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JAEA Reports

Carrying-out of whole nuclear fuel materials in Plutonium Research Building No.1

Inagawa, Jun; Kitatsuji, Yoshihiro; Otobe, Haruyoshi; Nakada, Masami; Takano, Masahide; Akie, Hiroshi; Shimizu, Osamu; Komuro, Michiyasu; Oura, Hirofumi*; Nagai, Isao*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2021-001, 144 Pages, 2021/08

JAEA-Technology-2021-001.pdf:12.98MB

Plutonium Research Building No.1 (Pu1) was qualified as a facility to decommission, and preparatory operations for decommission were worked by the research groups users and the facility managers of Pu1. The operation of transportation of whole nuclear materials in Pu1 to Back-end Cycle Key Element Research Facility (BECKY) completed at Dec. 2020. In the operation included evaluation of criticality safety for changing permission of the license for use nuclear fuel materials in BECKY, cask of the transportation, the registration request of the cask at the institute, the test transportation, formulation of plan for whole nuclear materials transportation, and the main transportation. This report circumstantially shows all of those process to help prospective decommission.

JAEA Reports

Development of dry rework technology in MOX fuel fabrication process; Selection and characterization of pulverizer for particle size adjustment of dry recycled powder

Yamamoto, Kazuya; Makino, Takayoshi; Iso, Hidetoshi; Segawa, Tomoomi; Kawaguchi, Koichi; Ishii, Katsunori

JAEA-Technology 2021-002, 31 Pages, 2021/05

JAEA-Technology-2021-002.pdf:4.37MB

In the MOX fuel fabrication process, a dry recycle technology has been developed to effectively utilize dry recovered powder obtained by crushing out of specification MOX pellets. The particle size of the dry recovery powder is divided into three classes; coarse size (about 250 $$mu$$m or less), medium size (about 100 $$mu$$m or less), and fine size (about 10 $$mu$$m or less) by the current crushers, and the effect of controlling the density of sintered pellets is obtained to a certain extent by adding the dry recovered powder to the raw powder. In this report, with the aim of more finely adjusting the particle size of the dry recovery powder, a buhrstone mill and a collision plate-type jet mill were selected as grinders that can adjust the dry recovered powder within a particle size range of 250 $$mu$$m or less, and the particle size adjustment test was conducted to pulverize the tungsten-carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) pellets as a simulated material for the MOX pellets. The buhrstone mill can control the particle size within a certain range by adjusting the grindstone clearance, but particles with a particle size of 250 $$mu$$m or more may be discharged. On the contrary, it is expected that the particle size of the collision plate-type jet mill can be controlled in the range of 250 $$mu$$m or less by adjusting the classification zone clearance. Therefore, the collision plate-type jet mill is more suitable for adjusting the particle size of the dry recovered powder than the buhrstone mill.

JAEA Reports

Design and production of the valve used in Radioactive Liquid Disposal Facility

Nishimura, Arashi; Okada, Yuji; Sugaya, Naoto; Sonobe, Hiroshi; Kimura, Nobuaki; Kimura, Akihiro; Hanawa, Yoshio; Nemoto, Hiroyoshi

JAEA-Technology 2021-003, 51 Pages, 2021/05

JAEA-Technology-2021-003.pdf:5.55MB

In the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR), the leakage accidents of radioactive waste liquid were occurred from the tanks and pipes of the liquid waste disposal facility in the JMTR tank-yard building in JFY2014. In order to respond to the accident, obtain the approval of the JAEA to the design and construction method from JFY2016, the tanks and pipes were replaced from JFY2016 to 2019. In the replaced, the production of the tanks and pipes of the liquid waste disposal facility applied Japanese technical standards correspondingly. On the other hand, the valve did not fall under the category of Japanese technical standards. The manufacturing specifications when replacing the valve were decided based on the including the selecting the standards of production and inspection for valves, Fluid properties, experience in JMTR. The production proceeded while carrying out the decided inspection. The valves that passed all the inspections were installed together with the tanks and pipes of the liquid waste, and the finished inspection was performed as a systems. The construction was completed with those inspection passed. This report is summarized valve Design, production and installation.

JAEA Reports

Evaluation of radioactivity concentration corresponding to dose criterion for near surface disposal of radioactive waste generated from research, medical, and industrial facilities, Volume 1

Sugaya, Toshikatsu; Abe, Daichi*; Okada, Shota; Nakata, Hisakazu; Sakai, Akihiro

JAEA-Technology 2021-004, 79 Pages, 2021/05

JAEA-Technology-2021-004.pdf:2.86MB
JAEA-Technology-2021-004(errata).pdf:0.38MB

JAEA has aims to carry out near surface disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated from research, medical, and industrial facilities. Therefore, radioactivity concentration corresponding to dose criteria of near surface disposal for 220 nuclides in the waste were calculated for the purpose of discussion for radioactivity limits between trench and concrete vault disposal, and key nuclides related to them. We calculated the radioactivity concentrations with consideration of not only the exposure pathways used at calculation of the radioactivity concentration limits of waste packages for near surface disposal by Nuclear Safety Commission but also ones used at the concentration limits for intermediate depth disposal. We also assumed the capacities of the disposal facilities as 44,000 m$$^{3}$$ for pit disposal and 150,000 m$$^{3}$$ for trench disposal. The radioactivity concentrations calculated in this report is used as the reference values because the disposal site has not been decided yet. Addition to this, the radioactivity concentrations will be revised according to circumstances of development of disposal facilities and so on. In the future, we will decide the radioactivity and radioactive concentration of a waste package described in the license application documents based on the dose assessment taken into consideration the disposal site conditions.

JAEA Reports

Proposal of safe and secure maintenance method to realize long-term stable operation of electromagnet power supply

Ono, Ayato; Takayanagi, Tomohiro; Ueno, Tomoaki*; Horino, Koki*; Yamamoto, Kazami; Kinsho, Michikazu

JAEA-Technology 2021-005, 40 Pages, 2021/05

JAEA-Technology-2021-005.pdf:4.27MB

The 3-GeV rapid cycling synchrotron of Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) uses a large number of electromagnet power supplies in order to manipulate a high-intensity beam of 1 MW. These devices have been specially developed to meet the requirement to achieve acceleration of the 1-MW proton beams. State-of-the-art technologies are used to these devices. To achieve stable operation with few failures, and to prevent major troubles in the event of a failure, it is necessary to maintain the performance of the devices under the appropriate and accurate management strategy with an enough understanding of its characteristics. However, since the specification and function of each device is different respectively, and it is also produced by different manufacturer, we have to maintain adequately according to the structure, configuration and features of the apparatus. There are typically three major stages in the maintenance works. First, "Daily inspection" is constantly performed to monitor the status of the equipment during operation and check for any errors or abnormalities. Second, "Routine maintenance" is carried out weekly, monthly, or yearly to fix the errors, or to replace the parts that are deteriorated. Third, "Troubleshooting" is conducted to recover from sudden failures. In this report, we will introduce the specific contents of "Routine maintenance", "Daily inspection", and "trouble case" based on the experiences of the electromagnet power supply group. In particular, we will report the work management methods, including ideas for facilitating recovery work. We will also summarize the important points of a matter that does not depend on the configuration, structure, and characteristics of the equipment.

