Annual report on the effluent control of low level liquid waste in Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories FY2022

Kokubun, Yuji; Nakada, Akira; Seya, Natsumi; Nagaoka, Mika; Koike, Yuko; Kubota, Tomohiro; Hirao, Moe; Yoshii, Hideki*; Otani, Kazunori*; Hiyama, Yoshinori*; et al.

JAEA-Review 2023-052, 118 Pages, 2024/03

JAEA-Review-2023-052.pdf:3.67MB

Based on the regulations (the safety regulation of Tokai Reprocessing Plant, the safety regulation of nuclear fuel material usage facilities, the radiation safety rule, the regulation about prevention from radiation hazards due to radioisotopes, which are related with the nuclear regulatory acts, the local agreement concerning with safety and environment conservation around nuclear facilities, the water pollution control law, and by law of Ibaraki Prefecture), the effluent control of liquid waste discharged from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories of Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been performed. This report describes the effluent control results of the liquid waste in the fiscal year 2022. In this period, the concentrations and the quantities of the radioactivity in liquid waste discharged from the reprocessing plant, the plutonium fuel fabrication facilities, and the other nuclear fuel material usage facilities were much lower than the limits authorized by the above regulations.

Changes in molecular conformation and electronic structure of DNA under C ions based on first-principles calculations

Sekikawa, Takuya; Matsuya, Yusuke; Hwang, B.*; Ishizaka, Masato*; Kawai, Hiroyuki*; Ono, Yoshiaki*; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Kai, Takeshi

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 548, p.165231_1 - 165231_6, 2024/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2023.165231

One of the main causes of radiation effects on the human body is thought to be damage to DNA, which carries genetic information. However, it is not fully understood what kind of molecular structural changes DNA undergoes upon radiation damage. Since it has been reported that various types of DNA damage are formed when DNA is irradiated, our group has investigated the relationship between DNA damage and various patterns of radiation-induced ionization induced by radiation. Although we have so far analyzed DNA damage in a simple system using a rigid body model of DNA, more detailed calculations are required to analyze the molecular structural changes in DNA, which are considered to be important in considering the effects on the human body. In this study, we attempted to clarify the molecular conformational changes of DNA using OpenMX, a first-principles calculation software that can discuss electronic states based on molecular structures. Specifically, we calculated the most stable structure, band dispersion, and wave function of DNA under the assumption that one and two electrons are ionized by various radiation. In the presentation, we will discuss the relationship between the energy dependence of each incident radiation type and the molecular conformational change of DNA. In addition, the radiation-induced changes in the basic physical properties of DNA (corresponding to the initial stage of DNA damage) will be discussed from the viewpoints of both radiation physics and solid state physics.

Effectiveness of fused LASSO for prediction of distribution of radioactive materials in reactor buildings

Yamada, Susumu; Yoshida, Toru*; Hasegawa, Yukihiro*; Machida, Masahiko

Proceedings of Waste Management Symposia 2024 (WM2024) (Internet), 15 Pages, 2024/03

In order to safely carry out the decommission of reactor buildings, it is extremely important to identify the radiation source distribution. It has been reported that when the structural model of the building is constructed by uniform cells, the source distribution can be estimated from the measured air dose rates by minimizing an evaluation function using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). Moreover, if cells are non-uniform, we can estimate the distribution using the fused LASSO which minimizes the evaluation function that takes account of the connectivity between the adjacent cells. However, when a group of some cells is considered disconnected from the surrounding ones due to the precision of the measured structural data, the concentration of the group can be singularly high. Therefore, in order to avoid the problem, we propose a new evaluation function that can prevent the singularity. We estimated the distribution for the test model using the proposed evaluation function and confirmed the validity of the function. Moreover, we succeeded in estimating the source distribution in the pool canal circulation system room in JMTR in the Japan Atomic Energy Agency by the fused LASSO for the new function more accurately than previous analysis.

