Structural and compositional characteristics of Fukushima release particulate material from Units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategy
Abstract The structural form and elemental distribution of material originating from different Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reactors (Units 1 and 3) is hereby examined to elucidate their contrasting release dynamics and the current in-reactor conditions to influence future decommissioning c...
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doaj-6ac7fb434d55448bae76c19757aba64e2020-12-20T12:29:54ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222020-12-0110111710.1038/s41598-020-79169-2Structural and compositional characteristics of Fukushima release particulate material from Units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategyPeter G. Martin0Christopher P. Jones1Stuart Bartlett2Konstantin Ignatyev3Dave Megson-Smith4Yukihiko Satou5Silvia Cipiccia6Darren J. Batey7Christoph Rau8Keisuke Sueki9Tatsuya Ishii10Junya Igarashi11Kazuhiko Ninomiya12Atsushi Shinohara13Alison Rust14Thomas B. Scott15Interface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, University of BristolInterface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, University of BristolDiamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation CampusDiamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation CampusInterface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, University of BristolCollaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation CampusDiamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation CampusDiamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation CampusGraduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of TsukubaGraduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of TsukubaGraduate School of Science, Osaka UniversityGraduate School of Science, Osaka UniversityGraduate School of Science, Osaka UniversitySchool of Earth Sciences, Wills Memorial Building, University of BristolInterface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, University of BristolAbstract The structural form and elemental distribution of material originating from different Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reactors (Units 1 and 3) is hereby examined to elucidate their contrasting release dynamics and the current in-reactor conditions to influence future decommissioning challenges. Complimentary computed X-ray absorption tomography and X-ray fluorescence data show that the two suites of Si-based material sourced from the different reactor Units have contrasting internal structure and compositional distribution. The known event and condition chronology correlate with the observed internal and external structures of the particulates examined, which suggest that Unit 1 ejecta material sustained a greater degree of melting than that likely derived from reactor Unit 3. In particular, we attribute the near-spherical shape of Unit 1 ejecta and their internal voids to there being sufficient time for surface tension to round these objects before the hot (and so relatively low viscosity) silicate melt cooled to form glass. In contrast, a more complex internal form associated with the sub-mm particulates invoked to originate from Unit 3 suggest a lower peak temperature, over a longer duration. Using volcanic analogues, we consider the structural form of this material and how it relates to its environmental particulate stability and the bulk removal of residual materials from the damaged reactors. We conclude that the brittle and angular Unit 3 particulate are more susceptible to further fragmentation and particulate generation hazard than the round, higher-strength, more homogenous Unit 1 material.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79169-2 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Peter G. Martin Christopher P. Jones Stuart Bartlett Konstantin Ignatyev Dave Megson-Smith Yukihiko Satou Silvia Cipiccia Darren J. Batey Christoph Rau Keisuke Sueki Tatsuya Ishii Junya Igarashi Kazuhiko Ninomiya Atsushi Shinohara Alison Rust Thomas B. Scott |
spellingShingle |
Peter G. Martin Christopher P. Jones Stuart Bartlett Konstantin Ignatyev Dave Megson-Smith Yukihiko Satou Silvia Cipiccia Darren J. Batey Christoph Rau Keisuke Sueki Tatsuya Ishii Junya Igarashi Kazuhiko Ninomiya Atsushi Shinohara Alison Rust Thomas B. Scott Structural and compositional characteristics of Fukushima release particulate material from Units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategy Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
Peter G. Martin Christopher P. Jones Stuart Bartlett Konstantin Ignatyev Dave Megson-Smith Yukihiko Satou Silvia Cipiccia Darren J. Batey Christoph Rau Keisuke Sueki Tatsuya Ishii Junya Igarashi Kazuhiko Ninomiya Atsushi Shinohara Alison Rust Thomas B. Scott |
author_sort |
Peter G. Martin |
title |
Structural and compositional characteristics of Fukushima release particulate material from Units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategy |
title_short |
Structural and compositional characteristics of Fukushima release particulate material from Units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategy |
title_full |
Structural and compositional characteristics of Fukushima release particulate material from Units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategy |
title_fullStr |
Structural and compositional characteristics of Fukushima release particulate material from Units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategy |
title_full_unstemmed |
Structural and compositional characteristics of Fukushima release particulate material from Units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategy |
title_sort |
structural and compositional characteristics of fukushima release particulate material from units 1 and 3 elucidates release mechanisms, accident chronology and future decommissioning strategy |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2020-12-01 |
description |
Abstract The structural form and elemental distribution of material originating from different Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reactors (Units 1 and 3) is hereby examined to elucidate their contrasting release dynamics and the current in-reactor conditions to influence future decommissioning challenges. Complimentary computed X-ray absorption tomography and X-ray fluorescence data show that the two suites of Si-based material sourced from the different reactor Units have contrasting internal structure and compositional distribution. The known event and condition chronology correlate with the observed internal and external structures of the particulates examined, which suggest that Unit 1 ejecta material sustained a greater degree of melting than that likely derived from reactor Unit 3. In particular, we attribute the near-spherical shape of Unit 1 ejecta and their internal voids to there being sufficient time for surface tension to round these objects before the hot (and so relatively low viscosity) silicate melt cooled to form glass. In contrast, a more complex internal form associated with the sub-mm particulates invoked to originate from Unit 3 suggest a lower peak temperature, over a longer duration. Using volcanic analogues, we consider the structural form of this material and how it relates to its environmental particulate stability and the bulk removal of residual materials from the damaged reactors. We conclude that the brittle and angular Unit 3 particulate are more susceptible to further fragmentation and particulate generation hazard than the round, higher-strength, more homogenous Unit 1 material. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79169-2 |
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