JAEA Reports

Basic policy for rational measures of radioactive waste processing and disposal; Results of studies for acceleration of waste processing

Nakagawa, Akinori; Oyokawa, Atsushi; Murakami, Masashi; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Sasaki, Toshiki; Okada, Shota; Nakata, Hisakazu; Sugaya, Toshikatsu; Sakai, Akihiro; Sakamoto, Yoshiaki

JAEA-Technology 2021-006, 186 Pages, 2021/06

JAEA-Technology-2021-006.pdf:54.45MB

Radioactive wastes generated from R&D activities have been stored in Japan Atomic Energy Agency. In order to reduce the risk of taking long time to process legacy wastes, countermeasures for acceleration of waste processing and disposal were studied. Work analysis of waste processing showed bottleneck processes, such as evaluation of radioactivity concentration, segregation of hazardous and combustibles materials. Concerning evaluation of radioactivity concentration, a radiological characterization method using a scaling factor and a nondestructive gamma-ray measurement should be developed. The number of radionuclides that are to be selected for the safety assessment of the trench type disposal facility can decrease using artificial barriers. Hazardous materials, will be identified using records and nondestructive inspection. The waste identified as hazardous will be unpacked and segregated. Preliminary calculations of waste acceptance criteria of hazardous material concentrations were conducted based on environmental standards in groundwater. The total volume of the combustibles will be evaluated using nondestructive inspection. The waste that does not comply with the waste acceptance criteria should be mixed with low combustible material waste such as dismantling concrete waste in order to satisfy the waste acceptance criteria on a disposal facility average. It was estimated that segregation throughput of compressed waste should be increased about 5 times more than conventional method by applying the countermeasures. Further study and technology development will be conducted to realize the plan.

JAEA Reports

Comprehensive treatment of radioactive liquid waste of Chemical Processing Facility

Ogi, Hiromichi*; Arai, Yoichi; Aihara, Haruka; Watanabe, So; Shibata, Atsuhiro; Nomura, Kazunori

JAEA-Technology 2021-007, 27 Pages, 2021/06

JAEA-Technology-2021-007.pdf:2.43MB

Chemical Processing Facility (CPF) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been developing the fast reactor fuel reprocessing and vitrification technology. The various kinds of radioactive liquid wastes, which were generated by those experiments and analysis, stored in the hot cells and glove boxes of CPF. The treatment of radioactive liquid wastes were started since July 2015; however, treatment of several kinds of liquid wastes are revealed to be difficult due to contain the various hazardous chemicals. Therefore, in order to establish the new technology suitable for radioactive liquid waste treatment, several collaborative research programs with several universities and national research organizations were started. The combined project lead by JAEA was named to be STRAD (Systematic Treatments of Radioactive liquid wastes for Decommissioning) project. In this project, the process flow for treatment of several actual liquid wastes were established. In this report, treated method and progress of actual liquid wastes of CPF are summarized.

JAEA Reports

Mesh effect around burnable poison rod of cell model for HTTR fuel block

Fujimoto, Nozomu*; Fukuda, Kodai*; Honda, Yuki*; Tochio, Daisuke; Ho, H. Q.; Nagasumi, Satoru; Ishii, Toshiaki; Hamamoto, Shimpei; Nakano, Yumi*; Ishitsuka, Etsuo

JAEA-Technology 2021-008, 23 Pages, 2021/06

JAEA-Technology-2021-008.pdf:2.62MB

The effect of mesh division around the burnable poison rod on the burnup calculation of the HTTR core was investigated using the SRAC code system. As a result, the mesh division inside the burnable poison rod does not have a large effect on the burnup calculation, and the effective multiplication factor is closer to the measured value than the conventional calculation by dividing the graphite region around the burnable poison rod into a mesh. It became clear that the mesh division of the graphite region around the burnable poison rod is important for more appropriately evaluating the burnup behavior of the HTTR core..

JAEA Reports

Calculation of the amount of leaching water from concrete-pit facilities under various facility design conditions

Nagao, Rina; Namekawa, Maki*; Totsuka, Masayoshi*; Nakata, Hisakazu; Sakai, Akihiro

JAEA-Technology 2021-009, 139 Pages, 2021/06

JAEA-Technology-2021-009.pdf:13.96MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency is the implementing body of the near surface disposal of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) generated from research facilities and other facilities. Concrete-pit disposal are considered as a method of disposing of the LLW. Since the concrete-pits are placed at deeper position than the groundwater level, we need to consider that radionuclides might migrate with the flow of groundwater. Accordingly, in order to explain the safety of the concrete-pit disposal facility, it is necessary to investigate the flow of groundwater and the volumetric flow rate of leaching water from the facility. Therefore, in this report, sensitivity analysis of the volumetric flow rate of leaching water from concrete-pit was carried out by varying the permeability of cover-soil filled with in outside of the lateral sides of the bentonite mixed soil (BMS) and the conditions of the BMS on the upper part of the concrete-pits. As a result of the analysis, when the BMS is normal condition, the volumetric flow rate of leaching water from the concrete-pits is reduced by lowering permeability of the lateral cover-soil. However, in the case of occurring the deterioration of the function of BMS on the upper part of the concrete-pit, significant reduction of the volumetric flow rate of leaching water is not seen even if the permeability of the lateral cover-soil is lowered. Therefore, taking into consideration the possibility of the deterioration of the function of BMS on the upper part of the concrete-pit, it is necessary to consider that cover-soil with low permeability is equipped on the upper part of the BMS.

JAEA Reports

Study on the radioactivity evaluation method of biological shielding concrete of JPDR for near surface disposal

Kochiyama, Mami; Okada, Shota; Sakai, Akihiro

JAEA-Technology 2021-010, 61 Pages, 2021/07

JAEA-Technology-2021-010.pdf:3.56MB
JAEA-Technology-2021-010(errata).pdf:0.75MB

It is necessary to evaluate the radioactivity inventory in wastes in order to dispose of radioactive wastes generated from dismantling nuclear reactor in the shallow ground. In this report, we examined radioactivity evaluation method for near surface disposal about biological shield concrete near the core generated from the dismantling of JPDR. We calculated radioactive concentration of the target biological concrete using the DORT code and the ORIGEN-S code, and we estimated radioactivity concentration Di (Bq/t). For DORT calculation, the cross-section library created from the MATXSLIB-J40 file from JENDL-4.0 was used, and for ORIGEN-S, the attached library of SCALE6.0 was used. As a result of comparing the calculation results of the radioactivity concentration with the past measured values in the radial direction and the vertical direction, we found that the trends were generally the same. We calculated radioactive concentration of the target biological concrete Di (Bq/t), and we compared with the estimated Ci (Bq/t) equivalent to the dose criteria of trench disposal calculated for 140 nuclides. As a result we inferred that the except for about 2% of target waste could be disposed of in the trench disposal facility. We also preselected important nuclides for trench disposal based on the ratios (Di/Ci) for each nuclide, H-3, C-14, Cl-36, Ca-41, Co-60, Sr-90, Eu-152 and Cs-137 were selected as important nuclides.

JAEA Reports

Development of the desalting method for gross alpha activity determination (Contract research)

Koike, Yuko; Yamada, Ryohei; Nagaoka, Mika; Nakano, Masanao; Ono, Yosuke; Suitsu, Yuichi

JAEA-Technology 2021-011, 39 Pages, 2021/08

JAEA-Technology-2021-011.pdf:1.56MB

In the Analyzed Liquid Treatment Facility of Japan Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd. (JNFL) MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant (J-MOX), the interfere by salts with the analysis of gross alpha activity concentration analysis will be caused during the treatment process. Therefore, JNFL devised the desalting method using a solid-phase extraction chromatography. Japan Atomic Energy Agency carried out the experimental study to confirm the validity of this desalting method for the treatment liquid based on the contract with JNFL. This study consists of three experiments as follows: Step 1 - Selection of an optical solid-phase extraction agent, Step 2 - Evaluation of variation optical solid-phase extraction agent, and Step 3 - Application of the imitation liquid waste. The result of Step 1 determined the solid-phase extraction agent (InertSep ME-2) and the optimum condition (aspiration method by manifold (about 5-10 mL/min), 3M nitric acid as eluent, pH: 5, and no adjustment of ionic valence). Then, the result of Step 2 and 3 made sure the validation of this method by obtaining over 70% recovery for the imitation liquid waste sample of the Analyzed Liquid Treatment Facility of J-MOX.

