1313 Development of Experimental Techniques/Facilities at JAEA R&D Centers
Tsuruga Head Office
We are engaged in checking the unchecked equipment
and improving the safety culture and so on to remedy theoverdue status of the components inspection schedule for“MONJU” and to return to a normal state as soon as possible
from the present status of deviation from the Nuclear Reactor
Regulation Law.
We are also working steadily toward the decommissioningof “FUGEN” and related technical development as well as
selection tests to determine suitable cutting methods for thedismantling required for the decommissioning of the Tokyo
Electric Power Company, Incorporated Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Station (1F) as a result of the accident.
In addition, technical cooperation, such as promotion ofresearch and development (R&D), including that on laser
technology, by industry–government–academia collaboration
is being advanced substantially. In particular, the industrial
application of lasers to fast reactor heat exchanger tube repair
technology is in progress (Topic 13-1).
The FBR Safety Technology Center was established in April
2013. The center conducts R&D toward commercial deploymentof the fast breeder reactor, mainly in the area of safety studies,such as severe accident analysis and evaluation for “MONJU”.
Tokai Research and Development Center, Nuclear
Science Research Institute (NSRI)
The NSRI facilities, such as research reactors (JRR-3, JRR-4,and NSRR), accelerators (e.g., Tandem), critical assemblies(e.g., STACY, FCA), and hot laboratories (e.g., WASTEF,BECKY) were also damaged during the Great East Japan
Earthquake. Because the damaged lifelines were recovered
quickly, hot laboratories were able to begin supporting thenuclear fuel R&D activities, and accelerators started operationfor common use by researchers from JAEA, universities, andother organizations. In addition, the Fukushima Project Team,
which was launched on October 1, performed R&D activity
using these facilities (Chapter 1, Topics 1-12, 1-14, 1-15).
In the recovery of NSRI security, a new building with anearthquake-resistant structure was completed and establishedas the urgent activity base in the event of atomic accidents.
Regarding the use of NSRI technology, NSRI cooperated
with companies in the development of their technologies. For
example, a dosimeter system that can simultaneously measurevarious weather conditions was produced by a manufacturer
using radiation detection and electronics technologies
developed at NSRI.
Tokai Research and Development Center, Nuclear
Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories
At the Plutonium Fuel Development Center, basic data on
mixed oxide (MOX) fuels was acquired, and treatment testsof MOX fuel powder were conducted as part of a technicalcollaboration with Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited.
At the Tokai Reprocessing Technology Development
Center, cold tests on the vitrification of high-level radioactive
liquid waste and cementation of low-level radioactive liquid
waste were conducted.
The Waste Management Department developed decommissioning
technologies for old nuclear facilities, planned and built the Tokai
Waste Treatment Facility for treating uranium and trans-uranicwastes, conducted fundamental and applied studies to increase
the reliability of waste disposal technologies, and developed
safety assessment methods.
At the Radiation Protection Department, the concentrationsof radioactive materials and the ambient dose rate weremeasured on and off site, and analytical methods forenvironmental samples were developed (Topic 13-2).
The Department of Fukushima Technology Development
has supported the activity of the Fukushima Project Team andhas conducted R&D for decommissioning of the damaged
Fukushima reactors (Chapter 1, Topics 1-13, 1-20).
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Ceremony launching the FBR Safety Technology Center(April 2, 2013)

Japan Research Reactor-3 (JRR-3)

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Safety Engineering
Research Facility (NUCEF)

Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR)

Reactor Fuel Examination Facility

Main research facilities at Nuclear Science Research InstituteSampling of seabed soil with a monitoring boat

