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Nakano, Hiroko; Fujinami, Kyoko; Yamaura, Takayuki; Kawakami, Jun; Hanakawa, Hiroki
JAEA-Review 2023-036, 33 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Review-2023-036.pdf:2.47MB
A practical training course using the JMTR (Japan Materials Testing Reactor) and other research infrastructures was held from November 29 to December 2 in 2021 for Asian young researchers and engineers. This course was adopted as International Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA SCIENCE Exchange Program) which is the project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and this course aims to enlarge the number of high-level nuclear researchers/engineers in Asian countries which are planning to introduce a nuclear power plant, and to promote the use of facilities in future. In this year, from the viewpoint of preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection, it was decided to hold the event online. 53 young researchers and engineers joined the course from 6 countries. In FY2022, training programs with invitations were held due to the easing of restrictions on entry into Japan from overseas. 7 young researchers and engineers from4 Asian countries participated in the training from February 1 to 10, 2023.The common curriculum in the training course of FY2021 and FY2022 included lectures on nuclear energy, irradiation testing, safety management, JMTR decommissioning plan, etc. In the online session, conducted in FY2021, information exchange on the energy situation in each country was conducted. On-site training conducted in FY2022, included practical training on operation using simulations, environmental monitoring, etc. and facility tours of the JMTR, etc. Many participants could join the online training course, they created a diversity of expertise and made lively discussions during the information exchange. On-site training, while limited in number of participants, provided a good opportunity for personnel exchange through practical training and face-face communication. It is desirable to hold on-site training as long as circumstances permit. This report summarizes the training conducted in FY2021 and FY2022.
Nagata, Hiroshi; Omori, Takazumi; Maeda, Eita; Otsuka, Kaoru; Nakano, Hiroko; Hanakawa, Hiroki; Ide, Hiroshi
JAEA-Review 2023-033, 40 Pages, 2024/01
JAEA-Review-2023-033.pdf:1.39MB
Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) was decided as a one of decommission facilities in April 2017. In order to submit the decommissioning plan to the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the type of accident assumed in the first stage of the decommissioning plan was selected, and the public exposure dose was evaluated. A fuel handling accident and a fire accident during storage of waste were selected as assumed accidents in the first stage of the decommissioning plan. An evaluation of the public exposure dose from the radioactive materials released into the atmosphere due to these accidents was estimated to be a maximum of 0.019 mSv (due to a fire accident during storage of waste). This estimated value was found to be sufficiently smaller than the judging criteria (5 mSv), and not to pose a significant risk of radiation exposure to the general public.
Oizumi, Akito; Akie, Hiroshi
JAEA-Technology 2023-017, 93 Pages, 2023/12
JAEA-Technology-2023-017.pdf:8.45MB
After the decision of decommissioning JMTR (Japan Materials Testing Reactor), Japan Atomic Energy Agency investigated the possibility to construct a new irradiation test reactor to succeed JMTR (post-JMTR), and the final report of the investigated result was submitted to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on March 30th 2021. This investigation was carried out in 4 steps of (1) selection of reactor type, (2) reactor core plans studies, (3) neutronic studies, (4) thermal studies, and was finally (5) considered and evaluated. This JAEA-Technology report summarizes the process and the results of (3) neutronic studies. Neutron fluxes were calculated at irradiation sample positions in the investigated cores, the standard core and the compact core, and the calculated fluxes satisfied the required irradiation capability. It was also evaluated the two investigated cores' continuous reactor operation time in days in one refueling cycle, and the results guaranteed an operation days equality with that of existing JMTR. In addition, neutronic characteristics of the cores were estimated, such as power distribution in the core, control rod reactivity worth, reactivity coefficients, distribution of fuel burnup rate of each fuel element, and kinetics parameters. The evaluated neutronic characteristics were used in the post-JMTR final investigation report to confirm the neutronic feasibility by comparing with the neutronic limiting values of existing JMTR, and to estimate the cooling capability to make the core thermally feasible.
