Ten years of Fukushima Dai-Ichi post-accident research on the degradation phenomenology of the BWR core components

ABSTRACT

The paper reviews the results of the JAEA and some International activities over the last ten years of research on the understanding of the core components melting and debris formation in boiling water reactors.

KEYWORDS:

• BWR
• severe accident
• Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant
• control blade degradation
• boron carbide
• fuel debris
• metallic debris

Acknowledgments

A part of this study was performed in the framework of “Advanced Multi-Scale Modelling and Experimental Tests on Fuel Degradation in Severe Accident Conditions” supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan. The contributions of JAEA colleagues who helped on the various stages during the tests using LEISAN facility Dr. Hai vu Pham, Mr. Takumi Sato, Mrs. Ayako Sudo, Dr. Saishun Yamazaki, Dr. Hiroshi Ohgi and CMMR tests Mr. Ikken Sato is gratefully acknowledged. The authors wish to express their appreciation for the help during the post-test handling of some samples performed by Dr. Kan Sakamoto of Japan Nuclear Fuel Development Co., Ltd. (NFD). The constant support of our industrial partners ADVAN ENG Co., Ltd., in particular, Dr. Isamu Kudo, and Mr. Keisuke Tanizawa and Mr. Hayato Maruyama is gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).