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Tokunaga, Sho; Horiguchi, Hironori; Nakamura, Takemi
JAEA-Technology 2023-001, 37 Pages, 2023/05
JAEA-Technology-2023-001.pdf:1.39MB
The cold neutron source (CNS) of the research reactor JRR-3 converts thermal neutrons generated in the reactor into low-energy cold neutrons by moderating them with liquid hydrogen stored in the moderator cell. Cold neutrons generated by the CNS are transported to experimental instruments using neutron conduits, and are used for many studies of physical properties, mainly in life science, polymer science, environmental science, etc. Improvement of cold neutron intensity is essential to maintain competitiveness with the world's research reactors in neutron science, and we are developing a new CNS that incorporates new knowledge. The current moderator cell for the CNS of JRR-3 is a stainless-steel container which is a canteen bottle type, and the cold neutron intensity can be improved by changing the material and shape. Therefore, the basic specifications of the new moderator cell were changed to aluminum alloy which has a smaller neutron absorption cross section, and the shape was optimized using a Monte Carlo code MCNP. Since these changes in specifications will result in changes in heat generation and heat transfer conditions, the CNS of JRR-3 was re-evaluated in terms of self-regulating characteristic, heat transport limits, heat resistance and pressure resistance, etc., to confirm its feasibility in thermal-hydraulic design. This report summarizes the results of the thermal-hydraulic design evaluation of the new moderator cell.
Shiota, Yuki; Kudo, Junki; Tsuno, Hiromi; Takeuchi, Ryotaro; Ariyoshi, Hideo; Shiohama, Yasutaka; Hamano, Tomoharu; Takagi, Tsuyohiko; Nagaoki, Yoshihiro
JAEA-Technology 2023-002, 87 Pages, 2023/06
JAEA-Technology-2023-002.pdf:8.53MB
In the first stage of Monju decommissioning project, fuel unload work began to be carried out. There are two tasks in this work. One is Fuel Treatment and Storage work that gets rid of sodium on the fuel assemblies unloaded from Ex-Vessel fuel Storage Tank (EVST) and carries it in the storage pool, and the other is Fuel Unloading that the fuel assemblies in the reactor core is replaced with dummy fuels and stored in EVST. Fuel Treatment and Storage work and Fuel Unloading work are performed alternately, and 370 fuel assemblies in the core and 160 fuel assemblies in EVST are all carried to the storage pool. Monju had a large amount of sodium in the reactor vessel and EVST, and there was a residual risk of fuel failure due to the superposition of a large scale sodium fire. Therefore, in the first stage of the Monju decommissioning project, it was decided to take about 5.5 years to remove the residual risk by storing all the fuel rods in the fuel storage pool. There are few Fuel handling system of Sodium Fast Reactor in the world, so the driving record and experience are not enough. So, events that occur even if taken measure are assumed. The following three events apply to this; first, events that are difficult to prevent, events. Second, that are due to lack of experience, and final, events optimization of system is not enough. Plans were taken to suppress these events. This report summarizes the "Monju decommissioning project" work conducted so far in all four campaigns.
Kosaka, Satoshi*; Arai, Sora; Nemoto, Yasuo*; Kitamura, Ryo
JAEA-Technology 2023-003, 34 Pages, 2023/05
JAEA-Technology-2023-003.pdf:3.79MB
The negative hydrogen (H
) ion beam is accelerated with a peak current of 50 mA in the J-PARC linac. The linac consists of the H- ion source and four kinds of accelerating cavities; a radio-frequency quadrupole linac (RFQ), a drift-tube linac (DTL), a separated-DTL (SDTL), and an annular-ring coupled structure linac (ACS). The accelerating electric field exists between the drift-tubes in the tank of the DTL. The quadrupole magnet for the beam focusing (DTQ) is installed in the drift-tube. The DTQ at J-PARC employs electromagnets to generate the magnetic field. It is important to set correctly the polarity of the magnetic field of the DTQ for tuning the beam. In this paper, we report the method of confirming the magnetic field polarity of DTQ, that is, the current wiring polarity by measuring DC current using a clamp meter on the power supply side and visually confirming the cable wiring connection on the electromagnet side.
