[3C01-05] Decommissioning Technology for Fukushima 3

[3C01] Fundamental study on fragmentation of fuel debris using high-voltage pulse crushing

*Sayo Suga¹, Atsushi Iizuka¹, Etsuro Shibata¹ (1. Tohoku Univ.)

Keywords:Fuel debris, High-voltage pulse crushing, Preferential breakage at phase boundary

Fuel debris at Fukushima Daiichi NPP consists mainly of oxide phases and alloy phases. Reactor internals, such as stainless components, are also involved in the debris. Volume reduction of high-level radioactive waste can be achieved, if it possible to separate low-radiation-dose alloy phases that are composed mainly of iron and zirconium from high-radiation-dose oxide phases including extensive uranium. In this study, we focused on high-voltage pulse crushing technology, which is expected to cause selective crushing at the interface between the different phases. We conducted cold tests by using simplified simulated samples and discussed the usefulness of the crushing technique to treat fuel debris.