The Japanese Thorium Programme

Toshinobu Sasa
J-PARC Center, Transmutation Section Japan Atomic Energy Agency

Contents

Present Status in Japan Thorium Cycle Studies in Japan Liquid-fuelled ADS Concepts National Review of P-T technology Summary

Present Status in Japan

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Present Status in Japan

Nuclear Energy Policy before Fukushima

Nuclear Renaissance

Nuclear power is a key to satisfy Kyoto Protocol 50% of electricity will supply by NPP at 2030

Atomic Energy Commission started to revise Framework of the Nuclear Energy at 2010

Present Status in Japan:

Revision of Framework of Nuclear Energy

Advisory committee on Research and Development summarized a report at 2009. R&D to prepare the future uncertainty

The performance target of technology may be changed. It is necessary to ensure the knowledge. R&Ds for direct disposal of spent fuel, interim storage, application of Thorium, nuclear proliferation resistance, uranium extraction from sea water, etc. should be performed continuously in appropriate level.
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Present Status in Japan

Policy After Fukushima Accident

After Fukushima, reduction of nuclear power generation was discussed Last year, Liberal Democratic Party won a election of the House of Representatives

LDP still aims at decreasing nuclear power Utilize current NPP with U-Pu cycle for stable electricity supply New energy policy is under discussion
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Present Status in Japan

Nuclear Waste Management

After the Fukushima accident, peoples interest in the management of nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel has been grew up and method to decide waste disposal site becomes major issue of nuclear power Atomic Energy Commission asked a review of high level wastes management to Science Council of Japan because the site selection process is not worked effectively
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Present Status in Japan:

Recommendations from Science Council

Recommendations of the Science Council of Japan as an answer to the Atomic Energy Commissions independent review request (Reported at 11.9.2012)

Requires a fundamental review of waste disposal policy Manage the total amount and temporal safe storage of waste

Ensure Reversibility and Retrievability (Several hundred years) During the SF storage, following study should be enhanced

Waste Transmutation Safety of Fuel Storage Stability of Geological Layer

Construct a consensus building mechanism Take tenacious efforts to establish waste disposal site
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Thorium Cycle Studies in Japan

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Thorium Cycle Studies in Japan:

Working Group for Th Fuel Application in LWR/FBR

Meeting was held 5 times from July to December, 2010 Major subjects

Characteristics and introduction scinario of Thloaded reactor Th fuel cycle and properties of Th fuel and materials Public acceptance and licensing of Th fuel Current state of the art of Th fuel cycle
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Thorium Cycle Studies in Japan:

Summary of the WG

Followings are agreed by WG member

Th fuel has enough potential to use Still exists many issues and problems to be solved Detailed review of past studies should be done Important to keep survey study of Th application and point out the issues and problems should be continued

WG has been suspended by Fukushima

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Thorium Cycle Studies in Japan:

Set up Research Committee

Research Committee on Nuclear Applications of Molten Salt was set up in Atomic Energy Society of Japan Mission of the Committee

Survey molten-salt technology for

Molten-salt cooled reactor Molten-salt fuelled reactor Dry reprocessing processes

Summarize a current state of the art and issues

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Liquid-fuelled ADS Concepts

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Liquid-fuelled ADS Concepts

Accelerator Molten-Salt Breeder

1GeV-300mA Accelerator Fluoride Salt Target/Core Reactor Vessel made by Hastelloy-N Windowless Target Purpose and Performance Weapon-grade Pu Burner

250300kg/yr

233

U Breeding
700kg/yr of 233U

U concentration: 0.50.7mol%
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Liquid-fuelled ADS Concepts

Molten-salt ADS Transmutor Concept

Fuel 64NaCl-5PuCl3-31MACl3 or 60PbCl2-60(Pu+MA)Cl3

MA Loading
2nd Coolant Proton Beam k-effective Thermal Power Fuel Temp.

5,000 kg
92NaBF4-8NaF 1.5GeV-25mA 0.92 800MW 550C/650C

Fuel Flow Speed 3.6 m/s

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Liquid-fuelled ADS Concepts

Molten-salt Th-fuelled ADS Concept

Fuel 60NaCl-34ThCl4-6233UCl4 5,000 kg 92NaBF4-8NaF k-effective Initial 233U Load 0.964 ~12t MA Loading 2nd Coolant Fuel Melt. Temp. 370C

Proton Beam
Thermal Power

1.5GeV-36mA
1500MW

Fuel Temp (Av.)

