Model catchments for testing biosphere assessment models of geological disposal

Yamaguchi, Masaaki; Suzuki, Yuji*; Kabasawa, Satsuki; Kato, Tomoko

JAEA-Data/Code 2024-001, 21 Pages, 2024/03

JAEA-Data-Code-2024-001.pdf:3.45MB
JAEA-Data-Code-2024-001-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:8.0MB

Model catchments have developed for use in testing various assessment models that can consider specific surface environmental conditions such as topography, riverine systems, and land use in the biosphere assessment of HLW geological disposal. The model catchments consist of the topography and riverine system of the catchment area created using existing tools, as well as land use and population distribution, river discharge, sediment flux data set by algorithms from topographical data. Datasets of three types of model watersheds (Types 1 to 3, watershed area: 730 to 770 km) with different topographical characteristics have released as raster data that can be handled by geographic information systems (GIS). Since the model catchments were created virtually reflecting as much as possible the main characteristics of Japan's surface environment, they can be used as a test bed for conducting hydraulic/mass transport analysis to set the GBI and compartment model.

Results of environmental impact investigations as part of environmental monitoring investigation in backfilling of shafts and tunnels of Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (2022)

Takeuchi, Ryuji; Nishio, Kazuhisa*; Kokubu, Yoko

JAEA-Data/Code 2023-013, 74 Pages, 2024/01

JAEA-Data-Code-2023-013.pdf:4.2MB

The Tono Geoscience Center of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting the environmental monitoring investigation to confirm the environmental impacts associated with the backfilling of shafts and tunnels at the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU). This report summarizes the results of the environmental impact investigations conducted as part of the environmental monitoring investigation around the MIU Site in FY2022, which include groundwater level measurement in wells, river flow rate measurement, water analysis of Hazama river, noise and vibration surveys, and soil survey.

Current status of Toki Geochronology Research Laboratory, Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency

Osawa, Hideaki

Gijutsushi "Chubu", (12), p.34 - 41, 2023/09

This introduces current status of Toki Geochronology Research Laboratory, Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency.

Development of performance evaluation methods for small unmanned aircraft systems flying in constrained environment

Kawabata, Kuniaki; Sato, Noritaka*

Keisoku To Seigyo, 62(5), p.276 - 279, 2023/05

no abstracts in English

Mechanical properties of pure tungsten and tantalum irradiated by protons and neutrons at the Swiss spallation-neutron source

Saito, Shigeru; Suzuki, Kazuhiro; Obata, Hiroki; Dai, Y.*

Nuclear Materials and Energy (Internet), 34, p.101338_1 - 101338_9, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2022.101338

In this study, a post-irradiation examination of pure tungsten (W) and tantalum (Ta) specimens irradiated at the Swiss Spallation-Neutron Source is conducted. W is used as a potential candidate for a solid spallation-target material owing to its favorable properties. However, W also suffers from several disadvantages such as poor corrosion resistance to water coolant and irradiation embrittlement. To improve these properties, cladding technologies using Ta for W alloys have been developed. In the present study, we investigated the irradiation effects on two tungsten materials, poly-crystal W (W-Poly) and single-crystal W (W-Sin), along with pure polycrystalline Ta. The tensile-test results revealed that W-Poly exhibited almost no ductility after irradiation of 10.2-35.0 dpa. W-Sin was irradiated up to 10.2 dpa and demonstrated 6% of total elongation (TE). With regard to Ta, TE decreased based on the increase in irradiation, reaching almost zero at doses of more than 10.3 dpa.

11th International Workshop on Sample Environment at Scattering Facilities

Kawamura, Seiko

Hamon, 33(1), P. 33, 2023/02

https://doi.org/10.5611/hamon.33.1_33

no abstracts in English

Challenging studies by accelerator mass spectrometry for the development of environmental radiology; Status report on the analysis of Sr and Cs by AMS

Honda, Maki; Martschini, M.*; Wieser, A.*; Marchhart, O.*; Lachner, J.*; Priller, A.*; Steier, P.*; Golser, R.*; Sakaguchi, Aya*

