Calculation of deuteron-induced reaction cross-sections for nuclear transmutation of long-lived fission products

Nakayama, Shinsuke; Furutachi, Naoya; Iwamoto, Osamu; Watanabe, Yukinobu*

NEA/NSC/R(2020)4 (Internet), p.345 - 349, 2022/10

Long-lived fission products (LLFPs) generated in nuclear reactors are strongly desired to be converted to stable or short-lived nuclides. Recently, it has been considered to transmute LLFPs by spallation reactions with high energy particles, and some experimental studies revealed that spallation reaction cross-sections induced by deuteron are larger than proton-induced ones. These results suggest the possibility that nuclear transmutation of LLFPs using deuteron beams is more efficient than one using proton beams. On the other hand, we have been developing a code system dedicated for deuteron-induced reactions, called DEURACS. DEURACS has been originally developed to contribute to the design of deuteron accelerator neutron sources. In the present study, we apply DEURACS to calculation of deuteron-induced spallation reactions on LLFPs. Through comparison with measured data, the applicability of DEURACS will be discussed.

Selection of nuclides for mass-balance analysis of fission products

Okamura, Tomohiro*; Oizumi, Akito; Nishihara, Kenji; Nakase, Masahiko*; Takeshita, Kenji*

JAEA-Data/Code 2020-023, 32 Pages, 2021/03

JAEA-Data-Code-2020-023.pdf:1.67MB

Nuclear Material Balance code (NMB code) have been developed in Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The NMB code will be updated with the function of mass balance analysis at the backend process such as reprocessing, vitrification and geological disposal. In order to perform its analysis with high accuracy, it is necessary to expand the number of FP nuclides calculated in the NMB code. In this study, depletion calculation by ORIGEN code was performed under 3 different burn-up conditions such as spent uranium fuel from light water reactor, and nuclides were selected from 5 evaluation indexes such as mass and heat generation. In addition, the FP nuclides required to configure a simple burnup chain with the same calculation accuracy as ORIGEN in the NMB code was selected. As the result, two lists with different number of nuclides, such as "Detailed list" and a "Simplified list", were created.

Investigation of system for volume-reduction and recycling of HLW

Nishihara, Kenji

ImPACT Fujita Puroguramu Kokai Seika Hokokukai "Kaku Henkan Niyoru Koreberu Hoshasei Haikibutsu No Ohaba Na Teigen, Shigenka" Seika Hokokusho, Shiryoshu, p.130 - 133, 2019/03

High level radioactive waste contains elements with various characteristics. It is possible to reduce the load on the disposal site by separating them according to those characteristics and appropriately dealing with them. In this project, we are working to shorten the life span of long-lived fission products (LLFP). When this technology is realized, high-level radioactive wastes will become new radioactive wastes with low radioactivity. As a result of investigation of disposal concept of new radioactive waste, it turned out that intermediate-depth disposal currently considered for low level radioactive waste may be suitable. Intermediate-depth disposal is a method of small-scale disposal in shallow locations as compared to geological disposal for conventional high-level radioactive waste. We conducted a safety assessment when this disposal is applied to new radioactive wastes, and found that it is possible to safely dispose of for the four LLFPs addressed by this project.

Disposal of radioactive waste and partitioning-transmutation; Consideration of waste disposal from view point of source term

Nishihara, Kenji

Genshiryoku Bakkuendo Kenkyu (CD-ROM), 25(2), p.131 - 134, 2018/12

https://nuce.aesj.or.jp/jnuce/vol25/Jnuce-Vol25-2-p131-134.pdf

Impact of reduction of source term on design and safety assessment of disposal concept for high level radioactive waste is considered. Reduction of source term in partitioning and transmutation technology is shown with impact on disposal concept. Moreover, cost and technological readiness is outlined.

Release and transport behaviors of non-gamma-emitting fission products and actinides in steam and hydrogen atmospheres

Miwa, Shuhei; Ducros, G.*; Hanus, E.*; Bottomley, P. D. W.*; Van Winckel, S.*; Osaka, Masahiko

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 326, p.143 - 149, 2018/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2017.11.017

The release and transport behaviors of 13 non-gamma-emitting fission products (FPs) and actinides in steam and hydrogen atmospheres were investigated based on the chemical analysis of their deposits on the components of VERCORS test loops. The new findings were obtained; strontium release was significantly enhanced in hydrogen atmosphere and a part of released strontium was transported towards the lower temperature region, uranium release was enhanced in steam atmosphere but most of released uranium deposited at high temperature region.

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.

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

Influence of boron vapor on transport behavior of deposited CsI during heating test simulating a BWR severe accident condition

Sato, Isamu; Onishi, Takashi; Tanaka, Kosuke; Iwasaki, Maho; Koyama, Shinichi

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 461, p.22 - 28, 2015/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.02.032

In order to evaluate B influence on the release and transport of Cs and I during severe accidents, basic experiments have been performed on the interaction between deposited Cs/I compounds and vapor/aerosol B compounds. CsI and BO were utilized as a Cs/I compound and a B compound, respectively. Deposited CsI on the thermal gradient tube (TGT), which is exposed to temperatures ranging from 423 K to 1023 K was reacted with vapor/aerosol BO, and then observed to determine how it changed Cs/I decomposition profiles. As a result, vapor/aerosol BO stripped a portion of deposited CsI within a temperature range from 830 K to 920 K to make gaseous CsBO and I. In addition, gaseous I was re-deposited at a temperature range from 530 K to 740 K, while CsBO travelled through the sampling tubes and filters without deposition. It is implied that B influences Cs carriers such as CsBO to transport Cs to the colder regions.

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.

Current status and newly introduced analytical techniques for safeguards environmental samples at JAERI

Magara, Masaaki; Usuda, Shigekazu; Sakurai, Satoshi; Watanabe, Kazuo; Esaka, Fumitaka; Hirayama, Fumio; Lee, C. G.; Yasuda, Kenichiro; Kono, Nobuaki; Inagawa, Jun; et al.

Proceedings of INMM 46th Annual Meeting (CD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2005/00

JAERI has been developing analytical techniques for ultra-trace amounts of nuclear materials in the environmental samples in order to contribute to the strengthened safeguards system. Development of essential techniques for bulk and particle analysis of the environmental swipe sample has been established as an ultra-trace analytical method of uranium and plutonium. In January 2003, JAERI was qualified as a member of the IAEA network analytical laboratories for environmental samples. Since then, JAERI has conducted the analysis of domestic and the IAEA samples. From Japanese fiscal year 2003, the second phase of the project was started for the development of advanced techniques, such as analyzing minor actinides and fission products as well as uranium and plutonium, particle analysis using fission-track technique, more efficient particle analysis using ICP-TOFMS and screening by X-ray fluorescent analysis. This paper deals with the progress in the development of the new techniques, applications and future perspective.