Integrated thermal power measurement in the modified STACY for the performance inspections

Araki, Shohei; Aizawa, Eiju; Murakami, Takahiko; Arakaki, Yu; Tada, Yuta; Kamikawa, Yutaka; Hasegawa, Kenta; Yoshikawa, Tomoki; Sumiya, Masato; Seki, Masakazu; et al.

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 217, p.111323_1 - 111323_8, 2025/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111323

JAEA has modified the STACY from a homogeneous system using solution fuel to a heterogeneous system using fuel rods in order to obtain criticality characteristics of fuel debris. The modification of the STACY was completed in December 2023. A series of performance inspections were conducted for the start of experimental operations. A new thermal power calibration is required for the performance inspections in order to operate at less than 200 W, which is the permitted thermal power. However, the thermal power measurement method and calibration data used in the former STACY is no longer available due to the modification of the modified STACY. We measured the thermal power of the STACY using the activation method that was improved to adapt to the measurement condition and calibrated the power meter system. Since the positions where activation foils could be installed were very limited, the thermal power was evaluated using numerical calculations supplemented by experimental data. Neutron flux data at the positions of the activation foil was measured by the activation method. Neutron distribution in the core was calculated by the Monte Carlo code MVP. A response function of the activation foil was calculated using the PHITS. The uncertainty of the thermal power measurement was conservatively estimated to be about 15%. Four operations were conducted for the thermal power measurement. The power meter was calibrated by using three operational data and tested with the one operational data. It was found that the indicated value of the meter adjusted by the STACY before the modification work would tend to overestimate the actual output by about 40%. In addition, the current calibration was able to calibrate the meter to within 3% accuracy.

Uncertainty analysis of the inverse LASSO estimation scheme on radioactive source distributions inside reactor building rooms from air does rate measurements

Shi, W.*; Machida, Masahiko; Yamada, Susumu; Okamoto, Koji

Progress in Nuclear Energy, 184, p.105710_1 - 105710_10, 2025/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2025.105710

Very recently, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) has been proposed as a scheme capable to inversely estimate radioactive source distributions inside reactor building rooms from air dose rate measurements together with the predicted lower bound of the measurement numbers for successful reconstructions. However, no one has ever analyzed how the uncertainty of input data including the measurement errors influences the accuracy of the inverse estimation results. In this paper, we therefore perform uncertainty analysis of the LASSO scheme and suggest an uncertainty estimation function derived based on the theory of Candes. We actually demonstrate in two types of numerical tests with different input uncertainties obtained by using Monte Carlo code, Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) that the calculated errors obey the proposed uncertainty estimation function. Thus, the LASSO scheme allows to successfully estimate radioactive distributions within the predicted uncertainty.

Numerical analysis of a potential Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) boundary failure mechanism in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit-2

Li, X.; Yamaji, Akifumi*; Sato, Ikken*; Yamashita, Takuya

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 214, p.111217_1 - 111217_13, 2025/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111217

Development of a compact detector for measurement of alpha contamination in piping

Morishita, Yuki; Peschet, L.; Yamada, Tsutomu*; Nakasone, Takamasa*; Kanno, Marina*; Sasaki, Miyuki; Sanada, Yukihisa; Torii, Tatsuo*

Radiation Measurements, 183, p.107414_1 - 107414_6, 2025/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2025.107414

In the decommissioning nuclear facilities, it is crucial to inspect piping for contamination to prevent worker exposure to alpha-emitting nuclides. Traditional methods using gamma rays and neutrons are inadequate for detecting small amounts of alpha nuclides due to the short range (approximately 4 cm) of alpha particles in air. To address this, we developed a compact detector capable of distinguishing between alpha particles for direct measurement within pipes. This detector, comprising a ZnS(Ag) scintillator for alpha particles and a plastic scintillator for beta particles (gamma rays), was coupled to a small photomultiplier tube. The system demonstrated high accuracy in differentiating between alpha and beta radiation through pulse shape discrimination (PSD). Monte Carlo simulations and empirical measurements confirmed the detector's effectiveness, achieving a 51.3% detection efficiency for alpha particles with negligible sensitivity to beta and gamma radiation. This innovation presents a significant advancement for direct alpha contamination measurement in environments with high beta and gamma backgrounds, such as the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant decommissioning site.

Aerial monitoring around TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and development of radiation monitoring technology for unmanned airplanes in fiscal year 2023 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Nakama, Shigeo; Sasaki, Miyuki; Ochi, Kotaro; Nagakubo, Azusa; Sawahata, Yoshiro*; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2024-021, 232 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Technology-2024-021.pdf:25.79MB

The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake on March 11, 2011, caused a tsunami that led to the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident, releasing a large amount of radioactive material into the surrounding environment. Since the accident, Aerial Radiation Monitoring (ARM) has been used to quickly and widely measure radiation distribution. As a commissioned project from the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has continuously conducted ARM around FDNPS using manned and unmanned helicopters. This report summarizes the monitoring results for fiscal year 2023, evaluates changes in dose rate from past results, and discusses the factors contributing to these changes. Additionally, an analysis considering terrain undulation was conducted to improve accuracy for converting ARM data into dose rate. Furthermore, a method to discriminate airborne radon progeny was applied for ARM results to evaluate its impact. Moreover, to perform wide-area monitoring more efficiently, we advanced the development of unmanned airplane monitoring technology.