Yamamoto, Masahiko; Nishida, Naoki; Kobayashi, Daisuke; Nemoto, Ryo*; Hayashi, Hiroyuki*; Kitao, Takahiko; Kuno, Takehiko
JAEA-Technology 2023-004, 30 Pages, 2023/06
JAEA-Technology-2023-004.pdf:1.94MB
Glove-box gloves, that are used for handling nuclear fuel materials at the Tokai Reprocessing Plant (TRP) of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, have an expiration date by internal rules. All gloves are replaced at a maximum of every 4-year. However, degrees of glove deterioration varies depending on its usage environment such as frequency, chemicals, and radiation dose. Therefore, physical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, hardness of gloves are measured and technical evaluation method for the glove life-time is established. It was found that gloves without any defects in its appearance have enough physical properties and satisfies the acceptance criteria values of new gloves. Thus, it was considered that the expired gloves could be used for total of 8-year, by adding 4-year of new glove life-time. In addition, the results of extrapolation by plotting the glove's physical properties versus the used years showed that the physical properties at 8-year is on the safer side than the reported physical properties of broken glove. Also, the data are not significantly different from the physical properties of the long-term storage glove (8 and 23 years). Based on these results, life-time of gloves at TRP is set to be 8-year. The frequency of glove inspections are not changed, and if any defects is found, the glove is promptly replaced. Thus, the risk related to glove usage is not increased. The cost of purchasing gloves, labor for glove replacement, and the amount of generated waste can be reduced by approximately 40%, respectively, resulting in more efficient and rationalized glove management.
Nemoto, Takahiro; Arakawa, Ryoki; Kawakami, Satoru; Nagasumi, Satoru; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Watanabe, Masashi; Onishi, Takashi; Kawamoto, Taiki; Furusawa, Takayuki; Inoi, Hiroyuki; et al.
JAEA-Technology 2023-005, 33 Pages, 2023/05
JAEA-Technology-2023-005.pdf:5.25MB
During shut down of the HTTR (High Temperature engineering Test Reactor) RS-14 cycle, an increasing trend of filter differential pressure for the helium gas circulator was observed. In order to investigate this phenomenon, the blower of the primary helium purification system was disassembled and inspected. As a result, it is clear that the silicon oil mist entered into the primary coolant due to the deterioration of the charcoal filter performance. The replacement and further investigation of the filter are planning to prevent the reoccurrence of the same phenomenon in the future.
Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Ito, Masahiro*; Ishitani, Ikuo*
JAEA-Technology 2023-006, 36 Pages, 2023/05
JAEA-Technology-2023-006.pdf:3.45MB
The BAMBOO code developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is a computer code to analyze fuel pin bundle deformation in a fast reactor wire-spaced type fuel pin bundle subassembly. In this study we developed an analysis model to consider friction at the contact points between adjacent fuel pins, and at these between outermost fuel pins and a duct that are due to bundle-duct interaction. This model deals with friction forces at contact points in the contact and separation analysis of the code, and employs a convergent calculation where contact forces are gradually determined to avoid numerical instability when the friction occurs. Analyses of BAMBOO with the model showed very slight effects on the onset of contact between outer most pins and a duct, and on directions of pin displacements, within the range of practical friction coefficients.
Kozawa, Takayuki; Suganuma, Takuro; Homma, Fumitaka; Higashimura, Keisuke*; Ukai, Takayuki*; Saito, Kenji
JAEA-Technology 2023-007, 24 Pages, 2023/06
JAEA-Technology-2023-007.pdf:2.24MB
To improve the reliability of the HTTR wide range monitor in a high-temperature environment, structural changes of the wide range monitor were investigated. It was clear that the structure for directly joins of the MI cable core wire and metal tube instead of the joins with lead wire is the most reliable method with shortest way. From a result of the thermal cycle tests and high temperature endurance tests for a mock-up connecting this connection parts, it was clear that the soundness of the connection part was maintained under the usage conditions of the HTTR.
Aoya, Juri; Mori, Amami; Sato, Hinata; Kono, Soma; Morokado, Shiori; Horigome, Kazushi; Goto, Yuichi; Yamamoto, Masahiko; Taguchi, Shigeo
JAEA-Technology 2023-008, 34 Pages, 2023/06
JAEA-Technology-2023-008.pdf:1.92MB
Flush-out, by which nuclear materials in the Tokai Reprocessing Plant process are recovered, has been started in June 2022 as the first step of decommissioning. Flush-out consists of removal of spent fuel sheared powder, plutonium solution, uranium solution, and the other nuclear materials. Removal of spent fuel sheared powder has been completed in September 2022. During removal of spent fuel sheared powder, uranium concentration, plutonium concentration, acid concentration, radioactivity concentration, and solution density have been analyzed for process control. For nuclear material accountancy, uranium concentration, plutonium concentration, isotope ratio, and solution density have been analyzed. Analysis work including sample pretreatment before transportation to IAEA analytical facility for safeguards, and the other operations related to Flush-out such as calibration of analytical instruments, education, and training of operators are reported.
