The Behavior of a jet passing through a grid-type obstacle; An Experimental investigation

安部 諭; 柴本 泰照

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 202, p.110461_1 - 110461_16, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2024.110461

During a severe accident in a nuclear containment vessel, jets released from the primary system exhibit complex thermohydraulic behavior due to buoyancy effects and impingement on internal obstacles such as inner walls and floors. Thus, the obstacle-influenced jets are of interest in recent research activities. This paper describes an experimental investigation of the behavior of jets passing through a grid-type obstacle. The flow field was acquired by a particle image velocimetry system. The experiment captured the jet fragmentation by the grid-type obstacle and their recoupling. The mean velocity field obtained by postprocessing indicates a "Rectifying effect," with the axial velocity increasing at the center and the magnitude of the radial velocity decreasing. The meandering flow was suppressed due to this effect. In the near grid-obstacle region, the axial turbulence intensity was relatively large at the edge of each fragmented region due to shear stress. Moreover, the spatial distribution of the radial turbulence fluctuation became more complex. Further investigation is required to clarify the budget of the transport equation for turbulence fluctuation. The experimental data shown in this paper is useful for computational fluid dynamics validation.

放射性微粒子の基礎物性解明による廃炉作業リスク低減への貢献(委託研究); 令和2年度英知を結集した原子力科学技術・人材育成推進事業

廃炉環境国際共同研究センター; 茨城大学*

JAEA-Review 2023-021, 112 Pages, 2024/02

JAEA-Review-2023-021.pdf:7.1MB

日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA)廃炉環境国際共同研究センター(CLADS)では、令和2年度英知を結集した原子力科学技術・人材育成推進事業(以下、「本事業」という。)を実施している。本事業は、東京電力ホールディングス株式会社福島第一原子力発電所の廃炉等をはじめとした原子力分野の課題解決に貢献するため、国内外の英知を結集し、様々な分野の知見や経験を、従前の機関や分野の壁を越えて緊密に融合・連携させた基礎的・基盤的研究及び人材育成を推進することを目的としている。平成30年度の新規採択課題から実施主体を文部科学省からJAEAに移行することで、JAEAとアカデミアとの連携を強化し、廃炉に資する中長期的な研究開発・人材育成をより安定的かつ継続的に実施する体制を構築した。本研究は、平成30年度に採択された研究課題のうち、「放射性微粒子の基礎物性解明による廃炉作業リスク低減への貢献」の平成30年度から令和3年度分の研究成果について取りまとめたものである(令和3年度まで契約延長)。本研究は、東京電力株式会社福島第一原子力発電所事故で環境へ放出された放射性セシウム(Cs)を高濃度に含有する、不溶性の性状を持つシリカ(SiO)主材微粒子の基礎的な物性(粒径、組成、同位体組成、静電特性、光学特性)や放射体の濃度等について、一定の成果をもつ我が国の放射化学、分析化学、エアロゾルの科学者らが英知を集め英国側と協力して更に研究を進め、炉内事故事象の解明、生成要因の解明を行い、廃炉手順の確立、溶融燃料等の回収、作業員、現場・周辺環境の安全確保等の達成に寄与することをねらいとした。

Soil dust and bioaerosols as potential sources for resuspended Cs occurring near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

太田 雅和; 高原 省五; 吉村 和也; 長久保 梓; 廣内 淳; 林 奈穂; 阿部 智久; 舟木 泰智; 永井 晴康

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 264, p.107198_1 - 107198_15, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107198

福島第一原子力発電所(FDNPP)事故時に環境中に放出され、陸面に沈着した放射性核種について、大気中に再浮遊したCsの吸引は現在における主要な被ばく経路の一つである。再浮遊では、風による土壌粒子の巻き上げが主なメカニズムとされてきた。一方、FDNPP事故後の研究から、帰宅困難区域(DRZ)などの農村部においては、真菌類による胞子放出が大気中Cs濃度に影響を及ぼす可能性が示唆されてきた。本研究は、土壌粒子および真菌類胞子としてのCs再浮遊を計算するモデルを開発し、これをDRZ内に適用することで、これら再浮遊過程の大気中濃度への影響評価を試みた。モデル計算の結果から、土壌粒子の再浮遊は冬から春に観測された大気中Csの主要因となったものの、夏から秋に観測された高濃度を再現できないことが示された。真菌類からの胞子状Csの放出を考慮することで、この夏から秋の高濃度事象は概ねモデルで再現された。解析結果から、真菌類胞子へのCsの蓄積と、農村部に特徴づけられる高い胞子放出率が夏から秋の大気中Csに寄与している可能性が見出された。DRZ内には依然として未除染の森林が存在しているため、この真菌類胞子の大気中Csへの寄与は今後将来も継続する可能性がある。

