Method to reduce long-lived fission products by nuclear transmutations with fast spectrum reactors

Chiba, Satoshi*; Wakabayashi, Toshio*; Tachi, Yoshiaki; Takaki, Naoyuki*; Terashima, Atsunori*; Okumura, Shin*; Yoshida, Tadashi*

Scientific Reports (Internet), 7(1), p.13961_1 - 13961_10, 2017/10

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14319-7

Transmutation of long-lived fission products (LLFPs: Se, Zr, Tc, Pd, I, and Cs) into short-lived or non-radioactive nuclides by fast neutron spectrum reactors without isotope separation has been proposed as a solution to the problem of radioactive wastes disposal. Despite investigation of many methods, such transmutation remains technologically difficult. To establish an effective and efficient transmutation system, we propose a novel neutron moderator material, yttrium deuteride (YD), to soften the neutron spectrum leaking from the reactor core. Neutron energy spectra and effective half-lives of LLFPs, transmutation rates, and support ratios were evaluated with the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP-II/MVP-BURN and the JENDL-4.0 cross section library. With the YD moderator in the radial blanket and shield regions, effective half-lives drastically decreased from 10 to 10 years and the support ratios reached 1.0 for all six LLFPs. This successful development and implementation of a transmutation system for LLFPs without isotope separation contribute to developing a self-consuming cycle of LLFPs using fast spectrum reactors to reduce radioactive waste.

Studies of the setting of engineered barrier configuration utilized in geologic disposal, 1; Dissolution life-time of vitrified waste glass

Oe, Toshiaki*; Wakasugi, Keiichiro

Genshiryoku Bakkuendo Kenkyu (CD-ROM), 24(1), p.27 - 32, 2017/06

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnuce.24.1_27

The report estimates the life-time of the waste glass dissolution in the geologic disposal environment. The overall safety report on the geologic disposal in Japan showed very short life-time of approximately 70,000 years under pessimistic assumptions ignoring the temperature decrease due to radioactive decay and dissolution rate reduction due to surface shrinkage. These factors are physically established phenomena and may not be excluded. The dissolution models including these factors of temperature and surface area decreases are discussed and used for re-evaluation. Three fracture models are presented for evaluating the surface area decreases; a single plate, monotonic spheres, spheres having power-law distribution. All models have the same initial volume as the waste glass block for mass conservation and the total surface areas are 10 times higher than the initial pristine block because of the fracture development during production. The results indicate the retention time of 50% of initial mass exceed 100,000 years even by different fracture models and the dissolution life-times are expected for 260,000700,000 years depending on models. These results imply more strong isolation capability of the waste glass than that estimated in the overall safety report.

Current activities and future plans for nuclear data measurements at J-PARC

Kimura, Atsushi; Harada, Hideo; Nakamura, Shoji; Iwamoto, Osamu; Toh, Yosuke; Koizumi, Mitsuo; Kitatani, Fumito; Furutaka, Kazuyoshi; Igashira, Masayuki*; Katabuchi, Tatsuya*; et al.

European Physical Journal A, 51(12), p.180_1 - 180_8, 2015/12

https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2015-15180-2

Development of an H-ion source for the High-Intensity Proton Accelerator (J-PARC)

Oguri, Hidetomo; Ueno, Akira; Namekawa, Yuya*; Ikegami, Kiyoshi*

Review of Scientific Instruments, 77(3, Part2), p.03A517_1 - 03A517_3, 2006/03

http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2165774

The J-PARC Project was started in 2001 as a joint project carried out by JAERI and KEK. At the first stage of the J-PARC, the linac will accelerate the H- ion beam current of 30 mA with a duty factor of 1.25 %. The J-PARC H- ion source driven with a LaB6 filament has regularly delivered more than 35 mA beam with a duty factor of 0.9 % without resorting to cesium. Although the operated duty factor is about 1/3 of the requirement, the filament is not replaced for a half year. At the J-PARC, the lifetime of the tungsten (W) filament was measured by using another H- ion source, which can produce a 72 mA with cesium seeded. The experimental results showed that there is a possibility of the W filament satisfying the lifetime of more than 500 hours, which is J-PARC requirement. We consider the W driven plasma ion source is one of the candidates for the J-PARC source. At present, we are performing the beam test of the cesium free ion source driven with W. We will present the experimental data of the beam test in this conference.

