Abstract
Fukushima Daiichi (1F) Nuclear Power Station is preparing to begin Fuel debris retrieval (FDR). The FDR interventions should be carefully considered to maintain safety. First, the trial FDR will gather information on the situation inside the preliminary containment vessel (PCV). This information alongside data from previous investigations will inform the FDR plan moving forward.
The further expansion of FDR for Unit 1 and 3 is planned based on “Mid-and-Long-Term Decommissioning Action Plan”, and Unit 3 is prioritized depending on the viewpoint of securing the work area for accessing to the penetration X-6 and others.
The further expansion of FDR shall be continuously revised based on the information and experience that will be acquired in the future, and it is also important to integrate the results of studies, research and development toward FDR.
The LONG Term OPerationS (LongOps) project, a collaboration with Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) and Sellafield, is starting to progress forward the further expansion of FDR. Two key areas of the project are Long Reach Manipulators and Next Generation Digital Mock-Ups (NG-DMUs). FDR presents many challenges - confined space, high radiation, unpredictable conditions, etc. These challenges need to be anticipated by conducting key studies into the situation and clearly capturing the specific requirements for the NG-DMU in 1F. This will allow for flexible planning to respond to the challenges when they are encountered. The key studies are closely related to the solutions for the challenges and they should be considered from the perspective of the actual work, which plan to create new technology to address future issues in FDR.
This brief paper provides an overview of the LongOps research and development for the NG-DMU supporting FDR in 1F.