JAEA Reports

Preparation of carbonate slurry simulating chemical composition of slurry in overflowed high integrity container and evaluation of its characteristics

Horita, Takuma; Yamagishi, Isao; Nagaishi, Ryuji; Kashiwaya, Ryunosuke*

JAEA-Technology 2021-012, 34 Pages, 2021/07

JAEA-Technology-2021-012.pdf:2.1MB
JAEA-Technology-2021-012(errata).pdf:0.18MB

Waste mainly consisting of carbonate precipitates (carbonate slurry) from the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) and the improved ALPS at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Holdings, Inc. have been storing in the High Integrity Container (HIC). The supernatant solution of carbonate slurry contained in some of HICs were overflowed in April of 2015. The all of level of liquid in the HICs were investigated; however, almost of the HICs were under the level of overflow. The mechanism of overflow suggested to be depending on the difference of the properties of the carbonate slurry such as the retention/release characteristics of the bubbles. Therefore, in order to clarify the mechanism of leakage, the repeatability experiment was carried out by using simulated carbonate slurry. The simulated carbonate slurry was perpetrated by using the same cross-flow filter system of the actual ALPS. Moreover, the preparative conditions for the simulated carbonate slurry were the same as Mg/Ca concentration ratio in inlet water of the ALPS (raw water) and the ALPS operating conditions. The chemical characteristics of simulated carbonate slurries were revealed by ICP-AES, pH meter, etc. The density of the settled slurry layer tended to increase depending on the calcium concentration in the raw water. The bubble injection test was conducted in order to investigate the bubble retention/release behavior in the simulated carbonate slurry layer. The simulated carbonate slurry with high settling density, which was generated by high calcium concentration solution was revealed to retain the injected bubbles. Since the ratio of concentration calcium and magnesium during the carbonate slurry generation is assumed to affect the retention of bubbles in the slurry layer, the information on the composition of raw water is one of important factor for overflow of HICs.

JAEA Reports

Transfer and operation of WSPEEDI-II automatic calculation system for responses to nuclear tests by North Korea

Nemoto, Miho*; Ebine, Noriya; Okamoto, Akiko; Hosaka, Yasuhisa*; Tsuzuki, Katsunori; Terada, Hiroaki; Hayakawa, Tsuyoshi; Togawa, Orihiko

JAEA-Technology 2021-013, 41 Pages, 2021/08

JAEA-Technology-2021-013.pdf:2.52MB

When North Korea has carried out nuclear tests, Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center (NEAT) predicts atmospheric dispersion of radionuclides by using the WSPEEDI-II upon requests from Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) and submits the predicted results to NRA in cooperation with Nuclear Science and Engineering Center (NSEC). This is a part of the activity of NEAT supporting the Japanese Government in emergency responses. The WSPEEDI-II automatic calculation system specialized for responses to nuclear tests by North Korea was developed by NSEC and was used for responses to three nuclear tests from February 2013 to September 2017. This report describes the transfer and installation of the calculation system to NEAT, and the subsequent maintenance and operation. Future issues for responses to nuclear tests are also described in this report.

JAEA Reports

Impact assessment for internal flooding in HTTR (High temperature engineering test reactor)

Tochio, Daisuke; Nagasumi, Satoru; Inoi, Hiroyuki; Hamamoto, Shimpei; Ono, Masato; Kobayashi, Shoichi; Uesaka, Takahiro; Watanabe, Shuji; Saito, Kenji

JAEA-Technology 2021-014, 80 Pages, 2021/09

JAEA-Technology-2021-014.pdf:5.87MB

In response to the new regulatory standards established in response to the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in March 2011, measures and impact assessments related to internal flooding at HTTR were carried out. In assessing the impact, considering the characteristics of the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, flooding due to assumed damage to piping and equipment, flooding due to water discharge from the system installed to prevent the spread of fire, and flooding due to damage to piping and equipment due to an earthquake. The effects of submersion, flooding, and flooding due to steam were evaluated for each of them. The impact of the overflow of liquids containing radioactive materials outside the radiation-controlled area was also evaluated. As a result, it was confirmed that flooding generated at HTTR does not affect the safety function of the reactor facility by taking measures.

JAEA Reports

HTTR burnup characteristic analysis with detailed axial burning region using MVP-BURN

Ikeda, Reiji*; Ho, H. Q.; Nagasumi, Satoru; Ishii, Toshiaki; Hamamoto, Shimpei; Nakano, Yumi*; Ishitsuka, Etsuo; Fujimoto, Nozomu*

JAEA-Technology 2021-015, 32 Pages, 2021/09

JAEA-Technology-2021-015.pdf:2.74MB

Burnup calculation of the HTTR considering temperature distribution and detailed burning regions was carried out using MVP-BURN code. The results show that the difference in k$$_{rm eff}$$, as well as the difference in average density of some main isotopes, is insignificant between the cases of uniform temperature and detailed temperature distribution. However, the difference in local density is noticeable, being 6% and 8% for $$^{235}$$U and $$^{239}$$Pu, respectively, and even 30% for the burnable poison $$^{10}$$B. Regarding the division of burning regions to more detail, the change of k$$_{rm eff}$$ is also small of 0.6%$$Delta$$k/k or less. The small burning region gives a detailed distribution of isotopes such as $$^{235}$$U, $$^{239}$$Pu, and $$^{10}$$B. As a result, the effect of graphite reflector and the burnup behavior could be evaluated more clearly compared with the previous study.

JAEA Reports

Report of summer holiday practical training 2020; Feasibility study on nuclear battery using HTTR core; Feasibility study for nuclear design, 3

Ishitsuka, Etsuo; Mitsui, Wataru*; Yamamoto, Yudai*; Nakagawa, Kyoichi*; Ho, H. Q.; Ishii, Toshiaki; Hamamoto, Shimpei; Nagasumi, Satoru; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Kenzhina, I.*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2021-016, 16 Pages, 2021/09

JAEA-Technology-2021-016.pdf:1.8MB

As a summer holiday practical training 2020, the feasibility study for nuclear design of a nuclear battery using HTTR core was carried out, and the downsizing of reactor core were studied by the MVP-BURN. As a result, it is clear that a 1.6 m radius reactor core, containing 54 (18$$times$$3 layers) fuel blocks with 20% enrichment of $$^{235}$$U, and BeO neutron reflector, could operate continuously for 30 years with thermal power of 5 MW. Number of fuel blocks of this compact core is 36% of the HTTR core. As a next step, the further downsizing of core by changing materials of the fuel block will be studied.