Status and future plan of research and development on partitioning and transmutation technology for long-lived nuclides in JAERI

Oigawa, Hiroyuki; Nishihara, Kenji; Minato, Kazuo; Kimura, Takaumi; Arai, Yasuo; Morita, Yasuji; Nakayama, Shinichi; Katakura, Junichi

JAERI-Review 2005-043, 193 Pages, 2005/09

JAERI-Review-2005-043.pdf:16.13MB

JAERI has been conducting research and development on partitioning and transmutation (P&T) technology for long-lived nuclides to develop the double-strata fuel cycle concept, in accordance with the Atomic Energy Commission's "Research and Development of Technologies for Partitioning and Transmutation of Long-lived Nuclides - Status and Evaluation Report" issued in 2000. The double-strata fuel cycle concept consists of four major processes: partitioning, fuel fabrication, transmutation, and fuel processing. The five-year achievement and future perspectives for the technology on these processes are presented in this report. It also provides an analytical study on impacts of introducing P&T technology on waste management, and on deployment of P&T for the future nuclear energy system.

Positron lifetime measurement on centrifuged BiPb intermetallic compound

Ono, Masao; Huang, X. S.*; Shibata, Yasuhiro*; Iguchi, Yusuke*; Sakai, Seiji; Maekawa, Masaki; Chen, Z. Q.*; Osakabe, Toyotaka; Kawasuso, Atsuo; Naramoto, Hiroshi*; et al.

Proceedings of 1st International Conference on Diffusion in Solids and Liquids (DSL 2005), p.531 - 533, 2005/07

Recently, we formed atomic-scale graded structures in some miscible alloys and observed the decomposition in BiPb intermetallic compound by sedimentation of atoms under strong gravitational field. In this study, we measured positron lifetime of centrifuged BiPb, to which the composition change was very small as it was treated at low temperature. It was found that the positron lifetime became longer than that of starting state. This indicated that the point defects (vacancy or divacancy) increased in the sample by centrifugal treatment. We are now investigating the relationship between increase in point defects and sedimentation of atoms.

DPA Calculation in Japanese Spallation Neutron Source

Harada, Masahide; Watanabe, Noboru; Konno, Chikara; Meigo, Shinichiro; Ikeda, Yujiro; Niita, Koji*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 343(1-3), p.197 - 204, 2005/06

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2005.01.023

For a construction of maintenance and storage scenarios for JSNS, lives of structure material need to be estimated. DPA (Displacement per Atom) was a major index of radiation damage. So we evaluated DPA value of each component. Function of the DPA calculation was equipped to the PHITS code, which was particle and heavy ion transport code. For DPA calculation, displacement cross section was necessary. Displacement cross sections of neutron below 150 MeV were processed by the NJOY code from LA150 library and those of neutron above 150MeV and proton in the all energy region were obtained from energies of fragments calculated in the PHITS. By using the PHITS, we calculated DPA values and DPA mapping. We obtained that the peak DPA values at end of 5000MWh operation were 4.1 for target vessel, 2.8 for reflector and moderator vessels, and 0.4 for proton beam windows, respectively. We estimated the target life at 1 year and the moderator life at 6 year.

Role of trapped and solvated electrons in Ps formation

Stepanov, S. V.*; Byakov, V. M.*; He, C.*; Hirade, Tetsuya; Mikhin, K. V.*

Acta Physica Polonica A, 107(4), p.642 - 650, 2005/00

http://przyrbwn.icm.edu.pl/APP/PDF/107/a107z414.pdf

Role of trapped and solvated electrons in Ps formation is discussed. Combination of thermalized positron with such electrons is energetically possible and may contribute to Ps formation. Contrary to the positron reaction with a quasi-free electron, this process is not limited to picosecond times, but proceeds on a timescale of nanoseconds. In this case conventional exponential deconvolution of row lifetime positron annihilation spectra becomes questionable. Rigorous treatment of the data needs nonexponential deconvolution, based on an adequate physical input. Such an approach is suggested here. Its reduced form is used for interpretation of the Ps formation data in polyethylene, EMMA and PMMA in dark and in light vs. time of the measurement and temperature. Parameters characterized accumulation of trapped electrons and their recombination with counter ions and positrons are obtained.

Organic scintillators containing B for neutron detectors

Kamaya, Eiki*; Matsumoto, Fukashi*; Kondo, Yasuhiro*; Chujo, Yoshiki*; Katagiri, Masaki

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 529(1-3), p.329 - 331, 2004/08

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2004.05.006

no abstracts in English

Reseach and development of superconducting twin quarter wave resonator for the acceleration of low velocity heavy ions

Kabumoto, Hiroshi; Takeuchi, Suehiro; Matsuda, Makoto; Nakanoya, Takamitsu

Dai-17-Kai Tandemu Kasokuki Oyobi Sono Shuhen Gijutsu No Kenkyukai Hokokushu, p.135 - 137, 2004/06

no abstracts in English