Proceedings of the International Topical Workshop on Fukushima Decommissioning Research
Online ISSN : 2759-047X
2022
Session ID : 1039
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EXPERIENCES FROM THE CUTTING OF METALLIC BLOCKS FROM SIMULANT FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI FUEL DEBRIS
Christophe JOURNEAUDiégo MOLINAEmmanuelle BRACKXRomain BERLEMONTYouichi TSUBOTA
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Abstract

CEA has manufactured a series of Fukushima Daiichi fuel debris simulants, either with depleted uranium oxide or with hafnium oxide as a surrogate of UO2. In ex-vessel compositions resulting from an interaction between corium and concrete, the oxidic phase density becomes lighter than that of the metallic phase, which segregates at the bottom. Three of these metallic phases have been mechanically cut at CEA Cadarache with handsaw and with core boring tool in FUJISAN facility.

It appeared that two of these metallic blocks were extremely hard to cut (one from a fabrication with uranium oxide, the other from a simulant block) while the last one was more easily cut. The similarities and differences in metallographic analyses (SEM-EDS and XRD) of these three metal blocks will be presented and discussed. This experience provides useful learnings in view of the cutting and retrieval of fuel debris from Fukushima Daiichi.

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© 2022 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
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