Tsuchiya, Kunihiko
Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO
, 65(6), p.393 - 397, 2023/06
no abstracts in English
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 300
C, 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.
Nagata, Hiroshi; Otsuka, Kaoru; Omori, Takazumi; Hanakawa, Hiroki; Ide, Hiroshi
JAEA-Technology 2022-029, 55 Pages, 2023/02
JAEA-Technology-2022-029.pdf:2.77MB
Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) was decided as a one of decommission facilities in April 2017. The activation activity of secondary radioactive contamination remaining in the reactor facility was evaluated in order to submit the decommissioning plan to the Nuclear Regulation Authority. Total activation activity was 2.73
10
Bq after 12 years, 1.4610Bq after 21 years, respectively. The system with high activation activity was the primary cooling system in JMTR. The relatively large radionuclide was H-3, Fe-55, Co-60, Ni-63, Sr-90 and Cs-137. The radioactivity level was classified based on the values of the obtained radioactivity concentration. As a result, the primary cooling system and the drain system was classified as L2, and others was classified as L3. The nuclide that affected classification result was only Co-60 in irradiation facility of HR-1 and OSF-1. H-3, Co-60, Sr-90, Cs-137 and so on were affected classification in other system. When treating and disposing of radioactive waste, evaluation will be carried out based on appropriate methods.
Machida, Masahiko; Shi, W.*; Yamada, Susumu; Miyamura, Hiroko; Yoshida, Toru*; Hasegawa, Yukihiro*; Okamoto, Koji; Aoki, Yuto; Ito, Rintaro; Yamaguchi, Takashi; et al.
Proceedings of Waste Management Symposia 2023 (WM2023) (Internet), 11 Pages, 2023/02
Nakano, Hiroko; Nishikata, Kaori; Nagata, Hiroshi; Ide, Hiroshi; Hanakawa, Hiroki; Kusunoki, Tsuyoshi
JAEA-Review 2022-073, 23 Pages, 2023/01
JAEA-Review-2022-073.pdf:2.02MB
A practical training course using the JMTR (Japan Materials Testing Reactor) and other research infrastructures was held from July 24th to July 31st in 2019 for Asian young researchers and engineers. This course was adopted as Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA Exchange Program in Science) which is the project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and this course aims to enlarge the number of high-level nuclear researchers/engineers in Asian countries which are planning to introduce a nuclear power plant, and to promote the use of facilities in future. In this year, 12 young researchers and engineers joined the course from 6 countries. This course consists of lectures, which are related to irradiation test research, safety management of nuclear reactors, nuclear characteristics of the nuclear reactors, etc., practical training such as practice of research reactor operation using simulator and technical tour of nuclear facilities on nuclear energy. The content of this course in FY 2019 is reported in this paper.
Nagata, Hiroshi; Otsuka, Kaoru; Omori, Takazumi; Ide, Hiroshi
JAEA-Technology 2022-017, 113 Pages, 2022/08
JAEA-Technology-2022-017.pdf:6.17MB
Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) was decided as a one of decommission facilities in April 2017. The activation activity of radioactive materials remaining in the reactor facility was evaluated in order to submit the decommissioning plan to the Nuclear Regulation Authority. Total activation activity was 9.310
Bq after the permanent shutdown of reactor, 2.710
Bq after 21 years, 1.010 Bq after 40 years and 2.410
Bq after 100 years. The structure with high activation activity was the core structural materials in JMTR such as beryllium frame, aluminum reflector, etc., and the material was stainless steel, beryllium, etc. The ratio of nuclides to the total amount of activated radioactivity was highest in H-3 until about 40 years after the reactor shutdown, and then in Ni-63. For reference, the radioactivity level was classified based on the results of the obtained radioactivity concentration. The ratio of the weight of each radioactivity level to the total weight was 0.3-0.4% (10-13t) for L1, 0.0-0.4% (0-14t) for L2, 1.0-1.2% (32-39t) for L3 and 98.0-98.7% (about 3200t) for CL until 100 years after the reactor shutdown. It was found that those classified as CL account for more than 90% of the total. When treating and disposing of radioactive waste, evaluation will be carried out based on appropriate methods, including evaluation results of secondary pollutants.