Arai, Sora; Kosaka, Satoshi*; Nemoto, Yasuo*; Kitamura, Ryo
JAEA-Technology 2023-009, 18 Pages, 2023/05
JAEA-Technology-2023-009.pdf:1.89MB
The linac located at the head of the J-PARC accelerators and required to provide the stable and high-quality beam. One of the accelerating cavities in the linac is the Separated-type Drift Tube Linac (SDTL). It is important to appropriately apply the RF power into the cavity for the stable operation. However, after the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the RF power could not be applied into the cavities for several SDTL cavities because the voltage standing wave ratio increased around the designed operating power. The investigation revealed that the inner surface of the cavity was exposed to high humidity and the backflow of oil from the rotary pump for a long period of time after the earthquake. It was suggested that the residue on the inner surface caused the multipactor resulted in the failure when the power was applied. The residue was wiped out with organic solvents and acids, resulted in solving the failure. This report describes the method and results of the cleaning for the cavity in 2021.
Watanabe, Kazuki; Kimura, Norimichi*; Okada, Jumpei; Furuuchi, Yuta; Kuwana, Hideharu*; Otani, Takehisa; Yokota, Satoru; Nakamura, Yoshinobu
JAEA-Technology 2023-010, 29 Pages, 2023/06
JAEA-Technology-2023-010.pdf:3.12MB
The Krypton Recovery Development Facility reached an intended technical target (krypton purity of over 90% and recovery rate of over 90%) by separation and rectification of krypton gas from receiving off-gas produced by the shearing and the dissolution process in the spent fuel reprocessing at the Tokai Reprocessing Plant (TRP) between 1988 and 2001. In addition, the feasibility of the technology was confirmed through immobilization test with ion-implantation in a small test vessel from 2000 to 2002, using a part of recovered krypton gas. As there were no intentions to use the remaining radioactive krypton gas in the krypton storage cylinders, we planned to release this gas by controlling the release amount from the main stack, and conducted it from February 14 to April 26, 2022. In this work, all the radioactive krypton gas in the cylinders (about 7.1
10
GBq) was released at the rate of 50 GBq/min or less lower than the maximum release rate from the main stuck stipulated in safety regulations (3.710
GBq/min). Then, the equipment used in the controlled release of radioactive krypton gas and the main process (all systems, including branch pipes connected to the main process) were cleaned with nitrogen gas. Although there were delays due to weather, we were able to complete the controlled release of radioactive krypton gas by the end of April 2022, as originally targeted without any problems such as equipment failure.
Nishino, Saki; Okada, Jumpei; Watanabe, Kazuki; Furuuchi, Yuta; Yokota, Satoru; Yada, Yuji; Kusaka, Shota; Morokado, Shiori; Nakamura, Yoshinobu
JAEA-Technology 2023-011, 39 Pages, 2023/06
JAEA-Technology-2023-011.pdf:2.51MB
Tokai Reprocessing Plant (TRP) which shifted to decommissioning phase in 2014 had nuclear fuel materials such as the spent fuel sheared powder, the diluted plutonium solution and the uranium solution in a part of the reprocessing main equipment because TRP intended to resume reprocessing operations when it suspended the operations in 2007. Therefore, we have planned to remove these nuclear materials in sequence as Flush-out before beginning the decommissioning, and conducted removal of the spent fuel sheared powder as the first stage. The spent fuel sheared powder that had accumulated in the cell of the Main Plant (MP) as a result of the spent fuel shearing process was recovered from the cell floor, the shearing machine and the distributor between April 2016 and April 2017 as part of maintenance. Removing the recovered spent fuel sheared powder was conducted between June 2022 and September 2022. In this work, the recovered powder was dissolved in nitric acid at the dissolver in a small amount in order to remove it safely and early, and the dissolved solution was sent to the highly radioactive waste storage tanks without separating uranium and plutonium. Then, the dissolved solution transfer route was rinsed with nitric acid and water. Although about 15 years had passed since previous process operations, the removing work was successfully completed without any equipment failure because of the organization of a system that combines veterans experienced the operation with young workers, careful equipment inspections, and worker education and training. Removing this powder was conducted after revising the decommissioning project and obtaining approval from the Nuclear Regulation Authority owing to operating a part of process equipment.