JAEA Reports

Noise countermeasures for inverter-controlled multi-stage roots vacuum pumps in J-PARC LINAC L3BT

Takano, Kazuhiro; Kotoku, Hirofumi*; Kobayashi, Fuminori*; Miyao, Tomoaki*; Moriya, Katsuhiro; Kamiya, Junichiro

JAEA-Technology 2021-017, 35 Pages, 2021/11

JAEA-Technology-2021-017.pdf:5.32MB

In J-PARC LINAC, the vacuum system of L3BT, which is a beam transport line connecting LINAC and 3GeV synchrotron, uses a turbo molecular pump and roots pump for rough exhaust and an ion pump for main exhaust. In addition, beam dumps are connected to the end of the L3BT at 0 degree, 30 degree, 90 degree, and 100 degree positions via vacuum partition windows. The roots pumps are used as the exhaust system for each beam dump. The roots pump controllers have been installed away from the pump in the accelerator tunnel to avoid radiation damages. Besides, the special controllers, which have no inverter circuit inside, have been used to reduce the electrical noise on the beam loss monitors nearby. However, using the special controller without inverters, several problems have occurred such as the instability or wide variability of the pumping speed. To solve such problems, the roots pump controller with the inverter circuit must be used after reducing the electrical noise. In this report, some countermeasures to reduce the electrical noise from the inverters were investigated. The noise reduction circuit was successfully optimized to the level where the beam loss monitors works unaffected.

JAEA Reports

Development of radioactive waste information management system at Nuclear Science Research Institute

Tsuchimochi, Akari; Suda, Shoya; Fujikura, Toshiki; Kawahara, Takahiro; Hoshi, Akiko

JAEA-Technology 2021-018, 37 Pages, 2021/10

JAEA-Technology-2021-018.pdf:2.87MB

A large amount of radioactive waste has been generated in the process of research and development in Nuclear Science Research Institute. We store the equivalent of 130,604 drums (200L) of that in our storage facilities (as of March 31, 2021) and have been developing "Radioactive Waste Information Management System" to manage them for disposal. The system started designing in FY2007 and has been in operation since FY2012. After the start of operation, it has been repaired as appropriate. In this report, we summarized the development and improvement of the system.

JAEA Reports

Report of the design examination and the installation work for the radiation shield at the beam injection area in the 3 GeV synchrotron

Nakanoya, Takamitsu; Kamiya, Junichiro; Yoshimoto, Masahiro; Takayanagi, Tomohiro; Tani, Norio; Kotoku, Hirofumi*; Horino, Koki*; Yanagibashi, Toru*; Takeda, Osamu*; Yamamoto, Kazami

JAEA-Technology 2021-019, 105 Pages, 2021/11

JAEA-Technology-2021-019.pdf:10.25MB

Since a user operation startup, the 3 GeV synchrotron accelerator (Rapid-Cycling Synchrotron: RCS) gradually reinforced the beam power. As a result, the surface dose rate of the apparatus located at the beam injection area of the RCS, such as the magnet, vacuum chambers, beam monitors, etc., increases year by year. The beam injection area has many apparatuses which required manual maintenance, so reducing worker's dose is a serious issue. To solve this problem, we have organized a task force for the installation of the shield. The task force has aimed to optimize the structure of the radiation shield, construct the installation procedure with due consideration of the worker's dose suppression. As the examination result of the shield design, we have decided to adopt removal shielding that could be installed quickly and easily when needed. We carried out shield installation work during the 2020 summer maintenance period. The renewal work required to install the shielding has been carried out in a under high-dose environment. For this reason, reducing the dose of workers was an important issue. So, we carefully prepared the work plan and work procedure in advance. During the work period, we implemented various dose reduction measures and managed individual dose carefully. As a result, the dose of all workers could be kept below the predetermined management value. We had installed removal shielding at the beam injection area in the 2020 summer maintenance period. We confirmed that this shield can contribute to the reduction of the dose during work near the beam injection area. It was a large-scale work to occupy the beam injection area during almost of the summer maintenance period. However, it is considered very meaningful for dose suppression in future maintenance works.

JAEA Reports

Background radiation monitoring using manned helicopter for application of technique of nuclear emergency response in the fiscal year 2020 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Sasaki, Miyuki; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Sato, Kazuhiko*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Kikuchi, Hikaru*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2021-020, 138 Pages, 2021/11

JAEA-Technology-2021-020.pdf:17.11MB

A large amount of radioactive material was released by the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Tokyo Electric Power Company, caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami on March 11, 2011. After the nuclear disaster, airborne radiation monitoring via manned helicopter has been utilized to grasp rapidly and widely the distribution of the radioactive materials surrounding FDNPS. We prepare the data of background radiation dose, geomorphic characteristics and the controlled airspace surrounding nuclear facilities of the whole country in order to make effective use of the monitoring technique as a way of emergency radiation monitoring and supply the results during an accident of a facility. This report is summarized that the knowledge as noted above achieved by the aerial radiation monitoring around Tsuruga and Mihama nuclear power station, research reactors in Kindai University Atomic Energy Research Institute and Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University. In addition, examination's progress aimed at introduction of airborne radiation monitoring via unmanned plane during nuclear disaster and the technical issues are summarized in this report.

JAEA Reports

Test methods for robots for nuclear emergency response and decommissioning; Tests for moving performances of robots (JAEA-TM-0004 and JAEA-TM-0005)

Kawabata, Kuniaki; Yamada, Taichi; Abe, Hiroyuki*

JAEA-Technology 2021-021, 30 Pages, 2021/11

JAEA-Technology-2021-021.pdf:2.55MB

This report describes the test procedures for performance evaluation of remotely operated robot utilized for nuclear emergency responses and decommissioning that provide to compare among the robot's performances quantitatively and relatively. After the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (FDNPS) occurred, remotely operated robots have been deployed and utilized in the response tasks. Such post-accident work experiences and lessons learned are very valuable for developing the robots in the future. Therefore, we were motivated to develop the test methods for performance evaluation of the robot by referring with such experiences and lessons. In recent decommissioning tasks, reconnaissance on the distribution and status of nuclear fuel debris inside the Primary Containment Vessel (PCV) have been carried out. The insertion and deployment of robots into PCV were carried out through a penetration pipe with small diameter to prevent the scattering of radioactive materials. According to the authors' survey on such works have carried out in Units 1 and 2 of FDNPS, in order to carry out the reconnaissance work by the robot deployed into the PCV, it was clarified that the robots are required to run freely on the floor located below the exit of the penetration pipe and run freely on the inclined surface located below the exit of the pipe. This document describes two test procedures for performance evaluation of the robot connected with the cable such as running on the floor after being deployed through a penetration pipe and running on the inclined surface after being deployed through a penetration pipe. Typical course layout and the demonstration of test running are also illustrated for the references.

JAEA Reports

Current status and upgrading strategies of J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) and related components

Teshigawara, Makoto; Nakamura, Mitsutaka; Kinsho, Michikazu; Soyama, Kazuhiko

JAEA-Technology 2021-022, 208 Pages, 2022/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-022.pdf:14.28MB

The Materials and Life science experimental Facility (MLF) is an accelerator driven pulsed spallation neutron and muon source with a 1 MW proton beam. The construction began in 2004, and we started beam operation in 2008. Although problems such as exudation of cooling water from the target container have occurred, as of April 2021, the proton beam power has reached up to 700 kW gradually, and stable operation is being performed. In recent years, the operation experience of the rated 1 MW has been steadily accumulated. Several issues such as the durability of the target container have been revealed according to the increase in the operation time. Aiming at making a further improvement of MLF, we summarized the current status of achievements for the design values, such as accelerator technology (LINAC and RCS), neutron and muon source technology, beam transportation of these particles, detection technology, and neutron and muon instruments. Based on the analysis of the current status, we tried to extract improvement points for upgrade of MLF. Through these works, we will raise new proposals that promote the upgrade of MLF, attracting young people. We would like to lead to the further success of researchers and engineers who will lead the next generation.

