Development of safety design technologies for sodium-cooled fast reactor coupled to thermal energy storage system with sodium-molten salt heat exchanger

Yamano, Hidemasa; Kurisaka, Kenichi; Takano, Kazuya; Kikuchi, Shin; Kondo, Toshiki; Umeda, Ryota; Shirakura, Shota*; Hayashi, Masaaki*

Proceedings of 8th International Conference on New Energy and Future Energy Systems (NEFES 2023) (Internet), p.27 - 34, 2023/00

https://doi.org/10.3233/ATDE231072

This project studies investigation on safety design guideline and risk assessment technology for sodium-cooled fast reactor with the molten-salt heat storage system, development of evaluation method for heat transferring performance between sodium and molten-salt and improvement of the performance, and evaluation of chemical reaction characteristic between sodium and molten-salt and improvement of its safety. The project overview is presented in this report.

Development of technologies for enhanced analysis accuracy of fuel debris; Summary results of the 2020 fiscal year (Subsidy program for the project of decommissioning and contaminated water management)

Ikeuchi, Hirotomo; Koyama, Shinichi; Osaka, Masahiko; Takano, Masahide; Nakamura, Satoshi; Onozawa, Atsushi; Sasaki, Shinji; Onishi, Takashi; Maeda, Koji; Kirishima, Akira*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2022-021, 224 Pages, 2022/10

JAEA-Technology-2022-021.pdf:12.32MB

A set of technology, including acid dissolving, has to be established for the analysis of content of elements/nuclides in the fuel debris samples. In this project, a blind test was performed for the purpose of clarifying the current level of analytical accuracy and establishing the alternative methods in case that the insoluble residue remains. Overall composition of the simulated fuel debris (homogenized powder having a specific composition) were quantitatively determined in the four analytical institutions in Japan by using their own dissolving and analytical techniques. The merit and drawback for each technique were then evaluated, based on which a tentative flow of the analyses of fuel debris was constructed.

Evaluation of the characteristics of metal nitrate aqueous solutions by microwave heating and the morphologies of synthesized metal oxide powders

Segawa, Tomoomi; Kawaguchi, Koichi; Ishii, Katsunori; Suzuki, Masahiro; Fukasawa, Tomonori*; Fukui, Kunihiro*

Funtai Kogakkai-Shi, 57(9), p.485 - 494, 2020/09

In the spent fuel reprocessing process, a mixed solution of uranyl nitrate and plutonium nitrate is converted into mixed oxide powder by the microwave heating. To evaluate the applicability to the industrial-scale and acquire the characteristics data of the microwave heating denitration of various metal nitrate aqueous solutions based on the knowledge studied in the development of laboratory-scale basic experiments, the microwave heating characteristics and metal oxide powder properties were investigated using cerium nitrate, cobalt nitrate and copper nitrate aqueous solutions. The progress rate of the denitration reaction was depended on the position, and the denitration reaction proceeded faster at the periphery than at the center. The morphologies of the synthesized products were porous and hard dry solid with cerium nitrate aqueous solution, foamed dry solid with cobalt nitrate aqueous solution, and powdery particles with copper nitrate aqueous solution. The denitration ratio and average particle size of the synthesized products increased in the order of the cerium nitrate aqueous solution, the cobalt nitrate aqueous solution, and the copper nitrate aqueous solution. The numerical simulations revealed that the periphery of the bottom surface of the metal nitrate aqueous solution was heated by microwaves. This results consistent with the experimental results in which the denitration reaction started from the periphery of the metal nitrate aqueous solution.

Comparison of field data and numerical simulation of nitrate evolution in groundwater using the model of nitrate evolution

Abe, Toru*; Hirano, Fumio; Mihara, Morihiro; Honda, Akira

Genshiryoku Bakkuendo Kenkyu (CD-ROM), 27(1), p.3 - 11, 2020/06

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnuce.27.1_3

Degradation of TRU waste in a geological disposal facility may cause the formation of a nitrate plume. A Nitrate Evolution model due to mineral reactions, microbial activity, and metal corrosiON (NEON) has therefore been developed to evaluate the safety case for geological disposal of TRU waste. Small scale laboratory experiments can be reproduced satisfactorily, however, it is necessary to demonstrate the applicability of the NEON model on scales relevant to the geological disposal of TRU waste. In the current study, an industrial analogue of a nitrate plume from the pollution of groundwater from nitrate fertilizers used on Ikuchi Island, Japan was selected to test the applicability of the NEON model. Concentration profiles of nitrate ions in the groundwater were successfully reproduced over the hundreds of meters scale demonstrating the applicability of the NEON model in evaluating the chemical behavior of a nitrate plume derived from the geological disposal of TRU waste.

Dissolution and chemical analysis of Zr-based lanthanide nitrides

Hayashi, Hirokazu; Chiba, Rikiya*

Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology (Internet), 5, p.196 - 199, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.15669/pnst.5.196

Uranium-free nitride fuel has been chosen as the first candidate for transmutation of long-lived minor actinides (MA: Np, Am, Cm) using sub-critical accelerator-driven system (ADS) under the double strata fuel cycle concept by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Dissolution behavior of ZrN-based nitrides in nitric acid is examined using lanthanides as surrogate materials of TRU elements. Chemical analysis of the ZrN-based lanthanide nitrides dissolved in nitric acid is also carried out.

