Research and development of the sample-return technique for fuel debris using the unmanned underwater vehicle (Contract research); FY2021 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology*

JAEA-Review 2022-070, 70 Pages, 2023/03

JAEA-Review-2022-070.pdf:5.27MB

The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), had been conducting the Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2021. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). For this purpose, intelligence was collected from all over the world, and basic research and human resource development were promoted by closely integrating/collaborating knowledge and experiences in various fields beyond the barrier of conventional organizations and research fields. The sponsor of the Project was moved from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to JAEA since the newly adopted proposals in FY2018. On this occasion, JAEA constructed a new research system where JAEA-academia collaboration is reinforced and medium-to-long term research/development and human resource development contributing to the decommissioning are stably and consecutively implemented. Among the adopted proposals in FY2020, this report summarizes the research results of the "Research and development of the sample-return technique for fuel debris using the unmanned underwater vehicle" conducted in FY2021. The present study aims to develop a fuel debris sampling device that comprises a neutron detector with radiation resistance and enhanced neutron detection efficiency, an end-effector with powerful cutting and collection capabilities, and a manipulator under the Japan-UK joint research team. We will also develop a fuel debris sampling system that can be mounted on an unmanned vehicle. In addition, we will develop a positioning system to identify the system position, and a technique to project the counting information of optical cameras, sonar, and neutron detectors to be developed ...

Technology development to evaluate dose rate distribution and to search for fuel debris submerged in water for decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 9; Tank tests of ROVs to map the debris in the primary containment vessel

Kamada, So*; Kato, Michio*; Nishimura, Kazuya*; Nancekievill, M.*; Jones, A. R.*; Lennox, B.*; Joyce, M. J.*; Okumura, Keisuke; Katakura, Junichi*

no journal, , 

As a part of technology development related to fuel debris exploration technology in the reactor containment vessel, demonstration tests of an remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for investigating the distribution and surface condition of submerged fuel debris were carried out by using the test water tank of Naraha Remote Technology Development Center of Japan Atomic Energy Agency and using the TRIGA Mark II research reactor of Jozef Stefan Institute of Slovenia. In the demonstration test, we confirmed the cooperation with the acoustic exploration device, the performance of the ROV positioning system, the operation in the reactor pool, and showed that it is possible to display 3D image of the shape of simulated fuel debris.