JAEA Reports

Evaluation of the minimum critical amount for heterogeneous lattice systems composed of fuel rods utilized in low-power water-moderated research and test reactors by using continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP with JENDL-4.0

Yanagisawa, Hiroshi

JAEA-Technology 2021-023, 190 Pages, 2021/11

JAEA-Technology-2021-023.pdf:5.25MB

Computational analyses on nuclear criticality characteristics were carried out for heterogeneous lattice systems composed of water moderator and fuel rods utilized in low-power research and test reactors, in which the depletion of fuel due to burnup is relatively small, by using the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP Version 2 with the evaluated nuclear data library JENDL-4.0. In the analyses, the minimum critical number of fuel rods was evaluated using calculated neutron multiplication factors for the heterogeneous systems of the uranium dioxide fuel rod in the Static Experiments Critical Facility (STACY) and the Tank-type Critical Assembly (TCA), and the uranium-zirconium hydride fuel rod in the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR). In addition, six sorts of the ratio of reaction rates, which are components of neutron multiplication factors, were calculated in the analyses to explain the variation of neutron multiplication factors with the ratio of water moderator to fuel volume in a unit fuel rod cell. Those results of analyses are considered to be useful for the confirmation of reasonableness and validity of criticality safety measures as data showing criticality characteristics for water-moderated heterogeneous lattice systems composed of the existing fuel rods in research and test reactors, of which criticality data are not sufficiently provided by the Criticality Safety Handbook.

JAEA Reports

Stabilization treatment of Pu-bearing organic materials

Morishita, Kazuki; Sato, Takumi; Onishi, Takashi; Seki, Takayuki*; Sekine, Shinichi*; Okitsu, Yuichi*

JAEA-Technology 2021-024, 27 Pages, 2021/10

JAEA-Technology-2021-024.pdf:2.41MB

In the case of Plutonium (Pu)-bearing organic materials, organic materials are decomposed by alpha rays emitted mainly from Pu to generate hydrogen gas and other substances. Therefore, to safely store Pu-bearing organic materials for an extended period of time, organic materials must be eliminated. In addition, carbide and nitride fuels must be converted into oxides for safe storage in order to prevent the exothermal reaction of these fuels with oxygen/moisture in air. A survey of the literature on the stabilization treatment of Pu-bearing organic materials confirmed that organic materials can be decomposed and removed by heating at 950 $$^{circ}$$C (1223.15 K) or greater in air. Furthermore, based on the calculated thermodynamic parameters of oxidation reaction of carbide and nitride fuels in air, it was estimated that these fuels would be oxidized in air at 950 $$^{circ}$$C because the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure in the oxidation reaction at 950 $$^{circ}$$C was lower than 2.1$$times$$10$$^{4}$$ Pa (oxygen partial pressure in air). Therefore, it was decided to stabilize Pu-bearing organic materials by heating at 950 $$^{circ}$$C in air to remove the organic materials and oxidize the carbide and nitride fuels. As a mock-up test to remove the organic materials, thin sheets of epoxy resin were heated in air. The changes in appearance and weight before and after heating in air showed that organic materials can be removed. After the mock-up test, Pu-bearing organic materials were also stabilized by heating in the similar condition.

JAEA Reports

Investigations on distribution of radioactive substances owing to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident in the fiscal year 2020 (Contract research)

Group for Fukushima Mapping Project

JAEA-Technology 2021-025, 159 Pages, 2022/01

JAEA-Technology-2021-025.pdf:46.66MB

This report presents results of the investigations on the distribution-mapping project of radioactive substances owing to TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) conducted in FY2020. Car-borne surveys, a flat ground measurement using survey meters, a walk survey and an unmanned helicopter survey were carried out to obtain air dose rate data. Air dose rate distribution maps were created and temporal changes of the air dose rates were analyzed. Regarding radiocesium deposition into the ground, surveys on depth profile of radiocesium and in-situ measurements were performed. Based on these measurement results, effective half-lives of the temporal changes in the air dose rates and the deposition were evaluated. In the examination of scoring for classifying the importance of measurement points, a score map was created for Fukushima Prefecture and the 80 km zone from the FDNPS, and the factors causing changes in the score when monitoring data from multiple years were used were discussed. Using the Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach, we obtained maps that integrated the air dose rate distribution data obtained from aircraft monitoring, car-borne surveys, and walk surveys with respect to the region within 80 km from the FDNPS and Fukushima Prefecture. The measurement results for FY2020 were published on the "Expansion Site of Distribution Map of Radiation Dose", and measurement data were stored as CSV format. Radiation monitoring and analysis of environmental samples owing to the comprehensive radiation monitoring plan were carried out.

JAEA Reports

Design details of bottom shape for the 3rd glass melter in TVF

Asahi, Yoshimitsu; Shimamura, Keisuke*; Kobayashi, Hidekazu; Kodaka, Akira

JAEA-Technology 2021-026, 50 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-026.pdf:6.29MB

In Tokai Reprocessing Plant, the highly active liquid waste derived from a spent fuel reprocessing is vitrified with a Liquid-Fed Ceramic Melter (LFCM) embedded in Tokai Vitrification Facility (TVF). For an LFCM, the viscosity of melted glass is increased by the deposition of oxidation products of platinum group elements (PGE) and the PGE-containing glass tends to settle to the melter's bottom basin even after draining glass out. Removal of the PGE-containing glass is needed to avoid the Joule heating current from being affected by the glass, it requires time-consuming work to remove. For the early accomplishment of vitrifying the waste, Japan Atomic Energy Agency is planning to replace the current melter with the new one in which the amount of PGE sediments would be reduced. In the past design activities for the next melter, several kinds of shapes in regard to the furnace bottom and the strainer were drawn. Among these designs, the one in which the discharge ratio of PGE-containing glass would be as much as or greater than the current melter and which be able to perform similar operational sequences done in the current melter is selected here. Firstly, an operational sequence to produce one canister of vitrified waste is simulated for three melter designs with a furnace bottom shape, using 3D thermal-hydraulic calculations. The computed temperature distribution and its changes are compared among the candidate structures. After discussions about the technical and structural feasibilities of each design, a cone shape with a 45$$^{circ}$$ slope was selected as the bottom shape of the next melter. Secondly, five strainer designs that fit the bottom shape above mentioned are drawn. For each design, the fluid drag and the discharge ratio of relatively high viscosity fluid resting near the bottom are estimated, using steady or unsteady CFD simulation. By draining silicone oil from acrylic furnace models, it was confirmed experimentally that there are no vortices

JAEA Reports

Experience and technology consolidation related to dismantling sodium equipment; Technology to reduce sodium remaining in 100m$$^{3}$$ grade large tanks

Hayakawa, Masato; Shimoyama, Kazuhito; Miyakoshi, Hiroyuki; Suzuki, Shigeaki*

JAEA-Technology 2021-027, 33 Pages, 2022/01

JAEA-Technology-2021-027.pdf:3.64MB

At the Oarai Research and Development Institute of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, experimental studies in various sodium environments are being conducted in connection with the research and development of sodium-cooled fast reactors such as the experimental fast reactor Joyo and the prototype fast reactor Monju. The dismantling of sodium test facilities and equipment that have achieved their purpose has been carried out sequentially, and a wealth of experience and technology has been accumulated. On the other hand, a large amount of metallic sodium used for research and testing is being reused for new testing facilities, and the large sodium tanks that contained the metallic sodium are being dismantled. In order to dismantle these tanks safely and efficiently, it is important to reduce the residual sodium inside the tanks (especially at the bottom) as much as possible before dismantling. Therefore, we have been working on the reduction of residual sodium at the bottom of several large sodium tanks of 100 m$$^{3}$$ class. This report describes the technologies and experiences related to the reduction of residual sodium that have been carried out so far.

