Final report on feasibility study of Pu monitoring and solution measurement of high active liquid waste containing fission product at Reprocessing Facility

Sekine, Megumi; Matsuki, Takuya; Suzuki, Satoshi*; Tsutagi, Koichi; Nishida, Naoki; Kitao, Takahiko; Tomikawa, Hirofumi; Nakamura, Hironobu; LaFleur, A.*; Browne, M.*

JAEA-Technology 2019-023, 160 Pages, 2020/03

JAEA-Technology-2019-023.pdf:9.43MB

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has proposed in its Research and Development plan (STR-385), the development of technology to enable real-time flow measurement of nuclear material as a part of an advanced approach to effective and efficient safeguards for reprocessing facilities. To address this, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been tackling development of a new detector to enable monitoring of Pu in solutions with numerous FPs as a joint research program with U.S. DOE to cover whole reprocessing process. In this study, High Active Liquid Waste (HALW) Storage Facility in Tokai Reprocessing Plant was used as the test field. At first, the design information of HALW storage tank and radiation (type and intensity) were investigated to develop a Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP) model. And then, dose rate distribution outside/ inside of the concrete cell where the HALW tank is located was measured to design new detectors and check MCNP model applicability. Using the newly designed detectors, gamma rays and neutron were continuously measured at the outside/ inside of the concrete cell to assess the radiation characteristics and to optimize detector position. Finally, the applicability for Pu monitoring technology was evaluated based on the simulation results and gamma-ray/neutron measurement results. We have found that there is possibility to monitor the change of Pu amount in solution by combination both of gamma-ray and neutron measurement. The results of this study suggested the applicability and capability of the Pu motoring to enhance safeguards for entire reprocessing facility which handles Pu with FP as a feasibility study. This is final report of this project.

Research on factor analysis for achieving denuclearisation, 3; Denuclearisation at Libya: Process and success factors

Tamai, Hiroshi; Shimizu, Ryo; Tazaki, Makiko; Kimura, Takashi; Nakatani, Takayoshi; Suda, Kazunori

Nihon Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Dai-40-Kai Nenji Taikai Puroshidhingusu, p.89 - 92, 2019/11

Libya's denuclearisation, named 'the Libya model', is regarded as one of good practices in cooperation of the international community and measures that have a sense of speed with the countries and institutions involved. Success factors of the denuclearisation are the Libya's relatively low technological progress despite the procurement of extensive nuclear materials and components due to the delay of detecting the nuclear programme, prompt implementation with the close collaboration of countries concerned, and Libya's cooperation facing to the economic sanctions and the regime collapse by the Iraq war. Precious lessons will be learned towards the prevention and the denuclearisation in other countries.

Research on factor analysis for achieving denuclearization, 1; South Africa: Motivations for nuclear weapons development, incentives for denuclearization and characteristics of its denuclearization

Tazaki, Makiko; Kimura, Takashi; Shimizu, Ryo; Tamai, Hiroshi; Nakatani, Takayoshi; Suda, Kazunori

Nihon Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Dai-40-Kai Nenji Taikai Puroshidhingusu, p.81 - 84, 2019/11

South Africa had developed, manufactured, and possessed nuclear weapons, but later dismantled them all together with related facilities and equipment. After joining Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear weapon state and concluding a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it started peaceful use of nuclear energy. In that sense, South Africa's denuclearization is one of good examples of past denuclearization in the world, although the South Africa's specific policy of apartheid had been deeply connected with its nuclear weapons development and denuclearization. Analysing South Africa's motivations for nuclear weapons development, incentives for denuclearization, and characteristics of its denuclearization could serve as a good reference for not only preventing nuclear weapons development but also considering their denuclearization in current and future states.

Development of active non-destructive analysis technologies for nuclear nonproliferation and security of JAEA

Koizumi, Mitsuo

Proceedings of 41st ESARDA Annual Meeting (Internet), p.260 - 267, 2019/05

International challenge to model the long-range transport of radioxenon released from medical isotope production to six Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty monitoring stations

Maurer, C.*; Bar, J.*; Kusmierczyk-Michulec, J.*; Crawford, A.*; Eslinger, P. W.*; Seibert, P.*; Orr, B.*; Philipp, A.*; Ross, O.*; Generoso, S.*; et al.