The Development of a Multiphysics Coupled Solver for Studying the Effect of Dynamic Heterogeneous Configuration on Particulate Debris Bed Criticality and Cooling Characteristics

Li, C.-Y.; Wang, K.*; 内堀 昭寛; 岡野 靖; Pellegrini, M.*; Erkan, N.*; 高田 孝*; 岡本 孝司*

Applied Sciences (Internet), 13(13), p.7705_1 - 7705_29, 2023/07

https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137705

For a sodium-cooled fast reactor, the capability for stable cooling and avoiding re-criticality on the debris bed is essential for achieving in-vessel retention when severe accidents occur. However, an unexploited uncertainty still existed regarding the compound effect of the heterogeneous configuration and dynamic particle redistribution for the debris bed's criticality and cooling safety assessment. Therefore, this research aims to develop a numerical tool for investigating the effects of the different transformations of the heterogeneous configurations on the debris bed's criticality/cooling assessment. Based on the newly proposed methodology in this research, via integrating the Discrete Element Method (DEM) with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Monte-Carlo-based Neutronics (MCN), the coupled CFD-DEM-MCN solver was constructed with the originally created interface to integrate two existing codes. The effects of the different bed configurations' transformations on the bed safety assessments were also quantitively confirmed, indicating that the effect of the particle-centralized fissile material had the dominant negative effect on the safety margin of avoiding re-criticality and particle re-melting accidents and had a more evident impact than the net bed-centralized effect. This coupled solver can serve to further assess the debris bed's safety via a multi-physics simulation approach, leading to safer SFR design concepts.

Occurrence of radioactive cesium-rich micro-particles (CsMPs) in a school building located 2.8 km south-west of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

笛田 和希*; 小宮 樹*; 蓑毛 健太*; 堀江 憲路*; 竹原 真美*; 山崎 信哉*; 塩津 弘之; 大貫 敏彦*; Grambow, B.*; Law, G. T. W.*; et al.

Chemosphere, 328, p.138566_1 - 138566_12, 2023/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138566

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) derived radioactive Cs-rich microparticles (CsMPs) present a potential health risk through inhalation. Despite their occurrence in indoor environments impacted by the FDNPP accident, little is known about their prevalence. In this study, we quantitatively analyse the distribution and number of CsMPs in indoor dust samples collected from an elementary school located 2.8 km to the southwest of FDNPP. The school had remained untouched until 2016. Then, using a modified version of the autoradiography based "quantifying CsMPs (mQCP) method," we collected samples and determined the number of CsMPs and Cs radioactive fraction (RF) values of the microparticles (defined as total Cs activity from CsMPs / bulk Cs activity of entire sample). The numbers of CsMPs were determined to be 653 - 2570 particles/g and 296 - 1273 particles/g on the first and second floors of the school, respectively. The corresponding RFs ranged between 6.85 - 38.9 % and 4.48 - 6.61 %, respectively. The number of CsMPs and RF values in additional outdoor samples near the school building were and 23 - 63 particles/g and 1.14 - 1.61 %, respectively. The CsMPs were most abundant on the School's first floor near to the entrance, and the relative abundance was high near to the stairs on the second floor, indicating a likely CsMP dispersion path through the building. Additional wetting of the indoor samples combined with autoradiography revealed that indoor dusts had a distinct absence of intrinsic, soluble Cs species like CsOH. Combined, the results indicate that a significant amount of poorly soluble CsMPs were likely contained in initial radioactive airmass plumes from the FDNPP and that the microparticles could penetrate buildings. Clean-up plans for buildings / residential areas impacted by CsMP containing plumes, and monitoring of areas re-opened to the public, should take account of CsMPs in dusts.

Origin of Cs-bearing silicate glass microparticles observed during Fukushima accident and recommendations on nuclear safety

日高 昭秀

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 332, p.1607 - 1623, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08846-z

福島第一原子力発電所事故時に初めて放出されたタイプA Cs含有微粒子(以下、タイプA)の生成機構について、これまで様々な生成機構説が議論されてきた。筆者は、3号機の非常用ガス処理系(SGTS)のHEPAフィルタが水素爆発時に溶融して微粒化したことにより生成したと考えた。しかし、その仮説は、熱水力と大気拡散及びその学際領域にも及んで複雑であり、まだ推論が多く含まれている。このため、今後は様々な専門家による検証や、タイプA生成に関する再現試験が必要と考えた。さらに、もし仮説が正しいとした場合、HEPAフィルタは安全上重要な機器であり、水素爆発防止対策やHEPAフィルタの設計等にも影響するかもしれないと考え始めていた。そこで、これらの検討を進めるため、タイプAの生成機構に関して、総合的に解説したレビューが必要との結論に至った。本稿では、筆者がこれまでに執筆した論文等に基づき、仮説の根拠、検証及びその仮説が正しいとした時に実際に何が起こったと考えられるか、今後の課題、原子力安全性の更なる向上の観点からの提言について述べる。