JAEA Reports

Data comparison of measurement of carbon isotope standards between JAEA-AMS-TONO and JAEA-AMS-MUTSU

Kokubu, Yoko; Matsubara, Akihiro; Fujita, Natsuko; Kuwabara, Jun; Kinoshita, Naoki

JAEA-Technology 2021-028, 33 Pages, 2022/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-028.pdf:2.18MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has two facilities of accelerator mass spectrometry, JAEA-AMS-TONO and JAEA-AMS-MUTSU at Tono Geoscience Center and Aomori Research and Development Center, respectively. In this report, characteristics of each facility and results of standard samples in the inner-comparison test of carbon isotope measurement will be described. Both facilities have been used for research by not only JAEA's staff but also researchers who belong to universities and other institutes on the shared use program of JAEA facilities. Recently, researchers trend to use both facilities with the expansion of demand for the carbon isotope measurement by using the accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS). However, each facility has a spectrometer made by a different manufacturer and equipped with different mechanical components. There is a difference in each ability to the carbon isotope measurement such as background level. This is, for example, due to different ion injection system adapted at each spectrometer. Further, each facility uses a different analytical method adjusted to each main research field. When a researcher uses both facilities, the researcher understands more about the characteristics and need to make a suitable choice of a facility for samples and the analytical method. The report presents a detailed information of characteristics of the spectrometer, sample preparation method and analytical method, and of ability of the measurement based on the inner-comparison test.

JAEA Reports

Radiation monitoring using manned helicopter around the Nuclear Power Station in the fiscal year 2020 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Ishizaki, Azusa; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Sato, Kazuhiko*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Kikuchi, Hikaru*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2021-029, 132 Pages, 2022/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-029.pdf:24.58MB

By the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive material was released from the FDNPS. After the nuclear disaster, airborne radiation monitoring using manned helicopter has been conducted around FDNPS. The results of the airborne radiation monitoring and the evaluation for temporal change of dose rate in the fiscal 2020 were summarized in this report. Analysis considering topographical effects was applied to the result of the airborne monitoring to improve the accuracy of conventional method. In addition, technique for discriminating gamma rays from the ground and those from the airborne Rn-progenies was also utilized to evaluate their effect on airborne radiation monitoring.

JAEA Reports

Basic design of the Hot Laboratory exhaust stack

Morita, Hisashi; Daigo, Fumihisa; Sayato, Natsuki; Watahiki, Shunsuke; Kojima, Kazuki; Nakayama, Kazuhiko; Ide, Hiroshi

JAEA-Technology 2021-030, 166 Pages, 2022/05

JAEA-Technology-2021-030.pdf:3.65MB

When the roof of the JMTR Hot Laboratory (HL) building was repaired for rain leaks in January, 2015, thinning was found at one of the anchor bolts on base of the HL exhaust stack. Moreover, the thinning of some anchor bolts and gaps between the anchor bolt nuts and flange plate was found in the later investigation for the exhaust stack. Since the possibility of the exhaust stack collapsing cannot be denied, it was removed. Therefore, it became necessary to rebuild a new exhaust stack as soon as possible. The design of the new exhaust stack was based on the measures to prevent rainwater intrusion into the base, which was the cause of the thinning of the anchor bolts found in the investigation, and on the new regulatory standards established after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Furthermore, since the new exhaust stack corresponds to buildings and structures that must undergo building confirmation, the soundness of the new exhaust stack against seismic force and wind load was evaluated based on the Building Standards Law and the Stack Structure Design Guideline. This report described the basic design of the new exhaust stack.

JAEA Reports

Commissioning of X-ray micro beam by Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirror

Tanida, Hajime; Tsuji, Takuya; Kobata, Masaaki

JAEA-Technology 2021-031, 25 Pages, 2022/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-031.pdf:2.3MB

In the decommissioning of the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, analysis of fuel debris to understand its characteristics is very important. The fuel debris removed for testing and analyzing will be fine particulates. Non-destructive analytical methods using X-rays are effective for such samples, but in order to apply them to fine particles, the X-rays must be focused to the micrometer order. For this purpose, the Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirror was introduced. In this paper, we record the selection, specification, adjustment of the mirror, and write down the example of mapping of elements and evaluation of their valence by this mirror.

JAEA Reports

Result of measurement of the ambient dose equivalent rates by car-borne surveys using KURAMA-II from 2012 until 2019

Ando, Masaki; Saito, Kimiaki

JAEA-Technology 2021-032, 66 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-032.pdf:3.84MB

Since the occurrence of the accident at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting a series of car-borne survey over a wide area in the eastern part of Japan using the monitoring system KURAMAII. In this report, outline of the car-borne surveys are summarized and the following characteristics of the temporal changes in each prefecture and region were investigated using the measured data obtained from 2012 to 2019; 1) Average and maximum values for each prefecture for the six years from 2014 to 2019, 2) Average values for each prefecture from 2012 to 2019, 3) Average values for each evacuation order area category, regional category, and northern Soso-area municipality in Fukushima Prefecture from 2012 to 2019, and 4) Average and maximum values for each municipality in each prefecture for four times (at almost two-year intervals) of the measurement results from 2012 to 2018.

JAEA Reports

Test methods for robots for nuclear emergency response and decommissioning; Test for maneuvering robot arm over an obstacle (JAEA-TM-0006)

Yamada, Taichi; Kawabata, Kuniaki; Abe, Hiroyuki*

JAEA-Technology 2021-033, 18 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-033.pdf:1.58MB

This report describes the test procedures for evaluating performances involved in robot arm maneuvering of remotely operated robot utilized for nuclear emergency responses and decommissioning. After the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (FDNPS) occurred, remotely operated robots have been deployed and utilized in the response tasks. Such post-accident work experience and lessons learned are very valuable for developing the robots in the future. Therefore, we were motivated to develop the test methods for performance evaluation of the robot by referring with such experiences and lessons. In the response and the decommissioning tasks, robots with a robot arm were deployed for door opening, removal objects, decontamination and cleanup and so on. Some of these tasks were conducted in an environment with obstacles by robot arms maneuvering. This report describes test procedures for quantitatively evaluating the performances which are for maneuvering involving in robot arm to approach target objects in an environment with obstacles. A typical course layout and the demonstration of test are also illustrated for the references.

JAEA Reports

Development of high temperature LBE corrosion test loop "OLLOCHI"

Saito, Shigeru; Wan, T.*; Okubo, Nariaki; Kita, Satoshi*; Obayashi, Hironari; Sasa, Toshinobu

JAEA-Technology 2021-034, 94 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-034.pdf:5.91MB

Lead-bismuth eutectic alloy (LBE) is a major candidate for a spallation target material and core coolant of an accelerator driven system (ADS) which has been developed in the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to transmute high-level radioactive wastes. A proton irradiation facility to build a material irradiation database for future ADS development is under considering in the J-PARC. To realize both the ADS and the above-mentioned facility, there are many issues on operational safety of LBE to be solved. Especially, corrosion data for the major materials such as T91 (Modified 9Cr-1Mo steel) and SS316L at the temperature range between 400 and 550 $$^{circ}$$C under the conditions of flowing LBE with a controlled oxygen are not sufficient to design the ADS and the facility. JAEA developed a new large-scale corrosion test loop named "OLLOCHI (Oxygen-controlled LBE LOop for Corrosion tests in HIgh-temperature)" aiming to perform the compatibility tests between the LBE and the steels, as well as to develop the LBE operation technology. OLLOCHI has a function to automatically control the oxygen concentration in LBE. The maximum temperature at the regions of high-temperature and low-temperature of the OLLOCHI are 550 $$^{circ}$$C and 450 $$^{circ}$$C respectively to cover the ADS designed condition. As a result of 2,000 hours operation, it was demonstrated that the OLLOCHI showed the designed performance. In this report, outline of the OLLOCHI, details of the components, results of characteristic tests, and the future experimental plan are described.

