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Center for Computational Science & e-Systems; Research info Artifacts, Center for Engineering, The University of Tokyo*
JAEA-Review 2014-001, 75 Pages, 2014/03
This report provides an overview of the joint research of the Center for Computational Science & e-Systems (CCSE), JAEA and Research into Artifacts, Center for Engineering, the University of Tokyo in fiscal year 2012 (April 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013). The primary results of the research and development activities are the development of the middleware to perform the structural analysis fast and efficiently and the model construction to evaluate the safety of the materials. Five joint seminars were held as the activity. Overview of the activity is also included in this paper.
Ishii, Tetsuro; Osa, Akihiko; Nishio, Katsuhisa; Asai, Masato; Ishikawa, Norito; Matsuda, Makoto
JAEA-Review 2014-002, 238 Pages, 2014/08
The facility of the JAEA-Tokai tandem accelerator has been contributing toward advancing heavy ion science researches in the fields of nuclear physics, nuclear chemistry, production of RI for nuclear medicine, atomic physics, radiation effects, and so on. Due to the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake and all that, situation revolving around the JAEA-Tokai tandem accelerator was greatly-changed. For active discussions of this situation among scientists in the different fields, the workshop "Heavy Ion Science in Tandem Energy Region" was held although there has been no such workshop for many years. The users of the JAEA-Tokai tandem accelerators made presentations of their research achievements in the last few years and reviewed the recent research trend of each fields. This workshop was held at Research building No.1 in Nuclear Research Institute on July 2nd and 3rd in 2013, having 20 oral presentations and 28 posters, and successfully carried out with as many as 60 participants and a lot of serious discussions. This review is the collection of slides of oral presentations.
Nuclear Science Research Institute
JAEA-Review 2014-003, 149 Pages, 2014/03
Nuclear Science Research Institute (NSRI) is composed of Planning and Coordination Office, Fukushima Project Team and six departments, namely Department of Operational Safety Administration, Department of Radiation Protection, Engineering Services Department, Department of Research Reactor and Tandem Accelerator, Department of Fukushima Technology Development and Department of Decommissioning and Waste Management. This annual report of JFY 2012 summarizes the activities of NSRI, the activities of the R&D Directorates and Human Resources Development at NSRI site, and is expected to be referred and utilized by R&D departments and project promotion sectors at NSRI site for the enhancement of their own research and management activities to attain their goals according to "Middle-term Plan" successfully and effectively.
Program Committee of JAEA Progress Report Meeting on the Research & Development in the Field of the
JAEA-Review 2014-004, 175 Pages, 2014/03
This document compiles the presentation materials and the posters presented in the JAEA Progress Report Meeting on the Research & Development in the Field of the Backend of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle held on May 31, 2013 in the formerly Tokai Atom World Visitor Center. The purpose of the meeting is to share the information among the researchers and the engineers by presenting the current status and challenges of the research & development. The meeting was organized in three session; decommissioning technology, radioactive waste characterization technology, radioactive waste treatment and disposal technology. The meeting, consist of 13 oral and 12 poster presentations, was quite successful and fruitful.
Nagame, Yuichiro
JAEA-Review 2014-005, 41 Pages, 2014/03
This is the report in the Heisei 24 fiscal year in which the result of dawn research of seven affairs was summarized. The result obtained for development of the foundation and base research on atomic power is released with this report.
Sato, Kazuhiko; Sakai, Akihiro; Hata, Haruhi; Fumoto, Hiromichi*; Kawagoshi, Hiroshi; Saito, Tatsuo; Hasegawa, Makoto
JAEA-Review 2014-006, 78 Pages, 2014/03
In this paper, we report the result of survey for basic principle of safety assessment for long-lived low-level (LL-LL) waste disposal and experience of the industrial waste disposal sites for uranium bearing waste in France, UK and Sweden, following the report of survey for U.S.A. and Canada published in December 2013.
Yamamura, Tsukasa; Suda, Kazunori; Tomikawa, Hirofumi; Takeda, Yu; Teraoka, Nobuaki
JAEA-Review 2014-007, 106 Pages, 2014/03
In this report, we research nuclear policy and the past background of non-proliferation issues between Japan and the U.S., especially for the purpose of making contributions for consideration in new negotiations of the Japan-U.S. nuclear agreement, which expires in 2018. In particular, we focus on negotiation of the Tokai Reprocessing Plant and revised Japan-U.S. nuclear agreement of 1988, which made significant strides in the nuclear fuel cycle program, then analyze the effect of U.S. non-proliferation policy on Japan's nuclear fuel cycle policy. The relationship between Japan and the U.S. in nuclear cooperation has evolved from a one-sided relationship, in which the U.S. influenced Japan in the selection of nuclear material and equipment transferred to Japan, to a more reciprocal relationship. As a result of this, Japan could incorporate the comprehensive prior consent, which was the framework enforcing the nuclear fuel cycle into the agreement without being swayed by the U.S. Administration. However, we need continued and careful observation of evolving nuclear policies in the U.S. Administration and Congress, because a substantial percentage of Japan's nuclear material is of U.S. origin.
Engineering Services Department
JAEA-Review 2014-008, 125 Pages, 2014/03
The Engineering Services Department is in charge of operation and maintenance of utility facilities (water distribution systems, electricity supply systems, steam generation systems and drain water systems etc.) in whole of the institute. And also is in charge of operation and maintenance of specific systems (a receiving transmitted electricity system, an emergency electric power supply system, an air/liquid waste treatment system, a compressed air supply system) in nuclear reactor facilities, nuclear fuel treatment facilities and usual facilities or buildings. In addition, the department is in charge of maintenance of buildings, design and repair of electrical/mechanical equipments and operation of the large scale experiment facilities. This annual report describes summary of activities, operation and maintenance data and technical developments of the department carried out in JFY 2012. We hope that this report may help to future work.