Bench-scale injection of magnesium hydroxide encapsulated iron nanoparticles (nFe@Mg(OH)) into porous media for Cr(VI) removal from groundwater

Maamoun, I.; Falyouna, O.*; Eljamal, R.*; Idham, M. F.*; 田中 万也; Eljamal, O.*

Chemical Engineering Journal, 451, Part3, p.138718_1 - 138718_22, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.138718

Chromium (VI) contamination in groundwater represents a significant threat to the current and future groundwater resources. Thus, in this work detailed investigation was conducted on the injection of magnesium hydroxide encapsulated iron nanoparticles (nFe@Mg(OH)) into a 3-D bench-scale groundwater treatment system for Cr(VI) removal. Cr(VI) and total iron concentration profiles were determined for the injection of both nFe and nFe@Mg(OH) into porous media. The results indicated the expected poor mobility of nFe, which caused the accumulation of the injected mass within the injection zone and the low spreading range along the length of the aquifer. The injection of nFe@Mg(OH) into the groundwater treatment system for 80 consecutive cycles resulted in a clear enhancement in preventing the rapid corrosion of the iron core and around twenty percent improvement in the final Cr(VI) removal efficiency compared with that of nFe. The injected nFe@Mg(OH) maintained the full Cr(VI) removal efficiency for 30 post-injection cycles. Such a promising potential of the nFe@Mg(OH), proposed it as one of the perfect candidates for in-situ water treatment applications, as a reactive nanomaterial with enhanced features, in terms of the prolonged reactive performance and the widespread of the injection zone to cover a larger contaminated area within the porous media.

The Formation mechanism of radiocesium-bearing microparticles derived from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant using electron microscopy

萩原 大樹; 近藤 啓悦; 日高 昭秀

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 331(12), p.5905 - 5914, 2022/12

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08434-7

Radiocesium-bearing microparticles (CsMPs) were released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant during the 2011 accident. We examined the CsMP formation process by analyzing Type-A particles and conducting in situ glass fiber experiments. The results demonstrated that heating glass fibers to 450C - 800C formed spherical particles, their morphologies and elemental compositions were similar to those of actual CsMPs. The mock-up particles size was strongly dependent on the glass-fiber thickness. Our findings reveal that glass fibers can form microparticles after being exposed to high temperatures.

Radioactive particles from a range of past nuclear events; Challenges posed by highly varied structure and composition

Johansen, M. P.*; Child, D. P.*; Collins, R.*; Cook, M.*; Davis, J.*; Hotchkis, M. A. C.*; Howard, D. L.*; Howell, N.*; 池田 篤史; Young, E.*

Science of the Total Environment, 842, p.156755_1 - 156755_11, 2022/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156755

While they have appeared only recently in earth's history, radioactive particles from anthropogenic sources are widespread in global environments and present radiological harm potentials to living organisms. Here we compare a varied set of particles from past nuclear fission and non-fission sources in Australia of highly diverse magnitudes, release modes, and environments. Numerous radioactive particles persist in soils 60 + years after their release events. Particles can be distinguished by their Ca/Fe and Si/Fe elemental ratios, which in this study range over orders of magnitude and reflect the materials available during their individual formation events. The particles from nuclear testing have dominant Pu activity concentrations, relative to Sr and Cs, which increases long-term radiological hazard from alpha emissions if inhaled or ingested, and contrasts with particles from nuclear power accidents (e.g., Fukushima). Internal fracturing is more prevalent than previously reported, and fracturing is greater in Ca-rich vs. Si-dominated matrices.

Accumulation mechanisms of radiocaesium within lichen thallus tissues determined by means of microscale localisation observation

土肥 輝美; 飯島 和毅; 町田 昌彦; 数納 広哉*; 大村 嘉人*; 藤原 健壮; 木村 茂*; 菅野 太志*

PLOS ONE (Internet), 17(7), p.e0271035_1 - e0271035_21, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271035

Many lichens are well known to accumulate radiocaesium and, thus acting as biomonitors of contamination levels. Here, we use autoradiography and demonstrate for the first time microscale localisation of radiocaesium within thallus tissues to investigate the radiocaesium forms and their accumulation mechanism. The radiocaesium was localised in the brown pigmented parts i.e., melanin-like substances, in the lower cortex of lichen thallus. Quantum chemical calculations showed that functional group of melanin-like substances can chelate Cs ion, which indicates that the Cs ions form complexes with the substances. Based on these findings, we suggest that radiocaesium ions may be retained stably in melanin-like substances for long periods (two to six years) due to steric factors, such as those seen in porphyrin-like structures and multimer formation in the lower cortex.