Corrosion behavior of ODS steels with several chromium contents in hot nitric acid solutions

Tanno, Takashi; Takeuchi, Masayuki; Otsuka, Satoshi; Kaito, Takeji

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 494, p.219 - 226, 2017/10

BB2016-1307.pdf:0.6MB

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.07.008

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steel cladding tubes have been developed for fast reactors. 9 chromium ODS and 11Cr-ODS tempered martensitic steels are prioritized for the candidate material in research being carried out at JAEA. In this work, fundamental immersion tests and electro-chemical tests of 9 to 12Cr-ODS steels were systematically conducted in various nitric acid solutions at 95C. The corrosion rate exponentially decreased with effective solute chromium concentration (Cr) and nitric acid concentration. Addition of oxidizing ions also suppressed the corrosion rate. According to polarization curves and surface observations in this work, the combination of low Cr and dilute nitric acid could not prevent the active dissolution at the beginning of immersion, and the corrosion rate was high. In comparison, higher Cr, concentrated nitric acid and addition of oxidizing ions helped to prevent the active dissolution, and suppressed the corrosion rate.

Effect of boiling of nitric acid solution on corrosion of Stainless steel-made concentrator in reduced pressure

Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Irisawa, Eriko; Kato, Chiaki; Igarashi, Takahiro; Yamamoto, Masahiro; Abe, Hitoshi

Proceedings of European Corrosion Congress 2016 (EUROCORR 2016) (USB Flash Drive), 7 Pages, 2016/09

In this study, we focused on the effect of the boiling of nitric acid solution on the corrosion of a stainless steel-made concentrator in reduced pressure in fuel reprocessing plant. In order to perform the simulation test in a non-radioactive condition, nitric acid solution with the addition of vanadium as an oxidizing metal ion were used. Corrosion tests were carried out under the conditions of boiling at reduced pressure, and of non-boiling at normal pressure and several temperatures. As a result, corrosion was accelerated by the solution boiling while it was not by non-boiling at the same temperature. It was found also that the temperature dependence of corrosion rate is the same in the both conditions of boiling and non-boiling. The corrosion accelerating effect will be discussed on the basis of the reaction among nitric acid, NOx and vanadium, etc.

Silver extraction by -tetraoctyl-thiodiglycolamide

Sasaki, Yuji; Suzuki, Tomoya; Morita, Keisuke; Yoshizuka, Kazuharu*

Hydrometallurgy, 159, p.107 - 109, 2016/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2015.11.010

The novel tridentate extractant including soft donor has developed and examined. The extractant, tetraoctyl-thiodiglycolamide (S-DGA), is analogous structure to tetraoctyl-diglycolamide (TODGA), but with sulfur donor instead of ether oxygen of TODGA. S-DGA has unique property to extract silver from acidic solutions to n-dodecane with relatively high D values. We investigated the extraction behavior of Ag in various acids, HNO, HSO, and HClO.

Environmental impact of nitrate nitrogen in sub-surface disposal system on surface water and sensitivity analysis of distribution coefficient of nitrate ion and porosity of waste layer on the environmental safety assessments

Nakamura, Yasuo; Nakatani, Takayoshi

JAEA-Technology 2014-048, 18 Pages, 2015/03

JAEA-Technology-2014-048.pdf:7.75MB

Sodium nitrate is included bituminized waste generating from the reprocessing plant of spent fuel which is disposed of in sub-surface disposal facility. Because the sodium nitrate is soluble material in surface water, it is a concern impact on surface water. Such as non-radioactive materials are not strictly regulated by "the Law for the Regulations of Nuclear Source Material, Nuclear Fuel Material and Reactors", but should be considered by related laws and regulations according to former basic policy. Because it is regulated as nitrate nitrogen by "The Basic Environment Law", the valuation of the environmental impact on general sub-surface disposal system was carried out. As the results, the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in river water whose annual quantity of water is rather than 110m/y is below the regulated value at the small scale surface waters as evaluation point.

Technology for cleaning of Pb-Bi adhering to steel, 1; Basic tests

Saito, Shigeru; Sasa, Toshinobu; Umeno, Makoto*; Kurata, Yuji; Kikuchi, Kenji; Futakawa, Masatoshi

JAERI-Tech 2004-074, 41 Pages, 2004/12

JAERI-Tech-2004-074.pdf:24.5MB

The accelerator driven system (ADS) is proposed to transmute minor actinides (MA) in high-level waste from spent fuels of nuclear power reactors. Liquid Pb-Bi alloy is a candidate material for spallation target and coolant of ADS. Pb-Bi cleaning technology is required to reduce radiation exposure during maintenance service and to decontaminate replaced components. In this study, three cleaning methods were tested; silicon oil cleaning at 170C, mixture of acetic acid and nitric acid cleaning. Specimens were prepared by immersion in melted Pb-Bi. After silicon oil tests, most of Pb-Bi remained on the surface of the specimens. It was found that blushing was needed to remove Pb-Bi effectively. On the other hands, Pb-Bi was easily dissolved and almost removed in the mixed acid and nitric acid. Silicon oil cleaning did not affect on base metals. The surface of base metals was slightly blacked after mixed acid cleaning. F82H base metals were corroded by nitric acid.