Sato, Toshinori; Tanno, Takeo*; Hikima, Ryoichi*; Sanada, Hiroyuki
JAEA-Review 2014-009, 60 Pages, 2014/05
This report presents the following FY2012 activities undertaken to achieve the above goals. (1) In-situ stress measurements using Compact Conical-ended Borehole Overcoring Technique at the - 300m stage, (2) In-situ stress measurements using core-based methods at the - 500m stage, (3) Laboratory tests using core samples from boreholes drilled at the - 500m stage, (4) Study on the modeling based on equivalent continuum model, (5) Phenomenological study on long-term behavior, (6) Theoretical study for estimating long-term behavior, (7) Application of specific energy for evaluation of in-situ rock mass properties, (8) Study on estimation of in-situ rock stress based on the results of various measurements.
Fukaya, Yuji
JAEA-Review 2014-010, 33 Pages, 2014/05
The series presentations on Clean Burn HTGR were performed in the 2013 Fall Meeting of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan. The Clean Burn HTGR has been proposed and investigated as plutonium burner system which has high proliferation resistance and high plutonium incineration efficiency by comparing with MOX-LWR. The presentations showed the system concept and future prospects of the Clean Burn HTGR. This report includes materials of the presentations. By this report, the subject of the present study becomes obvious.
Yamamura, Tsukasa; Suda, Kazunori; Tomikawa, Hirofumi; Suzuki, Mitsutoshi; Kuno, Yusuke; Mochiji, Toshiro
JAEA-Review 2014-011, 74 Pages, 2014/03
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency held "International Forum on Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Non-proliferation and Nuclear Security; Ensuring Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Security of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Options in consideration of the Accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station" on 3 and 4 December 2013. Keynote speakers from Japan, the United States, France and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), respectively explained their efforts. In two panel discussions, entitled "Nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security measures of nuclear fuel cycle options in consideration of the Accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station" and "Roles of safeguards and technical measures for ensuring nuclear non-proliferation for nuclear fuel cycle options", active discussions were made. This report includes abstracts of keynote speeches, summaries of two panel discussions and materials of the presentations in the forum.
Cocco, R. G.*; Ishida, V.*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Dorn, C. K.*
JAEA-Review 2014-012, 122 Pages, 2014/03
This report summarizes the documents presented in the 8th Specialist Meeting on Recycling of Irradiated Beryllium, which held on October 28, 2013, in Bariloche, Ro Negro, Argentina, hosted by INVAP and CNEA (Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica). The objective of the meeting is to exchange the information of current status and future plan for beryllium study in the Research/Testing reactors. In this meeting, presentations on current status and future plan for beryllium study were carried out for the Research/Testing reactor fields from U.S.A., Korea, Argentina and Japan. Evaluation results of beryllium materials were discussed based on new data such as swelling, deformation, gas release and so on of irradiated beryllium. The subject of the used beryllium recycling was also discussed for the enforcement of demonstration recycling tests.
Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security
JAEA-Review 2014-013, 47 Pages, 2014/09
Since the establishment of Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN) in December, 2010, ISCN has convened more than 30 trainings, seminars, and workshops in the field of nuclear nonproliferation/safeguards and nuclear security with over 1,000 participants from more than 30 countries. Not only trainings for overseas participants centering on Asian countries, but ISCN also provided trainings and seminars for relevant domestic institutions including nuclear operators, government organizations such as Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA), police organizations, and Self-Defense Forces. Especially, ISCN has strengthened cooperation with NRA in developing training curriculums for nuclear security, and also in training for newly-appointed physical protection inspectors of NRA. This report looks into ISCN's 2 years activity and its contribution to the international society.
Doi, Reisuke; Iwata, Hajime; Kitamura, Akira
JAEA-Review 2014-014, 27 Pages, 2014/05
The solubility method is one of the most powerful tools to obtain reliable thermodynamic data for (1) solubility products of discrete solids and double salts, (2) complexation constants for various ligands, (3) development of data in a wide range of pH values, (4) evaluation of data for metals that form very insoluble solids (e.g. tetravalent actinides), (5) determining solubility-controlling solids in different types of wastes and (6) elevated temperatures for redox sensitive systems. This document is focused on describing various aspects of obtaining thermodynamic data using the solubility method. This manuscript deals with various aspects of conducting solubility studies, including selecting the study topic, modeling to define important variables, selecting the range of variables and experimental parameters, anticipating results, general equipment requirements, conducting experiments, and interpreting experimental data.
Sasamoto, Hiroshi
JAEA-Review 2014-015, 35 Pages, 2014/05
A project of coastal site characterization was performed with the project partners for 6 years from the fiscal year 2007 to 2012. This report summarized a frame-work for cooperation among the project partners and the summary of discussions through the project meetings. Additionally, the followings were also presented in this report considering the discussions in the project; examples of products obtained through development of investigation and evaluation techniques for coastal site characterization and the current status for integration of R&D products. A challenge performed through the project of coastal site characterization at Horonobe area could be a representative example for development of methodology to summarize the existing investigation and evaluation techniques, and to integrate the various products obtained in the coastal site investigations, from the view point of R&D for the management of high-level radioactive waste in Japan.