Ogawa, Rina; Totsuka, Masayoshi*; Sakai, Akihiro
JAEA-Technology 2023-012, 57 Pages, 2023/07
JAEA-Technology-2023-012.pdf:3.57MB
Concrete vault disposal facility is assumed to be installed below the groundwater table because it is necessary to install them on the ground that has enough bearing capacity. Therefore, the flow rates of groundwater into and out of concrete vault were evaluated by taking into account the permeability coefficients of the geological environment surrounding the facility and of the engineered structure of the facility. Groundwater flow analysis was performed by using the groundwater flow analysis code MIG2DF based on finite element method. In the evaluation of considering the geological environment, since the flow rate of groundwater into and out of the bottom of concrete vault was larger than the flow rates into and out of other sides of the vault in previous technical studies, the evaluation of the flow rate was performed by varying the permeability coefficient of the bedrock adjacent to the bottom of concrete vault. In addition, the other evaluation of the flow rate was conducted assuming the deterioration of concrete vault and of bentonite-mixed soil. As a result, it was found that the permeability coefficient of bedrock adjacent to concrete vault greatly contributed to flow rates of groundwater into and out of concrete vault. In addition, as the permeability coefficient of the bentonite-mixed soil increased due to chemical deterioration, the flow rate of leachate into the surrounding cover soil increased. From the above results, it was found that these permeability coefficients were important influencing factors in the engineering design and safety evaluation of concrete vault disposal facilities.
Ishitsuka, Etsuo; Ho, H. Q.; Kitagawa, Kanta*; Fukuda, Takahito*; Ito, Ryo*; Nemoto, Masaya*; Kusunoki, Hayato*; Nomura, Takuro*; Nagase, Sota*; Hashimoto, Haruki*; et al.
JAEA-Technology 2023-013, 19 Pages, 2023/06
JAEA-Technology-2023-013.pdf:1.75MB
Eight people from five universities participated in the 2022 summer holiday practical training with the theme of "Technical development on HTTR". The participants practiced the feasibility study for nuclear battery, the burn-up analysis of HTTR core, the feasibility study for 
Cf production, the analysis of behavior on loss of forced cooling test, and the thermal-hydraulic analysis near reactor pressure vessel. In the questionnaire after this training, there were impressions such as that it was useful as a work experience, that some students found it useful for their own research, and that discussion with other university students was a good experience. These impressions suggest that this training was generally evaluated as good.
Kawano, Takahiro*; Mizuta, Naoki; Ueta, Shohei; Tachibana, Yukio; Yoshida, Katsumi*
JAEA-Technology 2023-014, 37 Pages, 2023/08
JAEA-Technology-2023-014.pdf:2.35MB
Fuel compact for High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) is fabricated by calcinating a matrix consisting of graphite and binder with the coated fuel particle. The SiC-matrixed fuel compact uses a new matrix made of silicon carbide (SiC) replacing the conventional graphite. Applying the SiC-matrixed fuel compact for HTGRs is expected to improve their performance such as power densities. In this study, the sintering conditions for applying SiC as the matrix of fuel compacts for HTGR are selected, and the density and thermal conductivity of the prototype SiC are measured.
Local Exhaust Device Development Team in Analysis Section
JAEA-Technology 2023-015, 19 Pages, 2023/08
JAEA-Technology-2023-015.pdf:1.45MB
In the analytical laboratory of Tokai Reprocessing Plant, samples for operation and facility maintenance are analyzed in glove-box. Analytical reagents and equipment are carried inside the glove-box, and radioactive wastes generated through the analytical work are carried out using plastic bag (vinyl-bag) attached to the glove-box. The work carrying in and out from the glove-box is called as bag-in and bag-out. During these works, if the vinyl-bag is damaged, radioactive materials inside the glove-box may be leaked out and radioactive materials contaminate the vinyl-bag surface and the work area. In addition to that, if the radioactive contamination floats into the air, air in the work area may be contaminated. In this study, actual situation of the vinyl-bag work, specifications, and features of a local exhaust device for glove exchange work, which is an existing local exhaust device for gloves with a similar installation structure to vinyl-bags, have been investigated. Then, local exhaust device for vinyl-bag work have been developed. The developed local exhaust device has the same dimensions and shape as worktable that are conventionally used for vinyl-bag work. Also, a hood, HEPA filter, and exhaust blower, which are main components of the exhaust device for glove exchange work, are installed inside of this worktable. As a result, it has been confirmed that the developed local exhaust device is effective to prevent air contamination in vinyl-bag work without increasing the work procedures, manpower, and work time.