640C

Ishimoto S., et al., Nuclear Technology Vol.138 No.3 (2002)

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Liquid-fuelled ADS Concepts

Actinide Reformer Concept

Molten-salt fuel to avoid fuel incompatibility and heat release of Am/Cm Modular target and core unit to connect low-power small cyclotron Possible to return converted Pu to power reactor cycle

Lower influence of heat/neutron release than homogeneous MA recycling Complicated reprocessing process to isolate Pu than dedicated MA transmutation with dry reprocessing
Liquid Fuel Liquid Fuel Water Water

Target Radius/Height [cm] Target Material/Coolant Fuel Zone Radius/Height [cm] Fuel Density [g/cm3] MA Fraction (Am:Cm) Fuel FractionMACl3:NaCl Proton Energy [MeV] Proton Beam Power [MW] Reactor Power [MWth] Initial k-effective

12.0/30.0 W / Water 18-38/~120 3.80 88:12 30:70 600 5 320 ~0.98

National Review of P-T Technology

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National Review of P-T Technology

National Review Committee

On July 9th, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan (MEXT) launched a review committee to evaluate current state-of-the-art of P-T Committee discussed following items

Current P-T research activities Construction of TEF in J-PARC Collaboration with MYRRHA project

Report planned to be issued in October, 2013

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National Review of P-T Technology

Member of review committee

A. Yamaguchi (Chair) S. Sawada S. Tanaka K. Nakajima A. Hasegawa R. Fujita Y. Yano Y. Wake

Osaka Univ. (Safety) Hitachi Ltd. (Fuel Cycle) Tokyo Univ. (Fuel Cycle) Kyoto Univ. (Neutronics) Tohoku Univ. (Material) Toshiba Ltd. (Fuel Cycle) RIKEN (Accelerator) Keio Univ. (Economics)

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National Review of P-T Technology

Two methods of MA transmutation

Application of Fast Reactor

Discussion started by former cabinet MEXT launched a working group for MONJU application and usage for R&D of P-T
Current cabinet describes the acceleration of P-T research in their Manifesto MEXT also launched a working group to review current state of the art of P-T with ADS

Innovative system with ADS

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National Review of P-T Technology:

Interim Report (Tentative)

To realize P-T, preparation of facility should be required to handle certain amount of minor actinides. The plan to establish facilities should be continued. As for the Transmutation Experimental Facility in J-PARC project, step up to next stage is expected. Progress should be reviewed within 3 years. As for the participation to MYRRHA project, comprehensive cooperation is recommended not only by JAEA but also by universities and commercial sector. It is proper to begin negotiations with Belgium. Progress of the negotiation should be reported. The committee continues a review works of P-T technology
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Summary
Present Status in Japan

Japan still stay in U-Pu fuel cycle with LWR power plant

Government promotes to restart current NPP Discussion of New Energy Policy in underway

After Fukushima, interest in spent fuel management has been increased Thorium Cycle Studies in Japan Research Committee and Working Group will be started in AESJ

Working Group for Th Fuel Application in LWR/FBR

Suspended due to Fukushima, but it will be resumed soon Discuss mainly a solid fuel issues Discuss molten-salt system including dry reprocessing processes

Research Committee on Nuclear Applications of Molten Salt

Atomic Energy Commission suggested to summarize a reference of the discussion as a specialists point of view

Liquid-fuelled ADS Concepts Several concepts are proposed from JAEA and Universities

ADS for Th breeding ADS for Minor Actinide Transmutor

Transmutation Experimental Facility for ADS Experiments are under review works for construction
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Backup Slides

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Waste Transmutation by ADS

Partitioning & Transmutation

P-T Technology Separate radionuclides according to their yield and half-life, and Transmute long-lived nuclide by nuclear reaction to reduce their lifetime and/or radiological hazard Goals Reduction of long-term risk Reduce radiological hazard of wastes Increase effective capacity of repository Reduce heat release from wastes Use waste as useful resource Application of rare metalsWhite metals, etc.

Spent Fuel

Reproces s

UPu

Return to power generation cycle

FP & MA

Stored in glass waste and put in repository Current Policy P-T Technology MANpAmCm Transmute by FBR and/or ADS Application Stored in Ceramics Stored in High Density Glass Waste
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Rare MetalRu, Pd, etc.