Zheng, X.; Ishikawa, Jun; Ito, Hiroto; Tamaki, Hitoshi; Maruyama, Yu
JAEA-Review 2014-016, 32 Pages, 2014/06
Boron carbide (BC) is one kind of neutron absorbing control rod/blade materials used in light water reactors (LWRs). In Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS), all units used BC as absorber material. The degradation of control rod/blade will affect the early phase of in-vessel core melt progression. Furthermore, the release of carbon compound gases including carbon dioxide (CO) as well as boron compounds due to the oxidation of BC with steam is possible to affect source terms of radioactive materials. Past experiments related to BC degradation and oxidation and numerical modeling in severe accidents codes are investigated in the current report with a main view to apply the acquired knowledge into the modification of THALES-2 developed at JAEA as an integral severe accident analysis code. The eutectic interactions of BC with other materials such as stainless steel and Zircaloy will lower the melting point of control rod/blade. The Nagase's correlations for eutectic interaction are selected as one of candidates to be applied into THALES-2. The oxidation reaction of BC with steam will release considerable amount of thermal energy, and form CO, boric acids and boron oxide, which could make an impact onto source terms by changing the pH value of a water pool where those dissolve. The IRSN correlation is chosen to be used in the modeling of oxidation reaction in THLAES-2.
Department of Fukushima Technology Development
JAEA-Review 2014-017, 135 Pages, 2014/06
The Department of Hot Laboratories and Facilities in the Nuclear Science Research Institute was supporting research activities on the safety and basic researches for nuclear fuels materials and reactor structural materials and so on. Our department was in charge of operation and management of 11 research facilities including 4 hot laboratories, in which nuclear fuel materials such as uranium and plutonium, and various radioactive isotopes were handled. This document describes the activity record of the detailed damage situations and their restorations of 11 facilities against the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake. About the restoration situation of facilities, restoration activities of 8 facilities out of 11 facilities were completed by March 31st, 2013. This document is a continuation of the Part I Emergency Activities at Onset (JAEA-Review 2011-048) witch was described just after the earthquake.
Sugiyama, Kenji; Takashita, Hirofumi; Yamamoto, Ryuichi; Itabashi, Kiyoshi
JAEA-Review 2014-018, 110 Pages, 2014/07
JAEA has held public meetings on radiation and its health effects mainly for parents of students in kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools in Fukushima Prefecture after the Fukushima nuclear accident. These meetings are held based on our experience of practicing risk communication activities for a decade in JAEA with local residents. Questionnaires were collected after the meetings. By analyzing questionnaires, we confirmed that interactive communication is effective in increasing participants' understanding and in decreasing their anxiety. Most of the participants answered that they understood the contents and that it eased their mind.
Kageyama, Hitoshi; Suzuki, Shinji; Hirose, Ikuro; Yoshioka, Tatsuji
JAEA-Review 2014-019, 79 Pages, 2014/06
In late years, local participation policies are being adopted in foreign countries at site selection for the disposal of the radioactive waste. We performed documents investigation about the examples of the site selection processes of Belgium, the U.K., and Switzerland to establish the site selection policy in Japan. Reviewing the merits and demerits of each example through this investigation, we confirmed if we are to adopt local participation policy in our country in future, further prudent study would be necessary, considering current and future social conditions in Japan.
Inoue, Masaki; Asaka, Takeo
JAEA-Review 2014-020, 46 Pages, 2014/06
Integrity of fuel assemblies (FAs) stored in the spent fuel pools (SFPs) of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station (units 1 through 4) is one of the most important issues to transport the FAs to the common pool for long term storage. The SFPs had lost their functions of decay heat removal and water supply due to the station blackout. Since fresh and sea waters were injected into and concrete fragments by hydrogen explosions fell into the SFPs, the FAs have been exposed to much more corrosive environments than usual ones. In this report, many events during the accidents were investigated from a view point of temperature and chemical constituents in the SFPs in order to evaluate integrity for fuel assemblies during long term storage in the common pool by means of corrosion tests.
Saito, Tatsuo; Sakai, Akihiro; Sato, Kazuhiko; Yagi, Naoto; Hata, Haruhi; Fumoto, Hiromichi*; Kawagoshi, Hiroshi; Hasegawa, Makoto
JAEA-Review 2014-021, 30 Pages, 2014/07
Japan Atomic Energy Agency surveyed the reference cases for the disposal of uranium bearing waste in low activity concentration as the contents of their own category 2 waste disposal facility for the Research and Development Activities. We reviewed the concepts mentioned in IAEA and ICRP documents, reference cases of uranium bearing waste disposal in selected countries (USA, Canada, UK, France and Sweden), and the disposal styles of long-lived radioactive waste were summarized, and the action items for application to the disposal system of our country was arranged. The disposal facilities in selected countries can be classified into 2 types with the length of performance assessment period for intruder scenario. They are long term assessment type and short term assessment type. It seems that the disposal system construction in category 2 waste disposal is the most realistic since there are many precedence examples of each country. Correspondence of 2 types of these disposal facilities is useful as a reference case.
Furuno, Akiko; Takashita, Hirofumi; Tokunaga, Hiroaki*; Horikoshi, Hidehiko*
JAEA-Review 2014-022, 37 Pages, 2014/07
This paper describes an analysis of the opinion survey that is carried out at the internal dosimetry using whole body counters conducted in Japan Atomic Energy Agency. JAEA staffs explained the examination results of WBC to the residents in private booths and provide necessary advice for them. We carried out two opinion surveys at the internal dosimetry. The first survey was carried out before the screening in order to realize the residents' views of the accidents; the second survey was carried out after the personal dialogue in order to receive the evaluation from examinee for our correspondence. The first survey showed that residents' anxiety about radioactive exposure, hereditary influence on next generation, and so on. On the other hand, more than 90% residents answered in the second survey that "uneasiness reduced" as a result of the direct dialogue. Our private dialogue has also considerably effects.
