Ogawa, Hiroshi*
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 527, p.1 - 6, 2022/09
Times Cited Count:0 Percentile:0.00(Instruments & Instrumentation)The measurement the radiocarbon of dissolved organic matter (DOC) in seawater can provide information about a timescale of the dynamics of dissolved organic matter as well as about its sources in the ocean. Due to the low DOC concentration in seawater, in spite of the development of accelerator mass spectrometry, a relatively large volume of seawater (1 L) is required for that analysis. In addition, complicated processing such as UV irradiation that emits high heat is required. In this study, we have developed a safer and easier method to analyze DOC in seawater than the conventional method. A particularly significant change was the adoption of a low-pressure mercury lamp in the decomposition system, which enabled direct decomposition of organic matter at lower temperatures. We also propose a method to quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of this system by analyzing simulated seawater consists of a soluble reference material of organic matter and sodium chloride. This method is expected to be applied not only to carbon isotope ratio analysis but also to analysis of trace elements and isotopes of various dissolved organic substances.
Mitsuguchi, Takehiro; Okabe, Nobuaki*; Yokoyama, Yusuke*; Yoneda, Minoru*; Shibata, Yasuyuki*; Fujita, Natsuko; Watanabe, Takahiro; Kokubu, Yoko
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 235-236, p.106593_1 - 106593_10, 2021/09
Times Cited Count:5 Percentile:27.35(Environmental Sciences)For a contribution to developing the usage of iodine-129 (I) as a tracer of deep-seated fluid, I/I and C were measured for annual bands (AD 1931-1991) of a modern coral collected from Northwestern Australia; the measurements were performed using the JAEA-AMS-TONO-5MV for I/I and an AMS facility of the University of Tokyo for C. Results indicate that both I/I and C distinctly increase from 1950s. The C increase can be ascribed to atmospheric nuclear tests, while the I/I increase is due to nuclear-fuel reprocessing as well as atmospheric nuclear tests. These results are in good agreement with previous studies, indicating that the I/I measurement by JAEA-AMS-TONO-5MV has been further developed.
Miyajima, Yusuke*; Saito, Ayaka*; Kagi, Hiroyuki*; Yokoyama, Tatsunori; Takahashi, Yoshio*; Hirata, Takafumi*
Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 45(1), p.189 - 205, 2021/03
Times Cited Count:6 Percentile:35.93(Geochemistry & Geophysics)Uncertainty for elemental and isotopic analyses of calcite by LA-ICP-MS is largely controlled by the homogeneity of the reference materials (RMs) used for normalization and validation. In order to produce calcite RMs with homogeneous elemental and isotopic compositions, we incorporated elements including U, Pb, and rare earth elements into calcite through heat- and pressure-induced crystallization from amorphous calcium carbonate that was precipitated from element-doped reagent solution. X-ray absorption spectra showed that U was present as U(VI) in the synthesized calcite, probably with a different local structure from that of aqueous uranyl ions. The uptake rate of U by our calcite was higher in comparison to synthetic calcite of previous studies. Variations of element mass fractions in the calcite were better than 12% 2RSD, mostly within 7%. The Pb/Pb ratio in the calcite showed 1% variations, while the U/Pb ratio showed 3-24% variations depending on element mass fractions. Using the synthetic calcite as primary RMs, we could date a natural calcite RM, WC-1, with analytical uncertainty as low as 3%. The method presented can be useful to produce calcite with controlled and homogeneous element mass fractions, and is a promising alternative to natural calcite RMs for U-Pb geochronology.
Yokoyama, Kaoru; Ohashi, Yusuke
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 141, p.107299_1 - 107299_5, 2020/06
Times Cited Count:6 Percentile:54.78(Nuclear Science & Technology)A large amount of general steel waste is generated during decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear facilities. Very low-contaminated radioactive waste, whose radioactivity is below clearance level, generated from the demolition process may be reused for general use. We examined the feasibility of the clearance verification system for uranium waste. The relative error of uranium determination was within 30% for 1 g of uranium when measuring steel materials (angle bar, channel steel, pipe steel, square steel tube, fragments of metal tube).
