Microstructural evolution of intermetallic phase precipitates in Cr-coated zirconium alloy cladding in high-temperature steam oxidation up to 1400C

Mohamad, A. B.; Nemoto, Yoshiyuki; Furumoto, Kenichiro*; Okada, Yuji*; Sato, Daiki*

Corrosion Science, 224, p.111540_1 - 111540_15, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2023.111540

Assessment of the infiltration behaviour of buffer material in seawater-type groundwater environments using a coupled THMC analysis model (Contract research)

Suzuki, Hideaki*; Takayama, Yusuke; Sato, Hisashi*; Watahiki, Takanori*; Sato, Daisuke*

JAEA-Research 2022-013, 41 Pages, 2023/03

JAEA-Research-2022-013.pdf:3.99MB

It is anticipated that the coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical and chemical (THMC) processes will occur, involving an interactive process with radioactive decay heat arising from the vitrified waste, infiltration of groundwater from the host rock into the buffer material, swelling pressure of buffer material due to its saturation and chemical reaction between bentonite and pore-water in the near-field of a geological disposal system for high-level radioactive waste repository. In order to evaluate these phenomena in the near-field, the THMC model has been developed. In this study, For the purpose of evaluating the near-field infiltration behavior in seawater-type groundwater environment, a hydraulic model was set in which the permeability of the buffer material change depending on the salt concentration in the pore-water. In order to evaluate the drying phenomenon of the buffer material due to waste heat, a temperature gradient water transfer model was set in consideration of the dependence of temperature and pore-water saturation. The THMC analysis of the in-situ experiment of engineered barrier system (EBS) experiment at the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory was carried out. The validity of the model was then checked through comparison with measured data.

High-sensitive XANES analysis at Ce L-edge for Ce in bauxites using transition-edge sensors; Implications for Ti-rich geological samples

Li, W.*; Yamada, Shinya*; Hashimoto, Tadashi; Okumura, Takuma*; Hayakawa, Ryota*; Nitta, Kiyofumi*; Sekizawa, Oki*; Suga, Hiroki*; Uruga, Tomoya*; Ichinohe, Yuto*; et al.

Analytica Chimica Acta, 1240, p.340755_1 - 340755_9, 2023/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2022.340755

no abstracts in English

Japanese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library version 5; JENDL-5

Iwamoto, Osamu; Iwamoto, Nobuyuki; Kunieda, Satoshi; Minato, Futoshi; Nakayama, Shinsuke; Abe, Yutaka*; Tsubakihara, Kosuke*; Okumura, Shin*; Ishizuka, Chikako*; Yoshida, Tadashi*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(1), p.1 - 60, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2141903

Design and actual performance of J-PARC 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron for high-intensity operation

Yamamoto, Kazami; Kinsho, Michikazu; Hayashi, Naoki; Saha, P. K.; Tamura, Fumihiko; Yamamoto, Masanobu; Tani, Norio; Takayanagi, Tomohiro; Kamiya, Junichiro; Shobuda, Yoshihiro; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(9), p.1174 - 1205, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2038301

In the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, the purpose of the 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) is to accelerate a 1 MW, high-intensity proton beam. To achieve beam operation at a repetition rate of 25 Hz at high intensities, the RCS was elaborately designed. After starting the RCS operation, we carefully verified the validity of its design and made certain improvements to establish a reliable operation at higher power as possible. Consequently, we demonstrated beam operation at a high power, namely, 1 MW. We then summarized the design, actual performance, and improvements of the RCS to achieve a 1 MW beam.

Development of the DICOM-based Monte Carlo dose reconstruction system for a retrospective study on the secondary cancer risk in carbon ion radiotherapy

Furuta, Takuya; Koba, Yusuke*; Hashimoto, Shintaro; Chang, W.*; Yonai, Shunsuke*; Matsumoto, Shinnosuke*; Ishikawa, Akihisa*; Sato, Tatsuhiko

Physics in Medicine & Biology, 67(14), p.145002_1 - 145002_15, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/ac7998

Carbon ion radiotherapy has an advantage over conventional radiotherapy such that its superior dose concentration on the tumor helps to reduce unwanted dose to surrounding normal tissues. Nevertheless, a little dose to normal tissues, which is a potential risk of secondary cancer, is still unavoidable. The Monte Carlo simulation is a good candidate for the tool to assess secondary cancer risk, including the contributions of secondary particles produced by nuclear reactions. We therefore developed a new dose reconstruction system implementing PHITS as the engine. In this system, the PHITS input is automatically created from the DICOM data sets recorded in the treatment planning. The developed system was validated by comparing to experimental dose distribution in water and treatment plan on an anthropomorphic phantom. This system will be used for retrospective studies using the patient data in National Institute for Quantum and Science and Technology.