Sato, Takumi; Otobe, Haruyoshi; Morishita, Kazuki; Marufuji, Takato; Ishikawa, Takashi; Fujishima, Tadatsune; Nakano, Tomoyuki
JAEA-Technology 2023-016, 41 Pages, 2023/09
JAEA-Technology-2023-016.pdf:2.74MB
This report summarizes the results of the stabilization treatments of post-experiment nuclear materials in Plutonium Fuel Research Facility (PFRF) from August 2018 to March 2021. Based on the management standards for nuclear materials enacted after the contamination accident that occurred at PFRF on June 6, 2017, the post-experiment nuclear materials containing plutonium (Pu): samples mixed with organic substances that cause an increase in internal pressure due to radiolysis (including X-ray diffraction samples mixed with epoxy resin and plutonium powder which caused contamination accidents), carbides and nitrides samples which is reactive in air, and chloride samples which may cause corrosion of storage containers, were selected as targets of the stabilization. The samples containing organic materials, carbides and nitrides were heated in an air flow at 650 
C and 950 C for 2 hours respectively to remove organic materials and convert uranium (U) and Pu into oxides. U and Pu chlorides in LiCl-KCl eutectic melt were reduced and extracted into liquid Cd metal by a reaction with lithium (Li) -cadmium (Cd) alloy and converted to U-Pu-Cd alloy at 500 C or higher. All of the samples were stabilized and stored at PFRF. We hope that the contents of this report will be utilized to consider methods for stabilizing post experiment nuclear materials at other nuclear fuel material usage facilities.
Oizumi, Akito; Akie, Hiroshi
JAEA-Technology 2023-017, 93 Pages, 2023/12
JAEA-Technology-2023-017.pdf:8.45MB
After the decision of decommissioning JMTR (Japan Materials Testing Reactor), Japan Atomic Energy Agency investigated the possibility to construct a new irradiation test reactor to succeed JMTR (post-JMTR), and the final report of the investigated result was submitted to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on March 30th 2021. This investigation was carried out in 4 steps of (1) selection of reactor type, (2) reactor core plans studies, (3) neutronic studies, (4) thermal studies, and was finally (5) considered and evaluated. This JAEA-Technology report summarizes the process and the results of (3) neutronic studies. Neutron fluxes were calculated at irradiation sample positions in the investigated cores, the standard core and the compact core, and the calculated fluxes satisfied the required irradiation capability. It was also evaluated the two investigated cores' continuous reactor operation time in days in one refueling cycle, and the results guaranteed an operation days equality with that of existing JMTR. In addition, neutronic characteristics of the cores were estimated, such as power distribution in the core, control rod reactivity worth, reactivity coefficients, distribution of fuel burnup rate of each fuel element, and kinetics parameters. The evaluated neutronic characteristics were used in the post-JMTR final investigation report to confirm the neutronic feasibility by comparing with the neutronic limiting values of existing JMTR, and to estimate the cooling capability to make the core thermally feasible.
Kato, Tomoaki; Yamagishi, Isao
JAEA-Technology 2023-018, 53 Pages, 2023/11
JAEA-Technology-2023-018.pdf:2.6MB
In the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, radioactive carbonate slurry waste was generated using the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) pretreatment and temporarily stored in a high integrity container (HIC). In 2015, overflow of supernatant from HIC estimate as bubble retention in the carbonate slurry was discovered, increasing the need for a safety assessment of the carbonate slurry stored the HIC (HIC slurry). In this study, a carbonate slurry (simulated slurry) was prepared according to the Mg/Ca mass ratio in the ALPS inlet water of the HIC slurry which overflew the HIC. The effects of reaction time during the pretreatment process, suspended solids concentration (SS concentration), and settling time on the particle composition, morphology and rheological properties of the slurry were investigated. Evaluating the effect of reaction time and concentration process on chemical properties in slurry production, the effect of the reaction time was not confirmed in the simulated slurry that had undergone the concentration process, and slurry prepared at SS concentration of 150 g/L was composed of formless particles have a particle diameter of 0.4 
m or less. We also investigate the effect of SS concentration on sedimentability, decrease in SS concentration by dilution with processing solution contributed to an increase in the initial slurry settling velocity. Furthermore, two different flow characteristics were observed depending on the settling time, suggesting that the slurry at the initial settling time has non-Bingham flow properties, whereas it changes to Bingham flow properties as the settling time becomes longer. In addition, yield stress was increased with settling time, and this yield stress was found to be exponentially proportional to the density of the slurry. These results provide knowledge to estimate the current state of HIC slurry and are expected to contribute to the safety assessment.