Omori, Takazumi; Otsuka, Kaoru; Endo, Yasuichi; Takeuchi, Tomoaki; Ide, Hiroshi
JAEA-Review 2021-015, 57 Pages, 2021/11
JAEA-Review-2021-015.pdf:6.3MB
The JMTR reactor facility was selected as a decommissioning one in the Medium/Long-Term Management Plan of JAEA Facilities formulated on April 1, 2017. Therefore, the decommissioning plan was submitted to Nuclear Regulation Authority on September 18, 2019, and the approval was obtained on March 17, 2021 after two amendments. Currently, preparations for decommissioning are underway. The JMTR reactor facility has been aged for more than 50 years since the first criticality in March 1968. However, some of the water piping systems has not been updated since its construction, and there is a possibility of pipe wall thinning due to corrosion, etc. Therefore, the integrity of the water piping was investigated for the facilities that circulate cooling water and pump radioactive liquid waste. In this investigation, the main circulation system of the reactor primary cooling system, the pool canal circulation system, the CF pool circulation system, the drainage system of the liquid waste disposal system, and the hydraulic rabbit irradiation system of the main experimental facility were measured for the pipe wall thickness using the Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement (UTM) method. These values satisfied the technical standards for research and test reactor facilities. No loss of integrity is expected to occur during the upcoming decommissioning period. In the future, we will periodically confirm that there is no wall thinning in the piping of the cooling water circulation and the water transmission system during the decommissioning period by using this result as basic data.
Nishimura, Arashi; Okada, Yuji; Sugaya, Naoto; Sonobe, Hiroshi; Kimura, Nobuaki; Kimura, Akihiro; Hanawa, Yoshio; Nemoto, Hiroyoshi
JAEA-Technology 2021-003, 51 Pages, 2021/05
JAEA-Technology-2021-003.pdf:5.55MB
In the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR), the leakage accidents of radioactive waste liquid were occurred from the tanks and pipes of the liquid waste disposal facility in the JMTR tank-yard building in JFY2014. In order to respond to the accident, obtain the approval of the JAEA to the design and construction method from JFY2016, the tanks and pipes were replaced from JFY2016 to 2019. In the replaced, the production of the tanks and pipes of the liquid waste disposal facility applied Japanese technical standards correspondingly. On the other hand, the valve did not fall under the category of Japanese technical standards. The manufacturing specifications when replacing the valve were decided based on the including the selecting the standards of production and inspection for valves, Fluid properties, experience in JMTR. The production proceeded while carrying out the decided inspection. The valves that passed all the inspections were installed together with the tanks and pipes of the liquid waste, and the finished inspection was performed as a systems. The construction was completed with those inspection passed. This report is summarized valve Design, production and installation.
Magome, Hirokatsu; Iimura, Koichi; Matsui, Yoshinori
JAEA-Testing 2020-008, 52 Pages, 2021/02
JAEA-Testing-2020-008.pdf:5.46MB
As to the removal of the hydraulic rabbit No.1 irradiation facility related to the decommissioning of JMTR, points to be noted for considering a removal plan and maintenance methods after the removal were studied based on the past experiences of removing the hydraulic rabbit No.2 irradiation facility. As results, it became clear that it was necessary to (1) add a shutoff valve and a closing flange to piping for preventing cooling water leakage, (2) prepare a drawing jig for inner tube, and (3) shorten the remaining piping to withstand earthquakes. In addition, regarding the management of equipment to be maintained after removal, the necessary management items for the removal methods of the three patterns of ground equipments were listed.
Magome, Hirokatsu; Iimura, Koichi; Matsui, Yoshinori
JAEA-Technology 2020-022, 32 Pages, 2021/02
JAEA-Technology-2020-022.pdf:4.04MB
Among the canal underwater equipment of HR-1, seismic evaluations of the canal side wall parts and the canal bottom surface parts were carried out for the insertion device, take-out device and decay tank. As a result, it was confirmed that the equipments have sufficient seismic resistances because the maximum stress of the canal side wall joint, the bolt portion of the canal bottom joint, and the fillet weld are within the allowable stress.
