Research on the reuse of fusion reactor divertors and reduction of radioactive waste by non-destructive high-temperature and high-pressure regeneration

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K21869
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 14:Plasma science and related fields
• Research Institution: National Institute for Fusion Science
• Principal Investigator: Muroga Takeo 核融合科学研究所, ヘリカル研究部, 教授 (60174322)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 浜地 志憲 核融合科学研究所, ヘリカル研究部, 助教 (60761070) ; 能登 裕之 核融合科学研究所, ヘリカル研究部, 助教 (50733739)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: プラズマ対向機器 / 高熱負荷試験 / 高温高圧再生 / 放射性廃棄物低減

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose is, in order to reduce radioactive waste in fusion reactors, to clarify the possibility of regeneration and reuse of a component called "divertor", which requires the most frequent replacement due to deterioration by repeated heat load.
In this research, we aim to repair cracks and restore the performance of divertor joint materials, whose heat removal performance has deteriorated due to cracks caused by heat load, by means of holding them in a high temperature and ultra-high-pressure atmosphere. The upgrading of test equipment, the development of performance monitoring methods, the clarification of crack formation conditions, the clarification of the conditions for high-temperature ultra-high-pressure treatment and for the pretreatment of the joint materials were carried out.

Free Research Field

核融合炉材料、核融合炉工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

原子力施設からの放射性廃棄物の大きな部分を占めるのは使用中に発生する交換機器であり、従って劣化した機器の再生・再利用が可能なら、放射性廃棄物を著しく低減できる。
本研究に基づき、核融合炉だけでなく加速器や放射性物質を扱う原子力施設においても、頻繁に交換する機器、貴重資源を含む機器、難加工機器などが、簡易な熱間等方加圧処理によりサイトから出すことなく再利用できるようになれば、放射性廃棄物の低減、資源の有効利用に広く寄与すると期待される。