Development of Experimental Techniques/Facilities at JAEA R&D Centers

Oarai Research and Development Center
Restoration work was performed and safety measures weretaken for the facilities and equipment damaged by the Great
East Japan Earthquake.
In the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR), theconfirmation of the integrity of the facilities after the Great East
Japan Earthquake was completed, and the results were reported
to the regulatory agency with the goal of re-operation. A lightwater reactor water environment demonstration test facility wasfabricated and installed with funding from the Leading-edge
Research Promotion Fund, which was provided by the Ministryof Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
in Japan. A real-time system for monitoring radiation workers’
locations, health conditions, and exposed doses using portableradio devices was developed and put into operation. To enable
domestic 99Mo production, a technique for fabricating a highdensity pellet was developed (Topic 13-6).
In the Experimental Fast Reactor “JOYO,” equipment for
use in repair work was designed and fabricated. A mockup test using those pieces of equipment was started. The
compatibility of a zirconium alloy with high-temperature
sodium was examined (Topic 13-7).
In the High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR),
an inspection of the facilities and a comprehensive evaluationof the integrity of the equipment were conducted with the goalof resuming operation. A damage detection method for theneutron detector was established (Topic 13-8).
Naka Fusion Institute
The Naka Fusion Institute conducts R&D toward thepractical use of fusion energy.
Currently, it is involved mainly in the procurement anddevelopment of the JA-shared apparatuses as a domestic
agency of the ITER project and in the upgrade of the large
tokamak device JT-60 to the satellite tokamak device JT-60SA,
which will be used for research supporting and complementing
ITER as Broader Approach activities in cooperation with theEuropean Union.
In 2012, the production of the superconducting conductor for
ITER was advanced, and the production of the superconducting
coil was begun. Moreover, the disassembly of the main bodyof JT-60 was completed; the cryostat base, which was procured
from Europe, was accepted, and the assembly of JT-60SA began.
The production of JT-60SA components was proceeded, andthe smallest superconducting poloidal magnetic field coil (EF4)
was completed. In addition, three 40° sectors of the vacuum
vessel for the actual machine were welded, and a total of six
were completed.

6.5×1013 n/pulse
300

Beam power (kW)J-PARC CenterIn fiscal year 2012 (FY2012), J-PARC provided neutron
beams to users for 8 run cycles (176 d). We successfully
achieved steady and reliable operation at the target beam
power of 200 kW, which was one of our goals for FY2012, bySeptember, and also increased the power to 300 kW in Octoberat the Materials and Life Science Facility (MLF). As a result of
this power increase at the MLF the world’s strongest neutron
intensity of 6.5×1013 neutrons per pulse, was generated. Thisintense neutrons enabled many experimental outcomes, suchas the development of high-performance structural materials(Topic 13-3) and the development of high-performance
elliptical super-mirror (Topic 13-4). In addition, the MLF muonsource produced 250×106 muons per pulse, which exceeds
3×104 muons at a similar facility in the UK and became world’srecord. A total of 526 proposals were submitted to the MLF
user programs which was much more than in any year before
the Great East Japan Earthquake. Other major progresses on
the dominantly JAEA projects at J-PARC is as follows: (1) thenew neutron instrument, the Energy Resolved Neutron
Imaging System, which aims to measure elements, magnetic
fields and crystalline structure in matter, is under construction
at the MLF; and (2) Acceleration cavities with an annular-ring
coupled structure were fabricated (Topic 13-5).

Target power for 2012200

10002009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Time (Year)
Operational history of J-PARC

Radio portable devices

Worker’ s position

Location detector tag

Wireless dosimeter

Worker’ s health condition and exposed dose

Development of real-time personal exposure and healthcondition monitoring system in the JMTR
The system can monitor workers’ locations, health conditions,and exposed radiation doses in real time using wirelessportable devices.

Celebration of the delivery of the first component from the EUand the beginning JT-60SA tokamak assembly (March 25, 2013)

JAEA R&D Review 2013107

Development of Experimental Techniques/Facilities at JAEA R&D Centers

Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research InstituteTakasaki Ion Accelerators for Advanced Radiation
Application (TIARA) consisting of four ion accelerators,
an electron accelerator, and gamma irradiation facilities aremade available to researchers in JAEA and other organizations
for R&D activities on new functional and environmentallyfriendly materials, biotechnology, the radiation effects ofmaterials, and quantum beam analysis. Practical technology
development activities that are currently in progress involve
microbeams, single ion hits, techniques for uniform wide-area
irradiation at the cyclotron, three-dimensional in-air PIXE
analysis, and a three-dimensional microfabrication technique(Topic 13-9) at the electrostatic accelerators. In 2012, a beam
shape control technique was developed that transforms acomplicated transverse intensity distribution into a Gaussianlike one through multiple scattering using a thin metallic foil.
A 70 mm × 40 mm beam with ±10% uniformity was obtainedby focusing the transformed beam with multipole magnets.

Kansai Photon Science InstituteIn the Kizu District, we are in the process of improving
the laser facilities, e.g., improving the quality of the highintensity lasers. Regarding high-intensity short-pulse lasers,
we worked on improving the position stability of the beamand, by exchanging the mirror mount and reducing thewobbling in the position, improved the reproducibility ofexperimental results. In addition, in the Consortium for PhotonScience and Technology, we are in the process of developing
ultrawideband light sources ranging from terahertz to X-rays
to quantum beams.
In the Harima District, we have been developing andimproving a state-of-the-art analysis technique for thefunctional expression mechanism and reaction mechanismof materials using the JAEA synchrotron radiation beamlines
at SPring-8. They are also applied to studies related tonanotechnology, energy, and the environment, for instance, adecontamination technique for revitalization in Fukushima.
Further, under the Nanotechnology Platform Project entrusted
to us by MEXT, external researchers are being supported.