JAEA-Conf 2022-001, p.85 - 90, 2022/11

https://doi.org/10.11484/jaea-conf-2022-001

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is an analytical method that combines mass spectrometry with a tandem accelerator, which has been used mainly in nuclear physics experiments. AMS is used to measure radionuclides with half-lives of 10-10 years. For radionuclides with half-lives of this order, the method of measuring their mass is 10-10 times more sensitive than measuring their activity. Because of this advantage, AMS has been widely applied in Earth and planetary sciences, atomic energy research, and other fields. Among the various studies, Wallner et al. (2021, 2016) have achieved excellent work in Earth and planetary sciences. For example, they have attained the ultra-sensitive analysis of Fe and Pu in environmental samples. These are radionuclides produced by rapid-neutron-capture (r-process) nucleosynthesis. Our recent work shows that a new AMS system (VERA, University of Vienna), which combines laser isobaric separation and a typical AMS system, has been successfully applied to the ultra-sensitive determination of Sr and Cs in environment. For Sr in environmental samples, the -ray measurement by the milking of the daughter nuclide Y is still the principal method, which takes 3-6 weeks. The new AMS method has a detection limit of 0.1 mBq, which is comparable to that of -ray measurement, with a more straightforward chemical treatment than -measurement. Our achievement demonstrates that AMS can be a practical new method for determining Sr in the environment.

Preparation of the particles containing isotope reference uranium for the determination of the low abundant U isotope ratios

Tomita, Jumpei; Tomita, Ryohei; Suzuki, Daisuke; Yasuda, Kenichiro; Miyamoto, Yutaka

KEK Proceedings 2022-2, p.154 - 158, 2022/11

Precise determination of minor U isotopes (U and U) of particles from the safeguard environmental samples is powerful method for detecting the undeclared nuclear activities. In this study, preparation method of U particle was examined to utilize for the minor U isotope determination. The porous silica particles were used as the particle matrix and lutetium was mixed to the impregnation solution as U impregnation indicator for the particle picking. The result of the Scanning Electron Microscope indicated that the contacting the solution with Si particles overnight gently could produce the impregnated particles effectively rather than the mixing them with PFA stick.

Demonstration of the groundwater observation network system in backfilled underground facility

Murakami, Hiroaki; Takeuchi, Ryuji; Iwatsuki, Teruki

JAEA-Technology 2022-022, 34 Pages, 2022/10

JAEA-Technology-2022-022.pdf:3.47MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting the hydro-pressure and hydrochemical monitoring for more than two decades to understand the hydrochemical disturbance due to the excavation of tunnels at Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU). To understand the environmental influence due to the backfilling of research tunnels that started in 2019, environmental monitoring of groundwater has been performed and recovery status of groundwater is being confirmed. In order to observe the deep-groundwater environment from the ground, the groundwater pressure monitoring and sampling, which have been performed in the research tunnel, are to be performed from the ground. However, backfilling of a large-scale underground facilities such as MIU is globally unprecedented, thus it was necessary to develop a new observation system. Accordingly, we developed a new observation network to observe the environment around the research tunnels of the MIU. This system enables monitoring of groundwater pressure and water sampling of the backfilled tunnel from the ground while utilizing the existing-monitoring system installed in the tunnels. Accordingly, we demonstrated its technology through the environmental monitoring of groundwater. The results of the environmental monitoring and the existing groundwater data of MIU indicate that this system is able to monitor the groundwater environment in the backfilled tunnels.

Preliminary evaluation of environmental uranium concentration originated from trench disposal facilities

Ogawa, Rina; Abe, Daichi*; Sugaya, Toshikatsu; Sakuma, Kota; Saito, Tatsuo; Sakai, Akihiro

JAEA-Technology 2022-008, 46 Pages, 2022/05

JAEA-Technology-2022-008.pdf:3.09MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has planned to dispose of the Uranium-bearing waste, whose radioactivity concentration is low, in trench disposal facility. In Japan, uranium is a material to impact on human health, therefore Environmental quality standards for water pollution for uranium has been established, and the standard value is 0.002mg/L. Safety of trench disposal facilities will be assessed that radionuclides contained in the radioactive waste are transferred to the biosphere by seepage water and groundwater. Therefore, JAEA considers that not only dose evaluation but also environmental pollution evaluation is needed as a safety assessment. In this report, we examined whether the concentration of uranium leaching from the trench facility in the aquifer can meet the Environmental quality standards. In addition, parameter study under various conditions of disposal facility were done. Based on the results, conditions and issues of future basic design of trench disposal facility were discussed. The uranium concentration in the aquifer was calculated by the one-dimensional dose evaluation code "GSA-GCL2" for the disposal of LLW. As the result, the uranium concentration in the aquifer significantly changed depending on the conditions of design of disposal facility and so on. However, if the shape and arrangement of the trench facility to groundwater flow direction, the distribution coefficient of uranium of the waste layer, the specification of the impermeable layer and their combination are appropriately designed we consider that the uranium concentration of aquifer can made to adapt the environmental quality standard.