Kutsuna, Hideki; Iwai, Hiroki; Kadowaki, Haruhiko
JAEA-Review 2014-023, 30 Pages, 2014/08
Fugen Decommissioning Engineering Center, in planning and carrying out our decommissioning technical development, has been establishing "Technical special committee on Fugen decommissioning" which consists of the members well-informed, aiming to make good use of Fugen as a place for technological development which is opened inside and outside the country, as the central point in the energy research and development base making project of Fukui prefecture, and to utilize the outcome in our decommissioning to the technical development effectively. This report compiles presentation materials "The Current Situation of Fugen Decommissioning", "Development for the Sampling Technology from the Reactor Core Structure of FUGEN" and "Efficiency Improvement for the Room-Temperature Vacuum Drying in the Tritium Removal", presented in the 29th Technical special committee on Fugen decommissioning which was held on March 13, 2014.
Ito, Kimio; Ono, Takayuki; Ishimori, Yuu; Kawasaki, Satoru
JAEA-Review 2014-024, 19 Pages, 2014/08
The Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency performs the environmental monitoring around the Ningyo-toge and the waste rock sites according to the agreements with local governments, Okayama and Tottori prefectures. Each prefectural committee on the environmental monitoring evaluates the monitoring data annually. This report summarized the results of the environmental monitoring in Tottori prefecture in the fiscal year 2012. The results show that the levels of the radiation doses and the radioactive concentrations in the environment were within natural variations, and the waste rock sites have been well maintained. The committee concluded that the environmental impacts from the sites were negligible.
Ono, Takayuki; Tsujinaka, Hideyuki; Ishimori, Yuu; Kawasaki, Satoru; Ando, Masaki
JAEA-Review 2014-025, 13 Pages, 2014/08
The Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency performs the environmental monitoring around the Ningyo-toge and the waste rock sites according to the agreements with local governments, Okayama and Tottori prefectures. Each prefectural committee on the environmental monitoring evaluates the monitoring data annually. This report summarized the results of the environmental monitoring in Tottori prefecture in the fiscal year 2013. The results show that the levels of the radiation doses and the radioactive concentrations in the environment were within natural variations, and the waste rock sites have been well maintained. The committee concluded that the environmental impacts from the sites were negligible.
Research Cooperation Section
JAEA-Review 2014-026, 52 Pages, 2014/08
This report includes a summary of the results of the research carried out in fiscal year 2013 on 11 research collaboration subjects for preceding basic engineering research related to fast breeder reactors, radiation safety and geological disposal/geoscience.
Hanamuro, Takahiro
JAEA-Review 2014-027, 24 Pages, 2014/08
As part of the research and development program on geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW), the Horonobe Underground Research Center, a division of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), is implementing the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project (Horonobe URL Project) with the aim at investigating sedimentary rock formations. The Horonobe URL Project is planned to extend over a period of about 20 years. The investigations will be conducted in three phases, namely "Phase 1: Surface-based investigations", "Phase 2: Construction phase" (investigations during construction of the underground facilities) and "Phase 3: Operation phase" (research in the underground facilities). This report summarizes the investigation program for the 2014 fiscal year (2014/2015). In the 2014 fiscal year, construction of URL, Phase 2 and Phase 3 investigations are continuously carried out.
Watanabe, Masahisa; Tagawa, Akihiro; Umemiya, Noriko; Maruyama, Noboru; Yoshida, Mami; Kawase, Keiichi; Noguchi, Shinichi; Sakazume, Yoshinori; Watanabe, Masanori; Hiraga, Hayato; et al.
JAEA-Review 2014-028, 184 Pages, 2014/10
JAEA received technical proposals from private enterprise about techniques that can be used for decontamination work, and "Decontamination Technology Demonstrations Projects" was commissioned from the Ministry of the Environment to verifies the decontamination effect, economy feasibility, safety, and other factors. By the "FY 2013 Decontamination Technology Demonstrations Projects" JAEA carried out technical advice of demonstration test and evaluation of 11 technologies (e.g., decontamination of soils and green space and wastes and washing of fly ash).
Tamai, Hiroshi; Yamamura, Tsukasa; Teraoka, Nobuaki
JAEA-Review 2014-029, 79 Pages, 2014/08
In recent circumstance of increasing new comer countries having nuclear power plants, the importance of bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement becomes much higher to ensure the non-proliferation regime in promoting the nuclear cooperation. This paper describes the analysis of nuclear non-proliferation prerequisite, such as safeguards application, transfer restriction of nuclear materials, equipment, and sensitive technology, provided in the cooperation agreements. It is found that every agreement contains the prerequisite to maintain the non-proliferation regime to a level, whereas that there exists some difference between suppliers countries in the regulation on implementing enrichment and reprocessing, storage of plutonium and enriched uranium, and transfer of sensitive technologies. In order to promote the reinforcement of international non-proliferation framework, it will be effective to build up the incentive and common understanding on necessity of non-proliferation.
Fast Breeder Reactor Research and Development Center, Tsuruga Head Office
JAEA-Review 2014-030, 138 Pages, 2014/08
The prototype fast breeder reactor Monju has accumulated technical achievements in order to establish the fast breeder reactor cycle technology in Japan using the operation and maintenance experience, etc. This annual report summarizes the primary achievements and the data related to the plant management in Monju during fiscal 2013.