Yokoyama, Kaoru; Ohashi, Yusuke
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 145, p.19 - 23, 2019/03
Times Cited Count:5 Percentile:44.57(Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear)Dismantled materials generated from nuclear facilities are reused or directed to repository sites. If scrap metals with complicated shapes can be cleared, the amounts of radioactive waste can be reduced. A clearance verification system is constructed to determine the amount of uranium in decontaminated metals in a drum using the 1.001 MeV gamma rays of Pa, produced in the decay of U. The experimental study with simulated waste drums demonstrated that the quantification errors of uranium fall within 25% for 0.5g of uranium.
Morales, A. I.*; Benzoni, G.*; Watanabe, H.*; Tsunoda, Yusuke*; Otsuka, T.*; Nishimura, Shunji*; Browne, F.*; Daido, R.*; Doornenbal, P.*; Fang, Y.*; et al.
Physics Letters B, 765, p.328 - 333, 2017/02
Times Cited Count:38 Percentile:93.37(Astronomy & Astrophysics)Oe, Kazuhiro*; Attallah, M. F.*; Asai, Masato; Goto, Naoya*; Gupta, N. S.*; Haba, Hiromitsu*; Huang, M.*; Kanaya, Jumpei*; Kaneya, Yusuke*; Kasamatsu, Yoshitaka*; et al.
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 303(2), p.1317 - 1320, 2015/02
Times Cited Count:10 Percentile:62.42(Chemistry, Analytical)A new technique for continuous dissolution of nuclear reaction products transported by a gas-jet system was developed for superheavy element (SHE) chemistry. In this technique, a hydrophobic membrane is utilized to separate an aqueous phase from the gas phase. With this technique, the dissolution efficiencies of short-lived radionuclides of Mo and W were measured. Yields of more than 80% were observed for short-lived radionuclides at aqueous-phase flow rates of 0.1-0.4 mL/s. The gas flow-rate had no influence on the dissolution efficiency within the studied flow range of 1.0-2.0 L/min. These results show that this technique is applicable for on-line chemical studies of SHEs in the liquid phase.
Sakasai, Akira; Masaki, Kei; Shibama, Yusuke; Sakurai, Shinji; Hayashi, Takao; Nakamura, Shigetoshi; Ozaki, Hidetsugu; Yokoyama, Kenji; Seki, Yohji; Shibanuma, Kiyoshi; et al.
Proceedings of 24th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2012) (CD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2013/03
The JT-60SA vacuum vessel (VV) and divertor are key components for the performance requirements. Therefore the manufacturing and development of VV and divertor are in progress, inclusive of the superconducting magnets. The vacuum vessel has a double wall structure in high rigidity to withstand electromagnetic force at disruption and to keep high toroidal one-turn resistance. In addition, the double wall structure fulfills originally two functions. (1) The remarkable reduction of the nuclear heating in the superconducting magnets is made by boric-acid water circulated in the double wall. (2) The effective baking is enabled by nitrogen gas flow of 200C in the double wall after draining of water. Three welding types were chosen for the manufacturing of the double wall structure VV to minimize deformation by welding. Divertor cassettes with fully water cooled plasma facing components were designed to realize the JT-60SA lower single null closed divertor. The divertor cassettes in the radio-active VV have been developed to ensure compatibility with remote handling (RH) maintenance in order to allow long pulse high performance discharges with high neutron yield. The manufacturing of divertor cassettes with typical accuracy of *1 mm has been successfully completed. Brazed CFC (carbon fiber composite) monoblock targets for a divertor target have been manufactured by precise control of tolerances inside CFC blocks. The infrared thermography test of monoblock targets has been developed as new acceptance inspection.
Miura, Kenta*; Sato, Takahiro; Ishii, Yasuyuki; Koka, Masashi; Kiryu, Hiromu*; Ozawa, Yusuke*; Takano, Katsuyoshi*; Okubo, Takeru; Yamazaki, Akiyoshi; Kada, Wataru; et al.