Investigation of chemical substances affect the fluidity of paste on cement solidification

Taniguchi, Takumi; Matsumoto, Saori; Hiraki, Yoshihisa; Sato, Junya; Fujita, Hideki*; Kaneda, Yoshihisa*; Kuroki, Ryoichiro; Osugi, Takeshi

JAEA-Review 2024-059, 20 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Review-2024-059.pdf:1.0MB

The basic performance required for solidifying waste into cement, such as fluidity before curing and strength after curing, is expected to be affected by the chemical effects of substances and components contained in the waste. The fluidity before curing and the strength properties after curing are greatly influenced by the curing speed of the cement. We investigated existing knowledge with a focus on chemical substances that affect the curing speed of cement. In this report, chemical substances that affect fluidity are broadly classified into inorganic substances such as (1) anion species, (2) metal elements such as heavy metals, (3) inorganic compounds as cement admixtures, and (4) organic compounds as cement admixtures. Based on the investigation, we actually added chemicals and measured the setting time. As a result, it was found that there are multiple mechanisms contributing to accelerated hardening. We investigated chemical substances that inhibit the curing reaction of cement, and were able to compile information to consider ingredients that are contraindicated in cement curing.

Applicability evaluation of Type A transport container for off-site transportation of small-amount of fuel debris

Sakamoto, Masahiro; Okumura, Keisuke; Kanno, Ikuo; Matsumura, Taichi; Terashima, Kenichi; Riyana, E. S.; Mizokami, Masato*; Mizokami, Shinya*

JAEA-Research 2024-017, 14 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Research-2024-017.pdf:1.34MB

In the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F), a trial retrieval of fuel debris with small-amount from Unit 2 is planned. The retrieved fuel debris will be transported out of 1F to Institutes in Ibaraki prefecture for analysis. The analyzed results will be utilized for the improvement of the processes (retrieval, transportation and storage) in the fuel debris management as feedback, and also for the development of technologies necessary in the future. The weight of fuel debris in the trial retrieval is planned to be a few grams. After the trial, the scale of retrieval will be expanded step by step. In the trial retrieval, a rational transportation container should be considered beforehand, according to the laws and regulations associated with the off-site transportation. The transportation container has a classification and the classification is decided according to the radioactivity of the material in the container. In this report, we evaluated the applicability of the Type A transport container to contribute to the safety assessment of retrieved fuel debris.

Feasibility study of reactor radiation photon spectroscopy in Fugen for nuclear decommissioning

Kaburagi, Masaaki; Miyamoto, Yuta; Mori, Norimasa; Iwai, Hiroki; Tezuka, Masashi; Kurosawa, Shunsuke*; Tagawa, Akihiro; Takasaki, Koji

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 62(3), p.308 - 316, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2024.2417786

Remote alpha/beta measurement system with support vector machine algorithm

Morishita, Yuki; Miyamura, Hiroko; Sato, Yuki; Matsubara, Jun*; Sumali, B.*; Mitsukura, Yasue*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, p.170368_1 - 170368_16, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170368

Decommissioning nuclear reactor sites presents challenges due to the presence of various radionuclides, including alpha emitters (e.g., Pu, Am, Cm) and beta emitters (e.g., Cs, Sr-Y), which pose significant internal exposure risks to workers. Traditional measurement methods require multiple instruments and are time-consuming, particularly in high gamma-ray environments. To address these issues, we developed a remote alpha and beta discrimination measurement system that integrates a stilbene scintillator detector with a silicon photomultiplier, enabling simultaneous detection of both alpha and beta particles. This study further incorporates machine learning techniques, specifically Support Vector Machines (SVM), for automatic discrimination, eliminating the need for user-defined thresholds and ensuring consistent operational conditions. The system was tested with known radiation sources, demonstrating over 96% classification accuracy for alpha and beta particles. Measurements conducted in motion effectively identified contamination sources, confirming the system's capability for real-time analysis. This innovative approach enhances radiation safety and efficiency in nuclear decommissioning operations, making it particularly beneficial in environments where human access is limited.

Development of time-series point cloud data changes and automatic structure recognition system using Unreal Engine

Kato, Toru*; Takahashi, Hiroki*; Yamashita, Meguru*; Doi, Akio*; Imabuchi, Takashi

Artificial Life and Robotics, 30(1), p.126 - 135, 2025/02

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10015-024-00983-2