HTGR Design Group, HTGR Project Management Office
JAEA-Technology 2023-019, 39 Pages, 2024/01
JAEA-Technology-2023-019.pdf:1.34MB
In order to realize the development of the demonstration reactor of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) with a target of starting operation in the 2030s, as indicated in the "Basic Policy for GX Realization" (Cabinet Decision on February 10, 2023) and the Working Group on Innovative Reactors of METI, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been working on the development of a standard for the development of a HTGR under the Atomic Energy Society of Japan and the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. In addition, JAEA has been commissioned by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to conduct the "Demonstration Project for Mass Hydrogen Production Technology Using Ultra-High Temperatures" and has been promoting a hydrogen production project using the HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor). Furthermore, in collaboration with the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) of the United Kingdom and the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) of Poland, JAEA are aiming to strengthen the international competitiveness of HTGR technology by further upgrading the HTGR technology developed in Japan through the construction and operation of the HTTR. In response to the growing interest in HTGR development in Japan and abroad, we have developed FAQs on HTGR related technologies in order to provide accurate technical information on HTGRs.
Kawahara, Takahiro; Suda, Shoya; Fujikura, Toshiki; Masai, Seita; Omori, Kanako; Mori, Masakazu; Kurosawa, Tsuyoshi; Ishihara, Keisuke; Hoshi, Akiko; Yokobori, Tomohiko
JAEA-Technology 2023-020, 36 Pages, 2023/12
JAEA-Technology-2023-020.pdf:2.79MB
We have been storing drums containing radioactive waste (radioactive waste packages) at waste storage facilities. We have been managing radioactive waste packages along traditional safety regulations. However, over 40 years has passed from a part of them were brought in pit-type waste storage facility L. Most of them are carbon steel 200 L drums, and surface of them are corroded. For better safety management, we started to take drums out from the pit and inspect them in FY 2019. After each inspection, we repair them or remove the contents of the drum and refill new drums if necessary. In this report, we will introduce the planning, the review of the plan, and the trial operation of this project.
Nakata, Hisakazu; Okada, Shota; Amazawa, Hiroya; Sakai, Akihiro
JAEA-Technology 2023-021, 31 Pages, 2024/01
JAEA-Technology-2023-021.pdf:2.53MB
Radioactive waste packages, which Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) plans to dispose of, must meet the technical criteria specified by the Order of Nuclear Regulation Authority. One criteria is newly specified in 2019 such that it shall be impact resistant performance so as to be few in quantity of radionuclides released from the waste package in case of dropping from the maximum height assumed in the disposal process. Then, JAEA needs to prove the compliance of the waste package with the technical criteria by estimating the leakage of radionuclides. In this report, the amounts of scattering materials inside two waste packages caused by dropping impact from 8m height was estimated by numerical analysis, providing the ratio of the amounts of scattering materials to the weight of the waste package. The analysis objects were 1m cube container-filled and solidified waste package containing metal waste, which are expected to emplace into a vault-type disposal facility. Some considerations relating to the production method of the waste package using 1m cubic container and its waste acceptance criteria are provided on the basis of the drop analysis in this report.
Naoe, Takashi; Wakui, Takashi; Kinoshita, Hidetaka; Kogawa, Hiroyuki; Teshigawara, Makoto; Haga, Katsuhiro
JAEA-Technology 2023-022, 81 Pages, 2024/01
JAEA-Technology-2023-022.pdf:9.87MB
In the liquid mercury target system for the pulsed spallation neutron source of Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) in the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), pressure waves that is generated by the high-energy proton beam injection simultaneously with the spallation reaction, resulting severe cavitation erosion damage on the interior surface of the mercury target vessel. Because the bubble of pressure wave-induced cavitation collapsing near the interior surface of the mercury target vessel with applying the large amplitude of localized impact on the surface. Since the wall thickness of the beam entrance portion of the target vessel is designed to be 3 mm to reduce thermal stress due to the internal heating, the erosion damage has the possibility to cause the vessel fatigue failure and mercury leakage originated from erosion pits during operation. To reduce the erosion damage by cavitation, a technique of gas microbubble injection into the mercury for pressure wave mitigation, and double-walled structure of the beam window of the target vessel has been applied. A specimen was cut from the beam window of the used mercury target vessel in order to investigate the effect of the damage mitigation technologies on the vessel, and to reflect the consideration of operation condition for the next target. We have observed cavitation damage on interior surface of the used mercury target vessel by cutting out the disk shape specimens. Damage morphology and depth of damaged surface were evaluated and correlation between the damage depth and operational condition was examined. The result showed that the erosion damage by cavitation is extremely reduced by injecting gas microbubbles and the damage not formed inside narrow channel of the double-walled structure for relatively high-power operated target vessels.