Watanabe, Norio
JAEA-Review 2014-031, 18 Pages, 2014/08
It has been recognized an important means to learn lessons from operating experience and to feed them back to the design, construction, operation and management of facilities. A lot of events involved similar occurrences which have been experienced in the past. These are referred to as precursors. In the present study, identified and discussed are the precursors to the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to obtain the generic lessons which should have been learned. As precursors to the Fukushima accident, six events are identified: massive internal flooding and loss of safety systems; prolonged station blackout involving loss of control room and loss of residual heat removal; external flooding involving loss of safety systems and multi units site issue; loss of offsite power with one of two emergency diesel generators inoperable; tsunami-induced flooding; common-mode loss of instrument power. Furthermore, the most notable near-miss to the Fukushima accident is discussed.
Geoscience Facility Construction Section, Tono Geoscience Center
JAEA-Review 2014-032, 112 Pages, 2014/11
This progress report presents an outline compilation of construction activities, primary tasks performed, construction progress and problems reported, in Fiscal Year 2009. The outline of construction activities is a summary based on the scope of work planned in 2009: the main activities are based on the Tono Geoscience Center weekly reports; and the construction progress is based on the planned and actual schedules. The problems reported are based on defects recording by the safety manager of the Geoscience Facility Construction Section. Regarding the plan and actual performance of the MIU construction work part III (March 16, 2008 - March 15, 2010) performance carried out from April 1, 2009 until March 15, 2010 is described in this report.
Yasue, Kenichi; Asamori, Koichi; Niwa, Masakazu; Kokubu, Yoko; Kobori, Kazuo; Makuuchi, Ayumu; Matsubara, Akihiro; Shibata, Kenji; Tamura, Hajimu; Tanabe, Hiroaki; et al.
JAEA-Review 2014-033, 43 Pages, 2014/09
The concept of geological disposal of HLW in Japan is based on a multi-barrier system which combines a stable geological environment with a robust barrier system. Potential geological host formations and their surroundings are chosen, in particular, for their long-term stability, taking into account the fact that Japan is located in a tectonically active zone. This report is a plan of research and development (R&D) on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of HLW in JAEA, in fiscal year 2014. The objectives and contents in fiscal year 2014 are described in detail based on the outline of 5 years plan (fiscal years 2010-2014). In addition, the planned framework is structured into the following categories: (1) Development and systematization of investigation techniques, (2) Development of models for long-term estimation and effective assessment, (3) Development of dating techniques.
Abe, Shinya; Katada, Inao; Hoshino, Masato; Tokunaga, Hiroaki*; Horikoshi, Hidehiko*
JAEA-Review 2014-034, 81 Pages, 2014/11
The Horonobe Underground Research Center conducts research and development to enhance the reliability of geological disposal technology, indicate the margin of technical safety for legally decided depth of repository, improve understanding of the deep geological environment, and promote greater public understanding for geological disposal technology. "YUME chisoukan" ceased its role as an exhibition facility as of end August 2012 as part of an administrative reform under the then Democratic Party rule, and came to be focused on disclosing the underground drifts to ascertain that JAEA is true to its tripartite agreement signed between the Hokkaido Prefecture, Town of Horonobe and JAEA (i.e., no nuclear materials will be used, etc.). It is also used as the facility to provide information on the research results of the Center. This report presents the statistical results of a questionnaire (2,566 responses) conducted from April to October 2013.
Hama, Katsuhiro; Mikake, Shinichiro; Nishio, Kazuhisa; Sasao, Eiji; Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Ikeda, Koki; Sato, Toshinori; Osawa, Hideaki; Koide, Kaoru
JAEA-Review 2014-035, 34 Pages, 2014/10
The Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) project is being pursued by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to enhance the reliability of relevant disposal technologies through investigations of the deep geological environment within the host crystalline rock at Mizunami City in Gifu, central Japan. The project proceeds in three overlapping phases, "Phase I: Surface-based investigation Phase", "Phase II: Construction Phase" and "Phase III: Operation Phase". The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase III, as the Phase II was concluded for a moment with the completion of the excavation of horizontal tunnels at GL-500m level in February 2014. The present report summarizes the research and development activities planned for fiscal year 2014 based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2010.
Geoscience Facility Construction Section, Tono Geoscience Center
JAEA-Review 2014-036, 149 Pages, 2014/11
This progress report presents an outline compilation of construction activities, primary tasks performed, construction progress and safety patrol report, in Fiscal Year 2010-2011. The outline of construction activities is a summary based on the scope of work planned in 2010-2011: the main activities are based on the Tono Geoscience Center weekly reports; and the construction progress is based on the planned and actual schedules. The safety patrol report is based on defects recording by the safety manager of the Geoscience Facility Construction Section. Regarding the plan and actual performance of the construction work of MIU part IV (March 16, 2010 - March 15, 2012) performance carried out from April 1, 2010 until March 15, 2012 is described in this report.
Iwatsuki, Jin; Kasahara, Seiji; Kubo, Shinji; Inagaki, Yoshiyuki; Kunitomi, Kazuhiko; Ogawa, Masuro
JAEA-Review 2014-037, 14 Pages, 2014/09
Thermochemical iodine-sulfur (IS) process is one of the promising technologies, which harnesses heat energy of high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs). An economic estimation of hydrogen production by a future commercial HTGR-IS process hydrogen production system was performed on the basis of economic evaluation data of an existing commercial hydrogen production plant using fossil fuel as a raw material. Hydrogen production cost was estimated at 25.4 JPY/Nm under this estimation conditions. Capital cost and energy cost account for 13% and 78% of the total hydrogen production cost, respectively. To decrease HTGR construction cost, to increase HTGR availability, to improve hydrogen production thermal efficiency are important for cost reduction of hydrogen. The cost will be competitive with estimated costs by fossil fuel hydrogen production methods. It is appropriate that the hydrogen production cost is set for a goal of present R&Ds.