Partitioning
MAMinor Actinides FPFission Products

Gamma Emitter (Sr, Cs) Others

Waste Transmutation by ADS

Reduction of activity and hazard

Radioactivity
10 10 10 10
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Ingestion Hazard
10
11

16

15

Potential radiotoxicity for ingestion (ALI)

Spent fuel HLW P&T

10

10

10 10 10 10 10 10

Spent fuel HLW P&T natural U (9t)

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Radioactivity (Bq)

10 10 10 10

13

12

11

10

10 1 10

10

10

10 10 Time (year)

10

10

10 1 10

10

10

10 10 Time (year)

10

10

Toxicity can be reduced by 2 orders from current HLW, if 99.5% transmutation is achieved. Time needs to reduce the toxicity below the level of natural uranium can be shortened from

10,000y to several hundred years.

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Waste Transmutation by ADS

Wastes from P-T

Non P-T Cycle
NPP(LWR/FR) Spent fuel Spent fuel MA reprocessing & partitioning reprocessing HLW Tc & PGM washing liquid & used solvent metals & rare earths option NPP(LWR/FR)

Cycle with P-T

ADS transmutor dry reprocessingfuel fabrication soluble metallic FP FP sodalite 70m3 Alloy 60m3

Sr-Cs

ZrN

hull

glass 5,500m3

utilized

16m3

calcined glass LLW 3 11,000m 700m3 1,200m3 11

80m3 480m3

heat-generating waste cold waste Waste volume per 32,000 HMt of 4-year cooled 45GWd/HMt LLW
LWR spent fuel (=40 years operation of 40GWe generation)

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Waste Transmutation by ADS

JAEA proposed ADS - LBE Target/Cooled Concept Steam Generator

Main Pump

Proton beam : 1.5GeV ~20MW Spallation target : Pb-Bi Coolant : Pb-Bi Subcriticality : keff = 0.97 Thermal output : 800MWt Core height : 1000mm MA initial inventory : 2.5t
Inner tube Beam Duct

Window Core Vessel Core Support Guard Vessel

Fuel composition :
(60%MA + 40%Pu) Mono-nitride Transmutation rate : 10%MA / Year (10 units of LWR)
Support

Structure

Burn-up reactivity swing : 1.8%Dk/k

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Waste Transmutation by ADS:

Issues and R&D for ADS

Accelerator
High Power, Reliability, Cost, etc.
Operation Experience, etc.

MA-loaded Subcritical Core

Physics and Control of Subcritica Core with MA-bearing Fuel, etc.

Structure
Design of Reactor Vessel, Pumps, SGs, Quake-proof Structure, Beam Duct & Window, etc. 2 Individual Facilities Transmutation Physics Experimental FacilityTEF-P
Neutronics Tests by Low Power Beam

Utilize existing resources & knowledge

ADS Target Test FacilityTEF-T

Material Irradiation by High Power Beam

Fuel, Cycle
Fabrication, Irradiation, Reprocessing of MA-bearing Fuel, etc.

Pb-Bi Spallation Target

Material Irradiation, Operation, Lifetime Evaluation, etc.
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Transmutation Experimental Facility Program:

Transmutation Experimental Facility

TEF-P:Transmutation Physics Experimental Facility Purpose : Reactor Physics
CategoryCritical Assembly Proton Power400MeV-10W Thermal Output Less than 500W

TEF-T:ADS Target Test Facility

Purpose : Material Irradiation Category : Radiation Application Proton Power400MeV-250kW Target MaterialLead-Bismuth

10W

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Construction Schedule and Cost

Fiscal Year
Estimated 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Cost (M$)
R&D/Design Construction Operation

Beamline TEF-T TEF-P

82

R&D/Design Licensing R&D/Design Construction Operation

129

MYRRHA

Tendering

Manufacturing

Construction

125 Operation (Japan)

When construction start at 2015,

Start TEF-T operation from 2017 Licensing for TEF-P start from 2015
Assuming 10% of total cost will be contributed from Japan (Total:960MEuro) Provide irradiation data to MYRRHA full power operation (Irradiation:2018, PIE:2021)

Cooperation with MYRRHA Project

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Status of TEF Program :

Cooperation with MYRRHA project

Discussion to facilitate cooperation with TEF and MYRRHA was held at Oct.2012, with Dr. At Abderrahim