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 192, p.667 - 686, 2018/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.01.030

It is very important to understand the impact for CTBT stations caused by radioxenon emitted from medical isotope production facilities for detection of underground nuclear tests. Predictions of the impact on six CTBT radionuclide stations in the Southern Hemisphere of radioxenon emitted from the medical isotope production facility in Australia were carried out by participants from ten nations using ATM (Atmospheric Transport Modeling) based on the emission data of radioxenon from this facility, as part of study on impact of radioxenon emitted from medical isotope production facilities on CTBT radionuclide stations.

Security measures at nuclear fuel facilities, 2; Internal threat countermeasure in cyber-security

Kono, Soma; Yamada, Hiroyuki; Goto, Atsushi*; Yamazaki, Katsuyuki; Nakamura, Hironobu; Kitao, Takahiko

Nihon Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Dai-39-Kai Nenji Taikai Rombunshu (Internet), 2 Pages, 2018/11

no abstracts in English

A Study on the tendencies on the member states from which Broader Conclusion (BC) has been drawn and on those from which BC has not been drawn yet by the International Atomic Energy Agency; Extracting possible requirements for drawing the BC

Nakanishi, Hiroaki; Kimura, Takashi; Shimizu, Ryo; Kitade, Yuta; Tazaki, Makiko; Tamai, Hiroshi; Suda, Kazunori

Nihon Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Dai-39-Kai Nenji Taikai Rombunshu (Internet), 9 Pages, 2018/11

To extract the possible requirements for the Broader Conclusion (BC) drawn by the IAEA in the Member States, this study is to conduct the comparative analysis of the tendencies on the Member States from which the BC has been drawn and those from which the BC has not been drawn yet.

Study on elements of establishing the regional safeguards

Kitade, Yuta; Tamai, Hiroshi; Tazaki, Makiko; Shimizu, Ryo; Kimura, Takashi; Nakanishi, Hiroaki; Suda, Kazunori

Nihon Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Dai-39-Kai Nenji Taikai Rombunshu (Internet), 9 Pages, 2018/11

Regional Safeguards is considered as one of the measures for strengthening IAEA safeguards and its concept is recognized at NPT Review Conference and also NSG Guidelines amended in 2011. This Study examines the elements for the proper establishment of Regional Safeguards.

Nuclear agreement to promote cooperation between Japan and the U.S.

Suda, Kazunori

Enerugi Rebyu, 38(10), p.38 - 41, 2018/09

Feasibility study of technology for Pu solution monitoring including FP; Development of gamma spectra detector for high active liquid waste

Sekine, Megumi; Matsuki, Takuya; Tokoro, Hayate; Tsutagi, Koichi; Kitao, Takahiko; Nakamura, Hironobu; Tomikawa, Hirofumi

Proceedings of INMM 59th Annual Meeting (Internet), 10 Pages, 2018/07

In a reprocessing facility, it is necessary to develop a detector which can measure plutonium (Pu) content in the Pu solutions containing fission products (FP) in order to expand the application of Pu monitoring. In order to establish this technology, JAEA has studied a system measure -rays was utilized since it applicable for Pu monitoring. Ce:GAGG (Ce:GdAlGaO) scintillator detector can measure a wide energy range in a high-dose environment and has reasonable resolution. -ray measurements were performed inside of the concrete cell containing the High Active Liquid Waste tank at the Tokai reprocessing plant. In the spectra, the two significant peaks were measured by the GAGG above 800 keV and were considered to be from Eu-154. There -ray measurements will be combined with previous neutron measurements and both will be compared to MCNP models for future Pu monitoring technology. This presentation will describe the detector selection, the design system, the results of -ray spectral measurements and the applicability for Pu monitoring. This project has been carried out under the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of the Japanese government.