Hama, Katsuhiro; Mikake, Shinichiro; Nishio, Kazuhisa; Kawamoto, Koji; Yamada, Nobuto; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Murakami, Hiroaki; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Sasao, Eiji; Sanada, Hiroyuki; et al.
JAEA-Review 2014-038, 137 Pages, 2014/12
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) is pursuing a geoscientific research and development project namely the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in crystalline rock environment in order to construct scientific and technological basis for geological disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste (HLW). The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase II and the Phase III in fiscal year 2013. This report presents the results of the investigations, construction and collaboration studies in fiscal year 2013, as a part of the Phase II and Phase III based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2010.
Hanamuro, Takahiro
JAEA-Review 2014-039, 69 Pages, 2014/10
The Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project is planned to extend over a period 20 years. The investigations will be conducted in three phases, namely "Phase 1: Surface-based investigations", "Phase 2: Construction Phase" (investigations during construction of the underground facilities) and "Phase 3: Operation phase" (research in the underground facilities). This report summarizes the results of the investigations for the 2013 fiscal year (2013/2014). The investigations, which are composed of "Geoscientific research" and "R&D on geological disposal technology", were carried out according to "Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project Investigation Program for the 2013 fiscal year". The results of these investigations, along with the results which were obtained in other departments of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), are properly offered to the implementations and the safety regulations. For the sake of this, JAEA has proceeded with the project in collaboration with experts from domestic and overseas research organisations.
Watanabe, Hitoshi; Nakano, Masanao; Fujita, Hiroki; Kono, Takahiko; Inoue, Kazumi; Yoshii, Hideki*; Otani, Kazunori*; Hiyama, Yoshinori*; Goto, Ichiro*; Kibe, Satoshi*; et al.
JAEA-Review 2014-040, 115 Pages, 2015/01
Based on the regulations (the safety regulation of Tokai reprocessing plant, the safety regulation of nuclear fuel material usage facilities, the radiation safety rule, the regulation about prevention from radiation hazards due to radioisotopes, which are related with the nuclear regulatory acts, the local agreement concerning with safety and environment conservation around nuclear facilities, the water pollution control law, and bylaw of Ibaraki prefecture), the effluent control of liquid waste discharged from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories of Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been performed. This report describes the effluent control results of the liquid waste in the fiscal year 2013. In this period, the concentrations and the quantities of the radioactivity in liquid waste discharged from the reprocessing plant, the plutonium fuel fabrication facilities, and the other nuclear fuel material usage facilities were much lower than the limits authorized by the above regulations.
Department of HTTR
JAEA-Review 2014-041, 140 Pages, 2014/12
The High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) constructed at the Oarai Research and Development Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is the first high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) in Japan which is a graphite-moderated and helium gas-cooled reactor with 30MW of thermal power. In fiscal year 2013, we started to prepare the reactor installation application for the HTTR to prove conformity with the new research reactor's safety regulatory requirements taken effect from December 2013. We had been making effort to run the HTTR which was stopped since the 2011 in which the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake (2011.3.11) occurred. This report summarizes activities and results of HTTR operation, maintenance, and several R&Ds, which were carried out in the fiscal year 2013.
Watanabe, Hitoshi; Nakano, Masanao; Fujita, Hiroki; Takeyasu, Masanori; Mizutani, Tomoko; Isozaki, Tokuju; Morisawa, Masato; Nagaoka, Mika; Hokama, Tomonori; Yokoyama, Hiroya; et al.
JAEA-Review 2014-042, 175 Pages, 2015/01
Environmental radiation monitoring around the Tokai Reprocessing Plant has been performed by the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories, based on "Safety Regulations for the Reprocessing Plant of Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Chapter IV - Environmental Monitoring". This annual report presents the results of the environmental monitoring and the dose estimation to the hypothetical inhabitant due to the radioactivity discharged from the plant to the atmosphere and the sea during April 2013 to March 2014. In this report, some data include the influence of the accidental release from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant of Tokyo Electric Power Co. in March 2011.
Information Technology Systems' Management and Operating Office
JAEA-Review 2014-043, 241 Pages, 2015/02
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) conducts research and development (R&D) in various fields related to nuclear power as a comprehensive institution of nuclear energy R&Ds, and utilizes computational science and technology in many activities. About 20% of papers published by JAEA are concerned with R&D using computational science, the supercomputer system of JAEA has become an important infrastructure to support computational science and technology utilization. In FY2013, the system was used not only for JAEA's major projects such as Fast Reactor Cycle System, Fusion R&D and Quantum Beam Science, but also for R&D aiming to restore Fukushima (nuclear plant decommissioning and environmental restoration) as apriority issue. This report presents a great amount of R&D results accomplished by using the system in FY2013, as well as user support, operational records and overviews of the system, and so on.
Watanabe, Yoko; Shimada, Mayuka*; Yamashita, Kiyonobu
JAEA-Review 2014-044, 65 Pages, 2015/01
JAEA has been organizing training programs for engineers in Asian countries introducing nuclear technology. In 2012, we launched a course "Basic Radiation Knowledge for School Education" as we thought disseminating accurate knowledge on radiation to school students and public would also be important in those countries after Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. MEXT published supplemental learning material on radiation for secondary school students and teachers in Japanese in October 2011. Since the original Japanese version is designed to give a clear explanation of radiation and covers various topics, we thought it would also be beneficial for young students in the world if the English version was available. The English version of this learning material has been favourably evaluated by the International Atomic Energy Agency and will be widely used as a practical educational tool in many countries around the world through the IAEA.