JAEA-Review 2012-046, JAEA Takasaki Annual Report 2011, P. 126, 2013/01
Miura, Kenta*; Sato, Takahiro; Ishii, Yasuyuki; Kiryu, Hiromu*; Ozawa, Yusuke*; Koka, Masashi; Takano, Katsuyoshi*; Okubo, Takeru; Yamazaki, Akiyoshi; Kada, Wataru; et al.
Key Engineering Materials, 534, p.158 - 161, 2013/00
Times Cited Count:5 Percentile:89.10(Nanoscience & Nanotechnology)Miura, Kenta*; Machida, Yuki*; Uehara, Masato*; Kiryu, Hiromu*; Ozawa, Yusuke*; Sasaki, Tomoyuki*; Hanaizumi, Osamu*; Sato, Takahiro; Ishii, Yasuyuki; Koka, Masashi; et al.
Key Engineering Materials, 497, p.147 - 150, 2012/00
Times Cited Count:7 Percentile:94.70(Engineering, Electrical & Electronic)Miura, Kenta*; Machida, Yuki*; Uehara, Masato*; Kiryu, Hiromu*; Ozawa, Yusuke*; Sasaki, Tomoyuki*; Hanaizumi, Osamu*; Sato, Takahiro; Ishii, Yasuyuki; Koka, Masashi; et al.
Key Engineering Materials, 497, p.147 - 150, 2011/12
Times Cited Count:6 Percentile:2.48Hata, Haruhi; Yokoyama, Kaoru; Tsunashima, Yasumichi; Ohashi, Yusuke; Koga, Osamu; Sugitsue, Noritake
JAEA-Research 2011-022, 35 Pages, 2011/09
For disposal of Very low-level radioactive Waste (VLLW) from nuclear related facilities, one of important factors for safety assessment is the characteristics of elution. As for VLLW from the nuclear power plant, concrete pit and trench disposals have been performed and the evaluation methods for the characteristics have been established. On the other hand, as for the uranium waste, the concept on how to test the elution characteristics is not shown yet. Based on these circumstances, preliminary tests have been conducted to study elution characteristics of uranium waste. The results show that the important factors for the uranium elution are how uranium exists in waste. In addition, the elution characteristics also depend on the precipitation amount on the disposal site. Therefore, to assess the elution rate from uranium waste, these factors must be considered.
Yokoyama, Kenichi*; Murata, Yusuke*; Shiimori, Fusae*; Sakai, Junichi*; Yamamoto, Masahiro; Uchiyama, Gunzo; Nojima, Yasuo*; Fujine, Sachio*
Fushoku Boshoku Kyokai Dai-58-Kai Zairyo To Kankyo Toronkai Koenshu, p.11 - 12, 2011/09
Characteristics of hydrogen embrittlement of pure Ti and Ti-5Ta alloys were evaluated by stress loading and constant load tests. Mechanical properties of these materials were affected by hydride formation of surface layers. Although elongation was reduced by hydrogen absorption, embrittlement was observed only in the surface hydride area. It is also suggested that Ti-5Ta alloy was better susceptibility of hydrogen embrittlement than pure Ti.
Sato, Shoichi*; Ichimura, Makoto*; Yamaguchi, Yusuke*; Katano, Makoto*; Imai, Yasutaka*; Murakami, Tatsuya*; Miyake, Yuichiro*; Yokoyama, Takuro*; Moriyama, Shinichi; Kobayashi, Takayuki; et al.
Plasma and Fusion Research (Internet), 5, p.S2067_1 - S2067_4, 2010/12
Ion cyclotron emissions (ICEs) due to deuterium-deuterium fusion-product (FP) ions on JT-60U are studied. ICE due to H-ions is identified from the difference of the toroidal wave number of 2nd ICE(D). The parameter dependence for the appearance of ICE(H) is investigated from the experimental conditions and also is studied by using "Escape Particle Orbit analysis Code (EPOC)".