JAEA Reports

Development of mock-up test loop (IMMORTAL) for LBE spallation target

Obayashi, Hironari; Yamaki, Kenichi*; Yoshimoto, Hidemitsu*; Kita, Satoshi*; Wan, T.*; Sasa, Toshinobu

JAEA-Technology 2021-035, 66 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-035.pdf:4.26MB

Construction of Transmutation Experimental Facility (TEF) is under planning in Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) program to promote R&Ds on realization of transmutation technology by an accelerator driven system (ADS). As a facility of TEF, ADS Target Test Facility (TEF-T) will provide a spallation target to study target technology and perform post irradiation examination (PIE) of candidate materials of ADS. In ADS, lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) alloy is used as a spallation target material and a core coolant. As is well known, LBE has corrosive to structural materials hence each component of the target system should provide compatibility with LBE. In addition, instrumentations for LBE are restricted by the target operation condition such as high temperature and irradiation environment. The devices for LBE have been developed individually to achieve the LBE target system. "Integrated Multi-functional MOckup for TEF-T Real-scale TArget Loop, IMMORTAL" was fabricated as a mock-up test loop of the target for the purpose of the integration testing of individually developed devices. This report describes an overview of IMMORTAL and the design of the installed devices.

JAEA Reports

Development of high melting temperature measurement system by laser spot heating

Iwasa, Toma; Arima, Tatsumi*

JAEA-Technology 2021-036, 23 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-036.pdf:1.35MB

Knowledge on the liquefaction (thermal decomposition and melting) temperatures of MA-bearing nitride fuels for transmutation by accelerator-driven system is essential for elucidation of the fuel behaviors under abnormal condition and for the safety analysis. A melting temperature measurement system for refractory materials was developed based on a laser spot heating method, which is expected to measure in a very short time with a small amount of sample, and demonstration tests using refractory metals and zirconium nitride were performed. As the results, it was found that this melting temperature measurement system can be applicable up to the temperatures around 3000 K which is close to the thermal decomposition temperature of nitride fuels and we confirmed the technical feasibility of this system for future application to small specimens of transuranium nitrides.

JAEA Reports

In-situ dismantling of the liquid waste storage tank LV-1 in the JRTF; The Dismantling work

Yokozuka, Yuta; Sunaoshi, Mizuho*; Sakai, Tatsuya; Fujikura, Toshiki; Handa, Yuichi; Muraguchi, Yoshinori; Mimura, Ryuji; Terunuma, Akihiro

JAEA-Technology 2021-037, 44 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-037.pdf:10.84MB

JAEA has dismantled equipment and instrument in the JAERI's Reprocessing Test Facility (JRTF) since 1996 as a part of its decommissioning. Starting in JFY 2007, in the annex building B which stored liquid waste generated in wet reprocessing tests, the liquid waste storage tank LV-1 installed in the LV-1 room of the first basement was dismantled with the in-situ dismantling method. The dismantling work is described in this report. Data on manpower, radiation control, and waste in the preparation work were collected, and its work efficiency was analyzed.

JAEA Reports

Separation/removal of steel surface coating film by laser cleaning

Yamane, Ikumi; Takahashi, Nobuo; Sawayama, Kengo; Nishiwaki, Hiroki; Matsumoto, Takashi; Ogawa, Jumpei; Nomura, Mitsuo; Arima, Tatsumi*

JAEA-Technology 2021-038, 18 Pages, 2022/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-038.pdf:1.61MB

We have dismantled uranium enrichment facilities in Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center since their operation finished in 2001, and the total amount of metallic wastes is estimated to be about 130 thousand tons. Eighty percent of them can be disposed as nonradioactive waste (NR), but there are some steel parts possibly uranium-contaminated. We need removing painted surface of such steels and radiologically surveying to dispose them as NRs. Though painted surfaces have been conventionally removed through hand working with grinders, this manual work requires installation of green house, protective clothing, and full-face mask, in order to prevent dispersion and inhalation of airborne dusts. We desire further developments of surface cleaning techniques to reduce time, cost, workload, and secondary waste generation caused by excessive grinding. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the laser cleaning technology used for the separation and removal of paint films at construction sites. In order to improve the coating separation and removal technology for NR objects, we evaluated the coating separation and removal performance of NR steel surface by laser cleaning system, observed the coating scattering behavior by high-speed camera and investigated the coating recovery method, evaluated the laser separation and removal performance of steel surface powder, and thermodynamically evaluated the uranium compounds on steel surface. We additionally evaluated the feasibility of laser cleaning techniques in our works basing on these results, and discussed future work plans for further developments of laser cleaning techniques.

JAEA Reports

Stepwise renewal of JRR-3 process control computer system

Isaka, Koji; Suwa, Masayuki; Kimura, Kazuya; Suzuki, Makoto; Ikekame, Yoshinori; Nagadomi, Hideki

JAEA-Technology 2021-039, 48 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-039.pdf:6.97MB

JRR-3 Process control system is used from the initial criticality (1990) after remodeling JRR- 3 as equipment used for monitoring and control of flow rate, temperature, pressure, water level, etc. of coolant and operation of nuclear reactor equipment, and it became necessary to renew as the aging progressed and spare parts could not be obtained sufficiently. Upon renewal, from the viewpoint of ensuring conservation of the core such as decay heat removal and minimizing the impact on reactor users and minimizing costs, it is important not to stop long-term reactor shutdown we planned to divide it into three stages and make it on a continuous basis. This report summarizes the renewal plan and renewal work divided into three stages.

JAEA Reports

Seismic evaluation of the CRDM and the CRDM guide tube for JRR-3

Kikuchi, Masanobu; Kawamura, Sho; Hosoya, Toshiaki

JAEA-Technology 2021-040, 86 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-040.pdf:3.26MB

In JRR-3, in response to new regulatory standard for research and test reactor which is enforced December 2013, we established new design basis ground motion for confirming new regulatory standard and carried out seismic evaluations of the appointments, instruments and structures which are installed in JRR-3 by using that earthquake motion. This report shows that the result of evaluations by fatigue strength evaluation, which is more detailed evaluation approach, about Control Rod Drive Mechanism (CRDM) and the CRDM Guide Tube that have gotten the serious result of seismic safety margin by using time history response analysis method. As a result, it was confirmed that CRDM and the CRDM Guide Tube have sufficient seismic safety margin.

JAEA Reports

Evaluation of insertion property of control rod of JRR-3 at earthquake by time history response analysis method

Kawamura, Sho; Kikuchi, Masanobu; Hosoya, Toshiaki

JAEA-Technology 2021-041, 103 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-041.pdf:8.7MB

In response to new regulatory standard for research and test reactor which is enforced December 2013, JRR-3 got license in November 2018 by formulate new design basis ground motion. After that we evaluated for insertion property of control rod using that new design basis ground motion, and that evaluation results were accepted as approval of the design and construction method by Nuclear Regulation Authority. Now, we re-evaluated to insertion property of control rod about neutron absorber and follower fuel element by time history response analysis method. In this report, it shows that new results have sufficiency of margin compared with the past results that are accepted as approval of the design and construction method.