Kutsuna, Hideki; Koda, Yuya; Imagawa, Yasuhiro
JAEA-Review 2014-045, 38 Pages, 2015/01
Fugen Decommissioning Engineering Center, in planning and carrying out our decommissioning technical development, has been establishing "Technical special committee on Fugen decommissioning" which consists of the members well-informed, aiming to make good use of Fugen as a place for technological development which is opened inside and outside the country, as the central point in the energy research and development base making project of Fukui prefecture, and to utilize the outcome in our decommissioning to the technical development effectively. This report compiles presentation materials "The Current Situation of Fugen Decommissioning", "Evaluation for Dismantlement Work Experience on Turbine System and its Future Plan" and "Completion of Taking-Out Heavy Water from Fugen", presented in the 30th Technical special committee on Fugen decommissioning which was held on September 19, 2014.
Advisory Subcommittee on Development of JENDL, JENDL Committee
JAEA-Review 2014-046, 38 Pages, 2015/01
Advisory Subcommittee on Development of JENDL was established under JENDL Committee on fiscal year 2013 to discuss the subject concerning on development of next JENDL. Members of the subcommittee were selected from developers and users of JENDL and researchers on nuclear data measurements. They discussed guidelines on next JENDL with exchanging ideas on problems of JENDL and its solution from each view point. This report describes the results of the discussions on the problems and guideline with the present status on the JENDL development.
Department of Research Reactor and Tandem Accelerator
JAEA-Review 2014-047, 153 Pages, 2015/02
The Department of Research Reactor and Tandem Accelerator is in charge of the operation, utilization and technical development of JRR-3, JRR-4, NSRR, Tandem Accelerator and RI Production Facility. This annual report describes a summary of activities of services and technical developments carried out in the period between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014.
Sato, Takeshi; Muto, Shigeo; Akiyama, Kiyomitsu; Aoki, Kazufumi; Okamoto, Akiko; Kawakami, Takeshi; Kume, Nobuhide; Nakanishi, Chika; Koie, Masahiro; Kawamata, Hiroyuki; et al.
JAEA-Review 2014-048, 69 Pages, 2015/02
JAEA was assigned as a designated public institution under the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act and under the Armed Attack Situations Response Act. Based on these Acts, the JAEA has the responsibility of providing technical support to the national government and/or local governments in case of disaster responses or response in the event of a military attack, etc. In order to fulfill the tasks, the JAEA has established the Emergency Action Plan and the Civil Protection Action Plan. In case of a nuclear emergency, NEAT dispatches specialists of JAEA, supplies the national government and local governments with emergency equipment and materials, and gives technical advice and information. In normal time, NEAT provides various exercises and training courses concerning nuclear disaster prevention to those personnel taking an active part in emergency response institutions of the national and local governments, police, fire fighters, self-defense forces, etc. in addition to the JAEA itself. The NEAT also researches nuclear disaster preparedness and response, and cooperates with international organizations. In the FY2013, the NEAT accomplished the following tasks: (1) Technical support activities as a designated public institution in cooperation with the national and local governments, etc. (2) Human resource development, exercise and training of nuclear emergency response personnel for the national and local governments, etc. (3) Researches on nuclear disaster preparedness and response, and sending useful information (4) International contributions to Asian countries on nuclear disaster preparedness and response in collaboration with the international organizations
Sato, Toshinori; Sanada, Hiroyuki; Tanno, Takeo*
JAEA-Review 2014-049, 34 Pages, 2015/02
This report presents the results of following rock mechanical investigations conducted in FY 2013. In-situ stress measurements using Compact Conical-ended Borehole Overcoring Technique were performed at the - 500m stage. Measurement system for rock mass displacement using optical fiber was installed at the - 500m stage as one of the reflooding test. Study on the modeling based on equivalent continuum model was continued. Phenomenological study and theoretical study on long-term behavior of crystalline rock were continued. Additionally, joint research, "Study on estimation of in-situ rock stress based on the results of various measurements" with Tokai University was also performed.
Kojima, Takuji
JAEA-Review 2014-050, 218 Pages, 2015/03
JAEA Takasaki annual report 2013 describes research and development activities performed from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 mainly with Takasaki Ion Accelerators for Advanced Radiation Application (TIARA, four ion accelerators), and electron/-ray irradiation facilities (an electron accelerator and three Co -ray irradiation facilities) at Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA Takasaki). These activities are classified into four research fields: (1) Space, Nuclear and Energy Engineering, (2) Environmental Conservation and Resource Exploitation, (3) Medical and Biotechnological Application, and (4) Advanced Materials, Analysis and Novel Technology. This annual report contains 169 reports consisting of 160 research papers and 9 status reports on operation/maintenance of the irradiation facilities described above.
Fukushima Environmental Safety Center, Sector of Fukushima Research and Development
JAEA-Review 2014-051, 121 Pages, 2015/03
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) was charged with conducting a range of "Decontamination Pilot Project" to examine the applicability of decontamination technologies. The project was implemented at 16 sites in 11 municipalities within the evacuated zone. Despite tight boundary conditions in terms of timescale and resources, the project provides a good basis for developing recommendations on how to assure decontamination efficiency and worker safety whilst additionally constraining costs, subsequent waste management and environmental impacts. This report, based on the Japanese detailed reports that have been published elsewhere, consists of two volumes. This volume 1 summarises the Decontamination Pilot Project, providing the background required to put this work in context for an international audience. In volume 2, the subsequent application of output from these projects to regional remediation now being conducted by the Japanese government and municipalities, is discussed, along with a status update on such work, an overview of associated JAEA's R&D and international input to/review of regional environmental decontamination in Fukushima.