Improvement of the longitudinal phase space tomography at the J-PARC synchrotrons

Okita, Hidefumi; Tamura, Fumihiko; Yamamoto, Masanobu; Nomura, Masahiro; Shimada, Taihei; Saha, P. K.; Yoshii, Masahito*; Omori, Chihiro*; Sugiyama, Yasuyuki*; Hasegawa, Katsushi*; et al.

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 2687(7), p.072005_1 - 072005_7, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2687/7/072005

Longitudinal phase space tomography is an effective measurement tool for acquiring the longitudinal phase space distribution. For the J-PARC synchrotrons, tomography, which can take into account the beam dynamics such as longitudinal space charge effect and nonlinearity, is desired, as the beam power increases. In this study, for the J-PARC synchrotron, the CERN's tomography, which employs the hybrid algorithm that can consider the beam dynamics for reconstruction, is introduced and benchmarked. The benchmark results show that the CERN's tomography has the ability to measure the longitudinal phase space distribution accurately, in the high-power beam operation at the J-PARC synchrotrons.

Consideration of high intensity single bunch acceleration in J-PARC RCS

Tamura, Fumihiko; Okita, Hidefumi; Hotchi, Hideaki*; Saha, P. K.; Meigo, Shinichiro; Yoshii, Masahito*; Omori, Chihiro*; Yamamoto, Masanobu; Seiya, Kiyomi*; Sugiyama, Yasuyuki*; et al.

Proceedings of 20th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (Internet), p.64 - 68, 2023/11

https://www.pasj.jp/web_publish/pasj2023/proceedings/PDF/WEOB/WEOB6.pdf

The J-PARC 3GeV synchrotron (RCS) provides high intensity proton beams to the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) and the Main Ring (MR). The harmonic number (h) of the RCS is 2 and the RCS normally accelerates two bunches. For some experiments at the MLF, a single bunch is preferred. In this case, one of the rf bucket is filled with protons and the other is empty. Therefore the beam intensity is halved. If the RCS can accelerate with h=1, the intensity per bunch can be doubled, enabling to provide single bunch beams to the MLF with the maximum intensity. This possibly increases the MR beam power by injecting high intensity single bunches eight times. In this presentation, we report mainly on the consideration of h=1 acceleration in the RCS by longitudinal simulations.

Structural investigation of borosilicate glasses by using XAFS measurement in soft X-ray region, 3 (Joint research)

Nagai, Takayuki; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Yamagishi, Hirona*; Shibata, Daisuke*; Kojima, Kazuo*; Hasegawa, Takehiko*; Sato, Seiichi*; Fukaya, Akane*; Hatakeyama, Kiyoshi*

JAEA-Research 2023-004, 45 Pages, 2023/09

JAEA-Research-2023-004.pdf:6.07MB

The local structure of glass-forming elements and waste elements in borosilicate glasses varies with its chemical composition. In this study, simulated waste glass samples were prepared and the chemical state regarding boron (B), silicon (Si) and waste elements of iron (Fe), cesium (Cs) were estimated by using XAFS measurement in soft X-ray region. To understand the chemical stability of simulated waste glasses, XANES spectra of B K-edge, Fe L, L-edge, and Cs M, M-edge were measured on the glass surface exposed to the leachate. As a result, it was found that the glass surface exposed to the leachate was changed and it was difficult to obtain a clear XANES spectrum. From the B K-edge XANES spectra on glass surfaces exposed to the leachate, an increase in three-coordination of B-O (BO) and a decrease in four-coordination of B-O (BO) were observed compared to the glass surfaces before immersion. The XANES spectra of Fe L, L-edge, and Cs M, M-edge show that as the exposure time in the leachate increases, the Cs present on the glass surface dissolves into the leachate. The XANES spectra of Si K-edge were measured on simulated waste glass surfaces before immersion, and it was confirmed that the change in XANES spectra given by NaO concentration had a larger effect than the waste component concentration.

Development of coupling technology for high temperature gas-cooled reactors and hydrogen production facility; HTTR heat application test project plan

Ishii, Katsunori; Morita, Keisuke; Noguchi, Hiroki; Aoki, Takeshi; Mizuta, Naoki; Hasegawa, Takeshi; Nagatsuka, Kentaro; Nomoto, Yasunobu; Shimizu, Atsushi; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; et al.