Kaminaga, Masanori; Kusunoki, Tsuyoshi; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Hori, Naohiko; Naka, Michihiro
IAEA-TECDOC-1943, p.45 - 56, 2021/02
The JMTR operation was once stopped in order to have a check & review in August 2006, and the refurbishment and restart of JMTR was finally determined by the national discussion. The refurbishment was started from FY2007, and was finished in March 2011. However, at the end of the FY2010, the Great-Eastern-Japan-Earthquake occurred, and functional tests before the JMTR restart were delayed. On the other hand, based on the safety assessments considering the 2011 earthquake new regulatory requirements have established on Decmber18, 2013 by the NRA. The new regulatory requirements include the satisfaction of integrities for the updated earthquake forces, Tsunami, the consideration of natural phenomena, and the management of consideration in the Beyond Design Basis Accidents (BDBA) to protect fuel damage and to mitigate impact of the accidents. Analyses related to the new regulatory requirements have intensively been performed timely, and an application to the NRA had been submitted in March 27, 2015. After submission of application, seismic resistance assessment of JMTR reactor building was carried out by assuming the standard earthquake ground motion of 810 ga. As the results, it was found that seismic reinforcement work for reactor building and reactor pool wall were required. As a result, it became clear that at least 7 years of reinforcement work period and cost of about 40 billion yen are required for seismic reinforcement and to meet new regulatory standards. At the same time, it was made clear that high availability such as 8 operation cycles per year as originally planned cannot be expected due to aiging problem. For this reason, JAEA positioned JMTR as a decommissioning facility in the mid- and long-term plan of JAEA announced in April 2017. On the other hand, JAEA started to study the construction of a new material testing reactor. The examination results will be compiled by the end of FY2019. In this paper, outline of JMTR decommissioning plan is described.
Oto, Tsutomu; Asano, Norikazu; Kawamata, Takanori; Yanai, Tomohiro; Nishimura, Arashi; Araki, Daisuke; Otsuka, Kaoru; Takabe, Yugo; Otsuka, Noriaki; Kojima, Keidai; et al.
JAEA-Review 2020-018, 66 Pages, 2020/11
JAEA-Review-2020-018.pdf:8.87MB
A collapse event of the cooling tower of secondary cooling system in the JMTR (Japan Materials Testing Reactor) was caused by the strong wind of Typhoon No.15 on September 9, 2019. The cause of the collapse of the cooling tower was investigated and analyzed. As the result, it was identified that four causes occurred in combination. Thus, the soundness of the cooling tower of Utility Cooling Loop (UCL cooling tower), which is a wooden cooling tower installed at the same period as the cooling tower of secondary cooling system, was investigated. The items of soundness survey are to grasp the operation conditions of the UCL cooling tower, to confirm the degradation of structural materials, the inspection items and inspection status of the UCL cooling tower, and to investigate the past meteorological data. As the results of soundness survey of the UCL cooling tower, the improvement of inspection items of the UCL cooling tower was carried out and the replacement and repair of the structural materials of the UCL cooling tower were planned for safe maintenance and management of this facility. And the renewal plan of new cooling tower was created to replace the existing UCL cooling tower. This report is summarized the soundness survey of the UCL cooling tower.
Seki, Misaki; Nakano, Hiroko; Nagata, Hiroshi; Otsuka, Kaoru; Omori, Takazumi; Takeuchi, Tomoaki; Ide, Hiroshi; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko
Dekomisshoningu Giho, (62), p.9 - 19, 2020/09
Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) has been contributing to various research and development activities such as the fundamental research of nuclear materials/fuels, safety research and development of power reactors, and radioisotope production since the beginning of the operation in 1968. JMTR, however, was decided as a one of decommission facilities in April 2017 and it is taken an inspection of a plan concerning decommissioning because the performance of JMTR does not confirm with the stipulated earthquake resistance. As aluminum and beryllium are used for the core structural materials in JMTR, it is necessary to establish treatment methods of these materials for the fabrication of stable wastes. In addition, a treatment method for the accumulated spent ion-exchange resins needs to be examined. This report describes the overview of these examination situations.