Horonobe Underground Research CenterWe are currently constructing the Horonobe UndergroundResearch Laboratory for conducting geoscientific researchand R&D on geological disposal technologies targeted atsedimentary rocks.
In FY2012, the west shaft was excavated to depths ranging
from 50 m to 350 m (the east and ventilation shafts alreadyreached 350 m in depth in the last fiscal year). In addition, the350 m research gallery passed through the ventilation shaft
to join the east shaft. About 400 m of the 700-m-long gallery
have been completed.
In geoscientific research, we have continuously developed
techniques for investigating the geological environment andfor deep underground engineering, and studied the long-term
stability of the geological environment. On the other hand, in
our R&D on geological disposal, we investigated the impactof low-alkaline cement materials, including high fly-ash andsilica fume content cement, to the surrounding groundwaterand rock mass. In addition, the use of materials in spraying
techniques was tested in situ during the construction of the350 m research gallery.
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A container of 22 radiochromic dosimetry films for measuring
the size and uniformity of a beam, installed in the chamber
for formation and irradiation of a large-area uniform beam

JAEA Kansai Advanced Relativistic ENgineering (J-KAREN)
laser system

Penetration of 350 m research gallery between the ventilationand east shaftsDevelopment of Experimental Techniques/Facilities at JAEA R&D Centers

Tono Geoscience Center (TGC)
The TGC’s task is to provide the scientific and technicalfoundations for developing a safe technique for the geologicaldisposal of high-level radioactive waste. This involves research
into the long-term stability of the geological environment,
the development and improvement of techniques for thecharacterization of the deep geological environment, and awide range of engineering techniques for deep undergroundapplications at an underground research laboratory in crystalline
rock, referred to as the Mizunami Underground ResearchLaboratory. Approximately 150 m of horizontal excavations(Sub Stage, Access/Research Galleries-North and South) werecompleted for the GL −500 m stage (meters below groundlevel). While planning the construction, it was necessary
to obtain reliable preliminary information on the bedrock
conditions in terms of the rock mass stability and hydrogeology.
Therefore, site characterization borehole investigations wereconducted before excavation began (Topic 13-10). Researchand development activities, such as geological mapping during
excavation and borehole investigations, were also conducted.
Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center
The Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center has
advanced the environmental remediation of the Ningyotoge and Togo Uranium Mines after decades of mine-related
activities, including uranium exploration and mining, wereterminated. The main purposes of the remediation are to takemeasures to ensure the safety and protection from radiation
via exposure pathways to humans in the future, and to preventthe occurrence of mining pollution.
As part of the remediation, the upstream part of the Yotsugi
Mill Tailings Pond, the highestprioritized facility among allof the mine-related facilities, was remediated to FY2012. In
the remediation, a multi-layered capping was constructedon the ground surface after the specifications and the entire
remediation procedure were determined. Monitoring data
will be accumulated to confirm the effectiveness of theremediation, and the results will be used for remediation of
the downstream part of the Pond.
The Center also performed the required maintenance ofrelated facilities and promoted technology development.
In addition, a sense of security among local residents andactive use of local features (Topic 13-11, “Investigation ofProperties of Radon Hot Springs”) have been sought as anotherindispensable aspect of the Center’s activities.
Aomori Research and Development CenterIn the Rokkasho District, R&D toward developing thefusion DEMO reactor is in progress, for example, a fusion
simulation using a supercomputer that has the second-best
performance in Japan, and the development of the fusion
reactor structural material using various material analysis
and testing devices. In addition, the injector for the prototype
accelerator of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation
Facility (IFMIF) was delivered, and commissioning is planned
to begin this autumn.
In the Mutsu District, a research survey of reasonable andeconomical large assembly dismantling methodologies for theoperation of a waste disposal plant for research facilities, anddecommissioning of the nuclear-powered ship Mutsu (e.g.,surveying the contaminant content and developing technology
to analyze ultra-trace elements using accelerator massspectrometry) are conducted continuously.

Breaking through at part of the GL −500 m Sub Stage(July 30, 2012)

Before remediation

After remediation

Upstream part of the Yotsugi Mill Tailings Pond

Delivery of the injector for the prototype accelerator to theIFMIF/EVEDA (Engineering Validation and Engineering DesignActivities) accelerator building
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