Fukushima Environmental Safety Center, Sector of Fukushima Research and Development
JAEA-Review 2014-052, 49 Pages, 2015/03
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) was charged with conducting a range of "Decontamination Pilot Project" to examine the applicability of decontamination technologies. The project was implemented at 16 sites in 11 municipalities within the evacuated zone. Despite tight boundary conditions in terms of timescale and resources, the project provides a good basis for developing recommendations on how to assure decontamination efficiency and worker safety whilst additionally constraining costs, subsequent waste management and environmental impacts. This report, based on the Japanese detailed reports that have been published elsewhere, consists of two volumes. The volume 1 summarises the Decontamination Pilot Project, providing the background required to put this work in context for an international audience. In this volume 2, the subsequent application of output from these projects to regional remediation now being conducted by the Japanese government and municipalities, is discussed, along with a status update on such work, an overview of associated JAEA's R&D and international input to/review of regional environmental decontamination in Fukushima.
Aoki, Yoshikazu
JAEA-Review 2014-053, 371 Pages, 2015/06
The activities of Safety Administration Department covers many fields in Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories such as the management of the occupational safety and health, the crisis management, the security, and the management of a quality assurance. This report is the summary of the activities of Safety Administration Department since April, 2011 until March, 2012.
Needs Research Task Force for Next Research Reactor
JAEA-Review 2014-054, 43 Pages, 2015/03
JRR-3 has been operated for more than 25 years for that it is time to investigate the role of a next research reactor. A task force under the Committee for Promotion of JRR-3 Neutron Beam Application has been organized by Department of Research Reactor and Tandem Accelerator to survey neutron beam application trends in the future. This is a report on the survey results and users' requirements for the next research reactor have been summarized in this report carried by the task force.
Engineering Services Department
JAEA-Review 2014-055, 115 Pages, 2015/03
The Engineering Services Department is in charge of operation and maintenance of utility facilities (water distribution systems, electricity supply systems, steam generation systems and drain water systems etc.) in whole of the institute. And also is in charge of operation and maintenance of specific systems (a receive transmitted electricity system, an emergency electric power supply system, an air/liquid waste treatment system, a compressed air supply system) in nuclear reactor facilities, nuclear fuel treatment facilities and usual facilities or buildings. In addition, the department is in charge of maintenance of buildings, design and repair of electrical/mechanical equipments. This annual report describes summary of activities, operation and maintenance data and technical developments of the department carried out in JFY 2013. We hope that this report may help to future work.
Nishio, Kazuhisa; Iyatomi, Yosuke
JAEA-Review 2014-056, 79 Pages, 2015/03
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) has been conducting a geoscientific studies in order to establish a scientific and technological basis for the geological disposal of HLW. Information and Opinion Exchange Conference on Geoscientific Study has been held by TGC annually. Technical information of the result on the geoscientific studies conducted at TGC will be provided at the conference for exchanging opinions with researchers and engineers from Japanese universities, research organizations and private companies. This document compiles research presentations, posters of the conference in Mizunami on November 11, 2014.
Department of Fukushima Technology Development
JAEA-Review 2014-057, 45 Pages, 2015/03
The governmental program is progressed to build the new hot laboratory (which is called active laboratory) at the nearest area of Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station for the development of abolishment techniques of the reactors. Several kinds of sample, which are including the fuel debris, will be examined in the laboratory. The working group for Post Irradiation Examination in our department has the recommendation for the new laboratory and new apparatus for future generation based on the survey of recent needs internationally. This report describes the some recommendations and the results of our review.
Goto, Minoru
JAEA-Review 2014-058, 103 Pages, 2015/03
The following issues were investigated using experimental data of HTTR, which is a Japan's HTGR with 30 MW thermal power. (1)Applicability of nuclear data libraries to nuclear analysis for HTGR, (2) Applicability of the improved nuclear analysis method for HTGR, (3) Effectiveness of a rod-type burnable poison on HTGR reactivity control. Using these investigation results, a nuclear design of a small-sized HTGR with 50 MW thermal power (HTR50S) was performed. In the nuclear design of HTR50S, we challenged to decrease the number of the fuel enrichments and to increase the power density compared with HTTR. As a result, the nuclear design was completed successfully by reducing the number of the fuel enrichment to only three from twelve of HTTR and increasing the power density by 1.4 times of HTTR.
Department of Radiation Protection, Nuclear Science Research Institute; Safety Section, Department of Administrative Services, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institut; Safety Section, Department of Administrative Services, Kansai Photon Science Institute; Operation Safety Administration Section, Mutsu Office, Aomori Research and Development Center; Safety Section, Department of Administrative Services, Naka Fusion Institute
JAEA-Review 2014-059, 194 Pages, 2015/03
This annual report describes the activities in the 2013 fiscal year of Department of Radiation Protection in Nuclear Science Research Institute, Safety Section in Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, Safety Section in Kansai Photon Science Institute, Operation Safety Administration Section in Aomori Research and Development Center and Safety Section in Naka Fusion Institute.
Safety and Environmental Management Section, Safety and Nuclear Security Administration Department
JAEA-Review 2014-060, 220 Pages, 2015/03
In September, 2014 Japan Atomic Energy Agency published the Environmental Report 2014 concerning the activities of FY 2013 under "Law Concerning the Promotion of Business Activities with Environmental Consideration by Specified Corporations, etc, by Facilitating Access to Environmental Information, and Other Measures". This report has been edited to show detailed environmental performance data in FY 2013 as the base of the Environmental Report 2014. This report would not only ensure traceability of the data in order to enhance the reliability of the environmental report, but also make useful measures for promoting activities of environmental considerations in JAEA.