Start cooperative researches for cost and scenario for fuel cycle and flow dynamics experiments using JLBL-3 loop Prepare to send Expression of Interest Prepare roadmap to accelerate ADS RD&D works

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User Application of TEF-T

TEF-T Hall Layout (Tentative)

Experimental refrigerator system
UCN

EDM

NE Neutrion Irradiation (pneumatic tube)

TOF(20m) ISOL

Main Target RI Target ISOL Target

Medical RI Port High Energy Neutron Irrad. (30 PT) Ultra Cold Neutron Line EDM Line ISOL+TOF Line Sub Beam (510kW) Main Beam (225250kW)

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TEF-MYRRHA Joint Roadmap to Accelerate Establishment of ADS Transmutation

Power
ADS technology without MA fuel (Pb-Bi core, Acclerator, Operation Experience)

ADS Plant

ADS DemoMYRRHA ~2.4MW-beam, 50~100MWth

Demonstration of ADS

30MW-beam, 800MWth MA transmutation

Physics of MA fuel and Target Development

J-PARC Purpose Power MA Elemental Technology TargetPhysics Proton:250kW Core500W(10Wbeam) MYRRHA System demonstration Proton:2.4MW Core:50100MW Small Amount Irradiation

Improve Window Material

J-PARC Transmutation Experimental Facility

Simulate MA loaded core (Several tens kg)

250kW-beam Pb-Bi target ADS core

Basic tests (Pb-Bi loop, KUCA, etc.)

Lead the worldwide RD&D for transmutation technology in cooperation with J-PARC and MYRRHA Obtain knowledge & experience to realize ADS in 2030th

2010

2020

2030

2050

Year

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Activities for Partitioning in JAEA

*Fast reactor cycle technology development (FaCT) project

Dissolution U selective separation U

U selective separation U-Np-Pu co-recovery An(III)+RE separation

NEXT Process*

The other methods & technologies Precipitation by pyrrolidone Solvent extraction by TBP (modified PUREX) Solvent extraction by N,N-dialkylamide Solvent extraction N,N-dialkylamide TRUEX (Solvent extraction by CMPO) Solvent extraction by DGA-extractants Solvent extraction by DIDPA SETFICS (Solvent extraction by CMPO with DTPA) TALSPEAK (Solvent extraction by DIDPA with DTPA) Solvent extraction (TPEN, TPA, PDA, BTP etc.) Extraction chromatography (PDA) Ion exchange (Tertiary Pyridine Resin-HCl-MeOH) Ion exchange (Tertiary Pyridine Resin-HNO3-MeOH) Novel inorganic adsorbent (cation exchanger) Extraction chromatography

Crystallization

U-Np-Pu co-recovery U, Pu, Np An(III)+RE separation

An(III)/RE separation RE

Co-extraction by TBP Extraction chromatography (CMPO, TODGA)

An(III)/RE separation

Extraction chromatography (BTP, HDEHP)

Sr-Cs separation Sr-Cs FP

Am/Cm separation

Am/Cm separation Sr-Cs separation

Am Cm
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MA Transmutation by power reactor (1)

Transmutation by power reactor have some difficulties

[$]

Safety review of FBR Monju gives serious increase of coolant void reactivity
8 6 4 2 0 -8x10-3 -6x10-3 -4x10-3 -2x10-3

Safety target value < 6$

Coolant Void Reactivity ($) Doppler Reactivity (Tdk/dT)

[Tdk/dT]

Monju 95

Monju 08

FBR Equ. FBR+5%MA

MA5%

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MA Transmutation by power reactor (2)

Dr. Bouchard (GEN-IV Chair) said how to fabricate MAspiked fuel is not simple and has to be done remotely, as does reprocessing. He also express concern that SFR technology, including safety and nonproliferation measures will prove difficult to deploy at a reasonable cost (even in non MA-spiked fuel). Nucleonics Week Vol.50, No.35 (Sep. 3, 2009)

- From EDFs point of view, a partial recycling of MAs in heterogeneous blankets may then be adopted if it is feasible and if technological and economic advantages outweigh possible drawbacks. Heat load and the associated activity from glass canisters will have to be managed in the fast reactor themselves, the reprocessing plants, the fabrication plants, the reactor fuel handling sections, the transport casks and interfaces. - N. Camarcat et al., Global09, Paper 9079
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