JAEA Reports

Decommissioning of the Plutonium Research Building No.1 (Plan and Present Status)

Komuro, Michiyasu; Kanazawa, Hiroyuki; Kokusen, Junya; Shimizu, Osamu; Honda, Junichi; Harada, Katsuya; Otobe, Haruyoshi; Nakada, Masami; Inagawa, Jun

JAEA-Technology 2021-042, 197 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-042.pdf:16.87MB

Plutonium Research Building No.1 was constructed in 1960 for the purpose of establishing plutonium handling technology and studying its basic physical properties. Radiochemical research, physicochemical research and analytical chemistry regarding solutions and solid plutonium compounds had been doing for the research program in Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). In 1964, the laboratory building was expanded and started the researching plutonium-uranium mixed fuel and reprocessing of plutonium-based fuel, playing an advanced role in plutonium-related research in Japan. Since then, the research target has been expanded to include transplutonium elements, and it has functioned as a basic research facility for actinides. The laboratory is constructed by concrete structure and it has the second floor, equipped with 15 glove boxes and 4 chemical hoods. Plutonium Research Building No.1 was decided as one of the facilities to be decommissioned by Japan Atomic Energy Agency Reform Plan in September 2014. So far, the contamination survey of the radioactive materials in the controlled area, the decontamination of glove boxes, and the consideration of the equipment dismantling procedure have been performed as planned. The radioisotope and nuclear fuel materials used in the facility have been transfer to the other facilities in JAEA. The decommissioning of the facility is proceeding with the goal of completing by decommissioning the radiation controlled area in 2026. In this report, the details of the decommissioning plan and the past achievements are reported with the several data.

JAEA Reports

Decommissioning of Pre-dismantling Temporary Waste Storage Facility 3 (FPG-03a,b,c) in Plutonium Fuel Production Facility

Shinozaki, Masaru; Aita, Takahiro; Iso, Takahito*; Odakura, Manabu*; Haginoya, Masahiro*; Kadowaki, Hiroyuki*; Kobayashi, Shingo*; Inagawa, Takumu*; Morimoto, Taisei*; Iso, Hidetoshi; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2021-043, 100 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-043.pdf:7.49MB

It is planned that the MOX (Mixed Oxide) from the decommissioned facilities in Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories is going to be consolidated and stored stably and safely for a long term in Plutonium Fuel Production Facility of the Plutonium Fuel Development Center of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories. For this purpose, it is necessary to pelletize nuclear fuel materials in the facility and store them in the assembly storage (hereinafter referred to as "waste packaging work") to secure storage space in the plutonium material storage. As a countermeasure to reduce the facility risk in this waste packing work, it was decided to construct a new powder weighing and homogenization mixing facility to physically limit the amount (batch size) of nuclear fuel materials handled at the entrance of the process. In order to secure the installation space for the new facility in the powder preparation room (1) (FP-101), the pre-dismantling temporary waste storage facility 3 (FPG-03a, b, c) was dismantled and removed. This facility consists of a granulating and sizing facility, an additive mixing facility, and a receiving and delivering guided facility, which started to be used from January 1993, and was discontinued on February 3, 2012 and became a waste facility. Subsequently, the dismantling and removal of the interior equipment was carried out by pellet fabrication section for glove operation to reduce the amount of hold-up, and before the main dismantling and removal, there was almost no interior equipment except for large machinery. This report describes the dismantling and removal of the glove box and some interior equipment and peripherals of the facility, as well as the Green House setup method, dismantling and removal procedures, and issues specific to powder process equipment (dust, etc.).

JAEA Reports

Guideline and cautionary points for accelerator system maintenance

Ono, Ayato; Takayanagi, Tomohiro; Sugita, Moe; Ueno, Tomoaki*; Horino, Koki*; Yamamoto, Kazami; Kinsho, Michikazu

JAEA-Technology 2021-044, 53 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Technology-2021-044.pdf:43.7MB

The 3-GeV rapid cycling synchrotron of Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) uses a large number of electromagnet power supplies in order to manipulate a high-intensity beam of 1 MW. These devices have been specially developed to meet the requirement to achieve acceleration of the 1-MW proton beams. Because J-PARC has been in operation for 10 years, we have to replace many parts and equipments due to failures caused by age-related deterioration. J-PARC accelerator system supplies the beams for many users, and we have to recover it as soon as possible when a trouble occurs. Therefore, if the trouble can be prevented before it happens, reduction of the user beam time can be minimized. Furthermore, it enables us to reduce additional work for operators. Maintenance is important to keep the equipments in a normal state, and makes it possible to extend the life of the equipments by detecting and maintaining the faulty parts and the aged deterioration parts at an early stage. Since all the devices requires the maintenance, there are a wide variety of maintenance methods. Some works are carried out by the J-PARC members, and some are performed by outsourcing. Ensuring safety and protecting workers are the most important issues in maintenance work. Therefore, J-PARC has rules for safety work. All workers in J-PARC have to learn and follow the rules. In addition, various ideas are being considered to enable safe and efficient work by devising ingenuity in each work. We also elaborate various ideas and processes for safe and efficient work according to the individual work conditions. In this report, we summarize the guideline and cautionary points during maintenance based on the actual case of maintenance and inspection work of the horizontal shift bump electromagnet power supply.

JAEA Reports

Design and safety assessment of cooling facilities for air system

Asano, Norikazu; Nishimura, Arashi; Takabe, Yugo; Araki, Daisuke; Yanai, Tomohiro; Ebisawa, Hiroyuki; Ogasawara, Yasushi; Oto, Tsutomu; Otsuka, Kaoru; Otsuka, Noriaki; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2021-045, 137 Pages, 2022/06

JAEA-Technology-2021-045.pdf:2.97MB

A collapse event of a cooling tower for secondary cooling system in the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) was caused by the strong winds of Typhoon No.15 on September 9, 2019. As measures against the event, the working group for the renewal of the UCL (Utility Cooling Loop) cooling tower was established in the department of JMTR, and the integrity of the UCL cooling tower, which is the same type of wooden cooling tower as the secondary cooling tower in the JMTR, was investigated. As a result of this investigation, we have decided to replace the existing UCL cooling tower with a new cooling system. After investigations, in order to reduce the risk of collapse due to wood decay, the new cooling system was installed as a component of the air system to be managed as a performance maintenance facility after decommissioning. This report describes the design of and the evaluation results of the facility.

JAEA Reports

Overhaul of the Primary cooling system heat exchanger in JRR-3

Uno, Yuki; Ouchi, Yasuhiro; Ouchi, Satoshi; Baba, Ryota; Kikuchi, Masanobu; Kawamata, Satoshi

JAEA-Technology 2021-046, 39 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-046.pdf:3.76MB

JRR-3 (Japan Research Reactor No.3) is a light water research reactor cooling pool type light water deceleration of low-enriched uranium up to 20MW thermal power. November 1990, begin to operation in modified that we are provided to users as a high neutron flux form reactor facility in various types of irradiation facilities and neutron beam experiment equipment. Currently, JRR-3 has completed the period of facility inspections, which had been extended due to the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, and has been able to conformity to the New Regulatory Requirements. It has also resumed operation for the first time in about 10 years. FY 2017, overhauled the primary cooling heat exchanger No.1 and No.2 based on a maintenance plan. This is report for take advantage what inspection and maintenance of future about overhaul of the primary cooling system heat exchanger for collect of inspection records and performance.

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