Analysis of deposits inside "X-6 penetration" for the Unit 2 primary containment vessel at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Yoneyama, Kai; Nitta, Ayako; Tanaka, Yasuyuki; Kodaka, Noriyasu; Kikuchi, Riku; Sakano, Takuma; Furuse, Takahiro; Sato, Soichi; Sambongi, Mitsuru; Tanaka, Kosuke

JAEA-Technology 2025-008, 44 Pages, 2025/12

JAEA-Technology-2025-008.pdf:4.3MB

At the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F), an investigation inside the reactors has been carried out. In order to safely carry out the decommissioning work such as fuel debris retrieval and building demolition, it is important to estimate the contamination in primary containment vessel for control the decommissioning planning and the worker radiation exposure levels. Therefore, the analysis of the deposit inside the penetration for the 1F Unit 2 primary containment vessel ("X-6 penetration") was performed to clarify the components and activity. The smears from the deposit were used for the analysis. Non-destructive analysis such as gamma-ray spectrometry, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) for the smear-samples were performed to determine the gamma-nuclides and the morphology of elements in the deposit. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the nuclides and nuclide composition of the deposit in detail, the smear-samples were dissolved and the quantitative analysis of gamma-nuclides, Sr-90, alpha-nuclides in the dissolved solution were conducted. The results (non-destructive analysis and quantitative analysis) were compared with the results of samples collected at different locations in the X-6 penetration in 2020. In the gamma-ray spectrometry as non-destructive analysis where the smears were analyzed directly, Co-60, Sb-125, Cs-134, Cs-137, Eu-154, Eu-155 and Am-241 were detected. In XRF results, Fe originating from construction material was detected as a major element and small amount of U and Zr originating from the fuel and fuel cladding were also detected. In SEM-EDX results, O and Fe were found as a major element of the deposit and U particles coexisting with Fe, Si, Cr, Ni and Zr were also found. These results were consistent with the SEM-EDX results of the samples collected in 2020. In radioactivity analysis, quantitative values for gamma-nuclides (Co-60, Sb-125, Cs-134, Cs-137, Eu-154, Eu-155), Sr-90, Pu-238, Pu-239+240, Am-241, Cm-244, U-235 and U-238 were obtained. Using the results, the ratios of radioactivity based on Cs-137 and U-238 were calculated. Both sets of the ratios were compared to the calculated value of the Unit 2 fuel composition from ORIGEN.

Impact of interatomic structural characteristics of aluminosilicate hydrate on the mechanical properties of metakaolin-based geopolymer

Kim, G.*; Cho, S.-M.*; Im, S.*; Suh, H.*; Morooka, Satoshi; Shobu, Takahisa; Kanematsu, Manabu*; Machida, Akihiko*; Bae, S.*

Construction and Building Materials, 411, p.134529_1 - 134529_18, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.134529

Status of technical development for near surface disposal of radioactive waste generated from research facilities, etc.

Sakai, Akihiro

Dai-33-Kai Genshiryoku Shisetsu Dekomisshoningu Gijutsu Koza Tekisuto, p.31 - 63, 2023/02

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is promoting the project for concrete-vault disposal and landfill-type disposal of radioactive waste generated from research facilities, etc. This report introduces current status of technical development for JAEA's disposal project as following items; (1) kinds of research facilities and characteristics of radioactivity inventory of the waste, (2) the structures of the disposal facilities which JAEA conceptually designed, (3) development of waste acceptance criteria for major radioactive waste for the JAEA disposal facilities, (4) the concept of the criteria for disposal of uranium bearing waste, that has been established in 2021.

High-temperature gaseous reaction of cesium with siliceous thermal insulation; The Potential implication to the provenance of enigmatic Fukushima cesium-bearing material

Rizaal, M.; Nakajima, Kunihisa; Saito, Takumi*; Osaka, Masahiko; Okamoto, Koji*

ACS Omega (Internet), 7(33), p.29326 - 29336, 2022/08

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c03525

Identification of carbon in glassy cesium-bearing microparticles using electron microscopy and formation mechanisms of the microparticles

Hidaka, Akihide

Nuclear Technology, 208(2), p.318 - 334, 2022/02

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2021.1929767

The author previously proposed that the Cs bearing microparticle (Type A) may have been formed by melting and atomization of glass fibers (GF) of the HEPA filter in the SGTS due to flame and blast during the hydrogen explosion in Unit 3. If this hypothesis is correct, the Type A could contain or accompany carbon (C), that ignites spontaneously above 623 K, because of the limited time to be heated up, inclusion of C in the binder applied on the GF surface and closely located charcoal filter. As the previous studies did not focus on C, the present analyses were performed with EPMA whether the Type A contains C. The results showed that the Type A contained C originating from the binder, and non-spherical particles accompanied by the Type A and the film surrounding the Type A contained more C, which is thought to originate from the charcoal filter. These results cannot be explained by the other mechanisms proposed so far, and can be explained consistently by the author proposed hypothesis.