Yamashita, Kiyoto; Maki, Shota; Yokosuka, Kazuhiro; Fukui, Masahiro; Iemura, Keisuke
JAEA-Technology 2023-023, 97 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Technology-2023-023.pdf:8.21MB
The incinerator adopted to incineration room, Plutonium Waste Treatment Facility had been demonstrated since 2002 for developing technologies to reduce the volume of fire-resistant wastes such as vinyl chloride (represented by Polyvinyl chloride bags) and rubber gloves for Radio Isotope among radioactive solid wastes generated by the production of mixed oxide fuels. The incinerator, cooling tower, and processing pipes were replaced with a suspension period from 2018 to 2022, which fireproof materials on the inner wall of the incinerator was cracked and grown caused by hydrogen chloride generated when disposing of fire-resistant wastes. This facility consists of the waste feed process, the incineration process, the waste gas treatment process, and the ash removal process. We replaced the cooling tower in the waste gas treatment process from March 2020 to March 2021, and the incinerator in the incineration process from January 2021 to February 2022. In addition, samples were collected from the incinerator and the cooling tower during the removing and dismantling of the replaced devices, observed by Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray microanalyzer, and analyzed by X-ray diffraction to investigate the corrosion and deterioration of them. This report describes the method of setting up the green house, the procedure for replacing them, and the results from analysis in corrosion and deterioration of the cooling tower and incinerator.
Group for Fukushima Mapping Project
JAEA-Technology 2023-024, 176 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Technology-2023-024.pdf:22.16MB
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 FY2022. Car-borne surveys, a measurement using survey meters, a walk survey and an unmanned helicopter survey were carried out to obtain air dose rate data to create their distribution maps, and temporal changes of the air dose rates were analyzed. Surveys on depth profile of radiocesium and in-situ measurements as for radiocesium deposition were performed. Based on these measurement results, effective half-lives of the temporal changes in the air dose rates and the deposition were evaluated. Score maps to classify the importance of the measurement points were created, and the factors causing changes in the score when monitoring data from multiple years were used were discussed. The range of fluctuation of past tritium concentration data in seawater was determined, and the causes of the fluctuation were discussed. Monitoring data in coastal area performed in 2022 owing to the comprehensive radiation monitoring plan was summarized, and temporal changes in cesium-137 were analyzed. Using the Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach, we obtained maps that integrated air dose rate distribution data acquired through surveys such as car-borne and walk surveys with respect to the region within 80 km from the FDNPS and Fukushima Prefecture. The measurement results for FY2022 were published on the "Database for Radioactive Substance Monitoring Data", 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.
Saito, Shigeru; Meigo, Shinichiro; Makimura, Shunsuke*; Hirano, Yukinori*; Tsutsumi, Kazuyoshi*; Maekawa, Fujio
JAEA-Technology 2023-025, 48 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Technology-2023-025.pdf:3.11MB
JAEA has been developing Accelerator-Driven Systems (ADS) for research and development of nuclear transmutation using accelerators in order to reduce the volume and hazardousness of high-level radioactive waste generated by nuclear power plants. In order to prepare the material irradiation database necessary for the design of ADS and to study the irradiation effects in Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) alloys, a proton irradiation facility is under consideration at J-PARC. In this proton irradiation facility, 250 kW proton beams will be injected into the LBE spallation target, and irradiation tests under LBE flow will be performed for candidate structural materials for ADS. Furthermore, semiconductor soft-error tests, medical RI production, and proton beam applications will be performed. Among these, Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) of irradiated samples and RI separation and purification will be carried out in the PIE facility to be constructed near the proton irradiation facility. In this PIE facility, PIE of the equipment and samples irradiated in other facilities in J-PARC will also be performed. This report describes the conceptual study of the PIE facility, including the items to be tested, the test flow, the facilities, the test equipment, etc., and the proposed layout of the facility.
Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Sasaki, Miyuki; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Akutsu, Yuichiro*; Arai, Yoshinori*; et al.
JAEA-Technology 2023-026, 161 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Technology-2023-026.pdf:14.66MB
By the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO's) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), caused by tsunami triggered by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the surrounding environment. After the accident, Airborne Radiation Monitoring (ARM) via manned helicopter has been utilized as a method to quickly and extensively measure radiation distribution surrounding FDNPS. In order to utilize ARM and to promptly provide the results during a nuclear emergency, information on background radiation levels, topographical features, and controlled airspace surrounding nationwide nuclear facilities have been prepared in advance. In the fiscal year 2022, we conducted ARM around the Mihama Nuclear Power Station of Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO), the Tsuruga Power Station of Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC), and the Ikata Power Station of Shikoku Electric Power Company (YONDEN), and prepared information on background radiation doses and controlled airspace. In addition, we have developed an aerial radiation detection system via unmanned airplane, which is expected to be an alternative to ARM, during a nuclear emergency. This report summarizes the results and technical issues identified.
Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Nagakubo, Azusa; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Akutsu, Yuichiro*; Arai, Yoshinori*; et al.
JAEA-Technology 2023-027, 146 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Technology-2023-027.pdf:18.12MB
By the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO's) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), caused by tsunami triggered by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the surrounding environment. After the accident, Airborne Radiation Monitoring (ARM) via manned helicopter has been applied as a method to quickly and extensively measure the distribution of radiation. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has continuously conducted ARM via manned helicopter around FDNPS. In this report, we summarize the results of the ARM around FDNPS in the fiscal year 2022, evaluate the changes of ambient dose rates and other parameters based on the comparison to the past ARM results, and discuss the causes of such changes. In order to contribute to improve the accuracy of ambient dose rate conversion, we analyzed the ARM data taking into account undulating topography, and evaluated the effect of this method. Furthermore, the effect of radon progenies in the air on the ARM was evaluated by applying the discrimination method to the measurement results.
Yamashita, Naoki; Aoyama, Takahito; Kato, Chiaki; Sano, Naruto; Tagami, Susumu
JAEA-Technology 2023-028, 22 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Technology-2023-028.pdf:1.9MB
At the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F), which is currently undergoing decommissioning, there is growing interest in the effects of radiation-emitting radionuclides such as 
Sr and 
Cs on the structural integrity. In particular, the corrosion behavior of carbon steel, which is used in many parts of 1F, is known to change depending on metal cations in solution, but the effects of Sr and Cs on corrosion are not yet understood. In addition, it is important to investigate the distribution of Sr and Cs in the rust layer in order to understand the corrosion behavior, but the method has not yet been established. In this study, a glove box was prepared to conduct corrosion tests of carbon steel in NaCl containing Sr and Cs in the glove box. In addition, in order to clarify the influence of Sr and Cs, which exist as metal cations in the solution, on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel, we attempted to establish a detection method for radioactive materials in the rust layer using an imaging plate.
Sano, Naruto; Yamashita, Naoki; Watanabe, Masaya; Tsukada, Manabu*; Hoshino, Kazutoyo*; Hirai, Koki; Ikegami, Yuta*; Tashiro, Shinsuke; Yoshida, Ryoichiro; Hatakeyama, Yuichi; et al.
JAEA-Technology 2023-029, 36 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Technology-2023-029.pdf:2.47MB
At the Waste Safety Testing Facility (WASTEF), the gamma ray irradiation device "Gamma Cell 220" was relocated from the 4th research building of the Nuclear Science Research Institute in FY2019, and the use of gamma ray irradiation has begun. Initially, Fuel Cycle Safety Research Group, Fuel Cycle Safety Research Division, Nuclear Safety Research Center, Sector of Nuclear Safety Research and Emergency Preparedness, the owner of this device, conducted the tests as the main user, but since 2022, other users, including those outside the organization, have started using it. The gamma ray irradiation device "Gamma Cell 220" is manufactured by Nordion International Inc. in Canada. Since it was purchased in 1989, the built-in 60Co radiation source has been updated once, and safety research related to nuclear fuel cycles, etc. It is still used for this purpose to this day. This report summarizes the equipment overview of the gamma ray irradiation device "Gamma Cell 220", its permits and licenses at WASTEF, usage status, maintenance and inspection, and future prospects.
Kamikawa, Yutaka; Suzuki, Makoto; Agake, Toshiki; Murakami, Takahiko; Morita, Yusuke; Shiina, Hidenori; Fukushima, Manabu; Hirane, Nobuhiko; Ouchi, Yasuhiro
JAEA-Technology 2023-030, 57 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Technology-2023-030.pdf:1.93MB
Owing to the publication of the latest data about aircraft crashes by Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), it was necessary to re-evaluate the probabilities of aircraft crashes for Nuclear Science Research Institute (NSRI). By using of the assessment method provided in "Regulatory Guide of the Assessment Standard for Probability of Airplane Crash on a Nuclear Power Reactor Facility", we re-evaluated the probabilities of aircraft crashes against the nuclear facilities in NSRI. As a result of the evaluations, the sum of the probabilities of aircraft crashes against Waste Treatment Facilities (maximum probability among all nuclear facilities in NSRI) is 5.6810
(times/(reactor 
year)) which is lower than 10
(times/(reactor year)) that is the assessment criterion whether aircraft crashes is considered to be "anticipated external human induced events" in design basis or not.