Re-evaluation of electricity generation cost of HTGR

Fukaya, Yuji; Ohashi, Hirofumi; Sato, Hiroyuki; Goto, Minoru; Kunitomi, Kazuhiko

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi (Internet), 21(2), p.116 - 126, 2022/06

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J21.005

An improvement electricity generation cost evaluation method for High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) has been performed. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) had completed the commercial HTGR concept named Gas Turbine High Temperature Reactor (GTHTR300) and the electricity generation cost evaluation method approximately a decade ago. The cost evaluation was developed based on the method of Federation of Electric Power Companies (FEPC). The FEPC method was drastically revised after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Moreover, the escalation of material and labor cost for the decade should be consider to evaluate the latest cost. Therefore, we revised the cost evaluation method for GTHTR300 and the cost was compared with that of Light Water Reactor (LWR). As a result, it was found that the electricity generation cost of HTGR of 7.9 yen/kWh is cheaper than that of LWR of 11.7 yen/kWh by approximately 30% at the capacity factor of 70%.

Development of timing read-back system for stable operation of J-PARC

Yang, M.*; Kamikubota, Norihiko*; Sato, Kenichi*; Kikuzawa, Nobuhiro; Tajima, Yuto*

Proceedings of 18th International Conference on Accelerator and Large Experimental Physics Control Systems (ICALEPCS 2021) (Internet), p.927 - 930, 2022/02

https://doi.org/10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2021-THPV029

Since 2006, the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) timing system has been operated successfully. However, there were some unexpected trigger-failure events, typically missing trigger events, during the operation over 15 years. When a trigger-failure event occurred, it was often tough to find the one with the fault among many suspected modules. To solve the problem more easily, a unique device, triggered scaler, was developed for reading back accelerator signals. The performance of the module has been evaluated in 2018. In 2021, we measured and observed an LLRF signal as the first signal of the read-back system for beam operation. After firmware upgrades of the module, some customized timing read-back systems were developed, and successfully demonstrated as coping strategies for past trigger-failure events. In addition, a future plan to apply the read-back system to other facilities is discussed. More details are given in the paper.

Variation in formation and migration of self-interstitial atom clusters in electron irradiated copper with material purity and specimen preparation method

Sato, Yuki*; Abe, Yosuke; Okubo, Kenji*; Tanioka, Takashi*

Philosophical Magazine, 102(12), p.1152 - 1172, 2022/00

https://doi.org/10.1080/14786435.2022.2042610

Using in situ observation with high-voltage electron microscope, one-dimensional (1D) migration of self-interstitial atom (SIA) clusters under electron irradiation at 300 K was surveyed for copper materials of five nominal purities and TEM specimens prepared with three methods. In standard (STD) specimens that were prepared through cold rolling and annealing in the vacuum, formation and 1D migration of SIA clusters did not depend much on the nominal purity. In non-annealed (NA) specimens, prepared from high purity materials through mechanical processing and electropolishing, defect structure was coarser than in STD specimens. Results of bulk annealing (BA) specimens showed that annealing of as-received block material had minor effects. Above results were discussed based on the hypothesis that impurity atoms existing in as-received materials and those induced by annealing act as traps for SIA clusters.

Organ dose reconstruction applicable for a Japanese nuclear worker cohort; J-EPISODE

Furuta, Hiroshige*; Sato, Kaoru; Nishide, Akemi*; Kudo, Shinichi*; Saigusa, Shin*

Health Physics, 121(5), p.471 - 483, 2021/11

https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001454

Low dose radiation induced "health effects" containing cancer risk for a Japanese radiation worker cohort is epidemiologically evaluated using the personal dose equivalent (Hp(10)). On the other hand, Hp(10) is not recommended for epidemiological evaluation of cancer risks, since the Hp(10) is widely used for radiological protection purposes. In addition, the cancer risk depends on organ doses rather than Hp(10). Thus, we developed a new method for estimating organ doses from Hp(10) of radiation workers. The developed method enables epidemiological analysis against Japanese radiation workers by considering the response characteristics of personal dosimeters, exposure geometry and energy, and body size of radiation workers in Japan. In the future, we will reconstruct organ dose conversion factor and will evaluate the risk of cancer mortality and morbidity using the organ dose in Japan.