Inner structure and inclusions in radiocesium-bearing microparticles emitted in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Okumura, Taiga*; Yamaguchi, Noriko*; Dohi, Terumi; Iijima, Kazuki; Kogure, Toshihiro*

Microscopy, 68(3), p.234 - 242, 2019/06

https://doi.org/10.1093/jmicro/dfz004

Radiocesium-bearing microparticles (CsMPs), consisting substantially of silicate glass, were released to the environment during the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011. We investigated a total of nine CsMPs using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inferred the atmosphere in the reactors during the accident. From elemental mapping using energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, Fe and Zn showing radial inhomogeneities were found in the CsMPs, in addition to the Cs that had been previously reported. Four of the CsMPs included submicron crystals, which were identified as chromite, franklinite, acanthite, molybdenite, and hessite. The chromium-containing spinels, chromite and franklinite, indicated the presence of ferrous iron (Fe), suggesting that the inside of the reactors was reductive to some extent. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy also confirmed that the CsMPs did not contain boron, and therefore the atmosphere in which they were formed might be boron-free.

Current status of the next generation fast reactor core & fuel design and related R&Ds in Japan

Maeda, Seiichiro; Oki, Shigeo; Otsuka, Satoshi; Morimoto, Kyoichi; Ozawa, Takayuki; Kamide, Hideki

Proceedings of International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles; Next Generation Nuclear Systems for Sustainable Development (FR-17) (USB Flash Drive), 10 Pages, 2017/06

The next generation fast reactor is being investigated in Japan, aiming at several targets such as "safety", "reduction of environmental burden" and "economic competitiveness". As for the safety aspect, FAIDUS concept is adopted to avoid re-criticality in core destructive accidents. The uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel, in which minor actinide elements are included, will be applied to reduce the amount and potential radio-toxicity of radioactive wastes. The high burn-up fuel is pursued to reduce fuel cycle cost. The candidate concept of the core and fuel design, which could satisfy various design criteria by design devisals, has been established. In addition, JAEA is investigating material properties and irradiation behavior of MA-MOX fuel. JAEA is developing the fuel design code especially for the fuel pin with annular pellets of MA-bearing MOX. Furthermore, JAEA is developing oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic steel cladding for the high burnup fuel.

Development on rubber bearings for sodium-cooled fast reactor, 1; Examination plan

Yamamoto, Tomohiko; Kawasaki, Nobuchika; Fukasawa, Tsuyoshi*; Okamura, Shigeki*; Somaki, Takahiro*; Samejima, Yusuke*; Masaki, Nobuo*

Proceedings of 2015 ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference (PVP 2015) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2015/07

Since a SFR (Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor) has thin-walled component structures, a seismic isolation system is employed to mitigate the seismic force. Seismic isolation system for applying the SFR consists of the laminated rubber bearing considering characteristics of SFR structures. This paper describes a basic mechanical characteristic examination with a 1/8 scale model and a characterization examination plan of half-scale laminated rubber.

Aging deterioration test of seismic isolation applied to fusion experimental reactor

Takeda, Nobukazu; Nakahira, Masataka; Kakudate, Satoshi; Takahashi, Hiroyuki*; Shibanuma, Kiyoshi; Yabana, Shuichi*; Matsuda, Akihiro*

Proceedings of 9th World Seminar on Seismic Isolation, Energy Dissipation and Active Vibration Control of Structures (CD-ROM), p.299 - 306, 2005/00

For the ITER, a fusion experimental reactor, it is planned to use rubber bearings in order to enhance the reliability of integrity with a sufficient margin even for the earthquakes beyond the design basis earthquake. In application for nuclear plants, the vertical compression of the isolator is 25 MPa and there is no experience for such a high compression as 10 MPa to be used for the ITER. Therefore, there is not enough design data of the rubber bearings with high compression, and thus a detailed estimation of performance is necessary. As a result of the endurance test after aging, it was validated that the bearing can be applied safely until 400th cycle even after 40 years of aging. On the other hand, the residual deformation was found at the 246th cycle. This means that the residual deformation can be observed enough earlier than the change of the macroscopic mechanical parameter such as stiffness. Therefore, it is possible to prevent break of the bearing during operation by sensing a sign of break with a periodical visual inspection.

Development of EC H&CD launcher components for fusion device

Takahashi, Koji; Ishitsuka, Etsuo; Moeller, C. P.*; Hayashida, Kazunori*; Kasugai, Atsushi; Sakamoto, Keishi; Hayashi, Kenichi*; Imai, Tsuyoshi

Fusion Engineering and Design, 66-68, p.473 - 479, 2003/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-3796(03)00076-0

For the purpose to confirm the reliability of the front steering concept, tests of the front steering launcher mock-up and neutron irradiation tests of bearings for a movable mirror were carried out under the ITER conditions. The max. stress of the flexible pipes for the movable mirror was measuerd to be 60MPa, much less than the allowable stress and agree with the calculation. No degradation on the performance of bearings was obtained for the assumed fluence of ITER. The mock-up of remote steering(RS) launcher was tested and RF radiation of 0.5MW-3sec and 0.2MW-10sec over 0-10 were performed. No degradation was obseved, either. The new launcher which has the capability of wider range rf beam steering and the corrugated square waveguide with four miter bends that yield the dog-legged structure has been designed, based on the test results. It has been fabricating for high power experiments.