Sugaya, Naoto; Okada, Yuji; Nishimura, Arashi; Sonobe, Hiroshi; Kimura, Nobuaki; Kimura, Akihiro; Hanawa, Yoshio; Nemoto, Hiroyoshi
JAEA-Testing 2020-004, 67 Pages, 2020/08
JAEA-Testing-2020-004.pdf:8.17MB
In the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR), the leakage accidents of radioactive waste liquid were occurred from the tanks and pipes of the liquid waste disposal facility in the JMTR tank-yard building in JFY2014. In order to respond to the accident, the tanks and pipes were replaced from JFY2016 to 2019. On the other hand, a lot of cracks were occurred on the concreate wall of the tank-yard building when the frame structure supports were fixed to the concrete wall in the replacement work. Thus, it is necessary to repair the concreate wall of the tank-yard building. Especially, some cracks with swelling (cone-shaped fracture) were raised around some anchor bolts (the post-installed chemical anchor bolts) fixed the frame structure supports. The repairing method for the cone-shaped fracture of the concrete wall is standardized, but there was no reference value of tensile strength for the validation of the post-installed chemical anchor bolts after the repairing method. In this report, the repairing method was selected for the cone-shaped fracture on the concreate wall and the reference value of tensile strength for the validation of the post-installed chemical anchor bolts by this repairing method. The mock-ups for repairing cone-shaped fracture were fabricated by the selected repairing method and the tensile tests of the post-installed chemical anchor bolts were performed. From the results, the validation of the repairing method was obtained in this test and it was obvious the repairing of cone-shaped fracture is preferable method for the concreate wall of the JMTR tank-yard building.
Ishitsuka, Etsuo; Sakamoto, Naoki*
Physical Sciences and Technology, 6(2), p.60 - 63, 2019/12
Tritium release into the primary coolant of the research and test reactors during operation had been studied, and it is found that the recoil release from chain reaction of 
Be is dominant. To reduce tritium concentration of the primary coolant, feasibility study of the tritium recoil barrier for the beryllium neutron reflectors was carried out, and the tritium recoils of various materials were calculated by PHITS. From these calculation results, it is clear that the thickness of tritium recoil barrier depends on the material and 20
40 
m is required for three orders reduction.
Kawamata, Takanori; Onuma, Yuichi; Hanakawa, Hiroki
JAEA-Review 2018-031, 33 Pages, 2019/02
JAEA-Review-2018-031.pdf:1.62MB
As "Regulations on events to be reported by nuclear disaster prevention manager based on act on special measures concerning nuclear emergency preparedness" was revised and enfored in 2017, Nuclear operator emergency action plan at Oarai Research and Development Institute was reconsidered, and Emergency Action Level (EAL) in JMTR was newly set. In setting the EAL, characteristics of the JMTR and EAL in nuclear power reactors were considerd because the characteristics of research reactors are different in reactor types. This report shows the basic policy and the selection result of the EAL setting in the JMTR.
Ho, H. Q.; Ishitsuka, Etsuo
Physical Sciences and Technology, 5(2), p.53 - 56, 2019/00
Increasing of tritium concentration in the primary coolant of the research and test reactors during operation had been reported. To check the source for tritium release into the primary coolant during operation of the JMTR and the JRR-3M, the tritium release from the driver fuels was calculated by MCNP6 and PHITS. It is clear that the calculated values of tritium release from fuels are as about 10
and 10
Bq for the JMTR and JRR-3M, respectively, and that calculated values are about 4 order of magnitude smaller than that of the measured values. These results show that the tritium release from fuels is negligible for both the reactors.