Dai-27-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.1299/jsmepes.2023.27.A242

R&D of digital technology on inverse estimation of radioactive source distributions and related source countermeasures; R&D status of digital platform including 3D-ADRES-indoor

Machida, Masahiko; Yamada, Susumu; Kim, M.; Okumura, Masahiko; Miyamura, Hiroko; Shikaze, Yoshiaki; Sato, Tomoki*; Numata, Yoshiaki*; Tobita, Yasuhiro*; Yamaguchi, Takashi; et al.

RIST News, (69), p.2 - 18, 2023/09

https://www.rist.or.jp/rnews/69/69s2.pdf

The contamination of radioactive materials leaked from the reactor has resulted in numerous hot spots in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F) building, posing obstacles to its decommissioning. In order to solve this problem, JAEA has conducted research and development of the digital technique for inverse estimation of radiation source distribution and countermeasures against the estimated source in virtual space for two years from 2021 based on the subsidy program "Project of Decommissioning and Contaminated Water Management" performed by the funds from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. In this article, we introduce the results of the project and the plan of the renewal project started in April 2023. For the former project, we report the derivative method for LASSO method considering the complex structure inside the building and the character of the source and show the result of the inverse estimation using the method in the real reactor building. Moreover, we explain the platform software "3D-ADRES-Indoor" which integrates these achievements. Finally, we introduce the plan of the latter project.

Requirements and issues for commentary against facility design on trench disposal of radioactive wastes generated from research, industrial and medical

Ogawa, Rina; Amazawa, Hiroya; Nakata, Hisakazu; Sugaya, Toshikatsu; Sakai, Akihiro

JAEA-Review 2023-011, 116 Pages, 2023/08

JAEA-Review-2023-011.pdf:2.6MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is the implementing agency for the disposal business of radioactive waste generated from research, industrial and medical facilities (Institutional radioactive waste). In 2010, JAEA implemented a conceptual design of the disposal facility that conformed to the laws and regulations at the time. However, since 2013, the laws and regulations for nuclear facilities including the Category-2 Waste Disposal were amended. Since then, design of various nuclear facilities including disposal facilities has been reviewed. Therefore, JAEA decided to do additional studies toward the basic design for the disposal facility. When JAEA gets a license of the disposal business of Institutional radioactive waste, it is necessary to show that the disposal facility complies with the rule of design for disposal facility under the law. Therefore, JAEA is examining technical studies of the disposal facility to conform to the new standard. In this report, we organized the requirements of the rule for design of trench disposal facility and extracted the issues to design the disposal facility that conform to the requirements.

Development of a single-ended magnetic alloy loaded cavity in the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex rapid cycling synchrotron

Yamamoto, Masanobu; Nomura, Masahiro; Okita, Hidefumi; Shimada, Taihei; Tamura, Fumihiko; Hara, Keigo*; Hasegawa, Katsushi*; Omori, Chihiro*; Sugiyama, Yasuyuki*; Yoshii, Masahito*

Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (Internet), 2023(7), p.073G01_1 - 073G01_16, 2023/07

https://doi.org/10.1093/ptep/ptad085

The Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) employs Magnetic Alloy (MA) loaded cavities. We realize multi-harmonic rf driving and beam loading compensation owing to the broadband characteristics of the MA. The currently installed cavity is the conventional type one which is designed to be driven by tube amplifiers in a push-pull operation. The push-pull operation has some advantages, i.e., suppressing a higher harmonic distortion without the beam acceleration and shortening the cavity length. However, a disadvantage arises at the high intensity beam acceleration where the multi-harmonic rf driving causes a severe imbalance of the anode voltage swing and restricts the tube operation. Although we have achieved an acceleration for the design beam power of 1 MW, the imbalance becomes an issue to further increase the beam power. We have developed a single-ended MA cavity to avoid such difficulty. The cavity has no tube imbalance intrinsically and it is found that the power consumption to drive the cavity can be reduced compared with the conventional one.