Environmental behaviour and management of U-containing fuel debris particles

The proposed research will use U-containing particles found in the environment around the Fukushima Dai-ichi Power Plant as micro-scale representations of fuel debris and corium materials still inside the stricken reactors. By collecting, isolating and studying these particles we can build an improved knowledge base capable of underpinning the decommissioning of these highly degraded nuclear fuels within these damaged reactors (specifically Fukushima Daiichi, but also applicable to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant). There is equally an applicability to UK legacy nuclear sites, for example historic environmental contamination from Windscale or Dounreay. The development of this unique knowledge base will support a reduction in the hazard, cost and timescale of decommissioning, enabling accelerated decommissioning of nuclear sites. This may have a secondary impact of enhancing public acceptance of civil nuclear energy generation and geological disposal of radioactive wastes at an important time prior to the launch of the geological disposal facility siting process. At the same time, this research will build expertise towards the Civil Nuclear and Resilience Directorate's (CNRD) objectives to protect nuclear sites from threats and hazards; ensuring the UK's preparedness for civil nuclear emergencies and ensuring the UK is a leader on non-proliferation.

The proposed research will support the UK Government's Nuclear Industry Strategy, by addressing the strategic aims to make demonstrable progress in the decommissioning of high hazard legacy waste and reactor decommissioning, to achieve a higher profile within international programmes on decommissioning and to establish collaborations overseas on nuclear decommissioning R&D and innovation.

Specifically, there are emerging concerns over the generation of radioactive aerosols during legacy waste retrievals and plant decommissioning. Through development of micro-sample harvesting and analysis techniques for high hazard nuclear materials, this UK-Japan collaborative research will provide underpinning evidence to support strategic and technical decision making in national and international nuclear decommissioning programmes, a key goal of the UK Nuclear Energy Research and Development Roadmap.

By appointing two early career researchers to perform this research (Martin and Corkhill), our project will further meet the goal of the roadmap to maintain the overall nuclear fission skills base. The research will have a long-term impact by developing the academic capability, facilities and basic technologies required to support decommissioning in the UK, Japan and international sites.

At the same time, we will contribute new techniques and subject matter experts to support the Civil Nuclear and Resilience Directorate's (CNRD) objectives to protect nuclear sites from threats and hazards and to ensure the UK's preparedness for civil nuclear emergencies. The work will also have the impact of helping to ensure the UK is a global leader on nuclear non-proliferation.

Our research will also have positive impact and value for the UK and Japanese public by increasing the transparency of the decommissioning occurring at the Fukushima site. By demonstrating that the academic experts supporting the decommissioning are both world-class problem-solvers and proactive in public engagement, we hope to positively impact public sentiments on nuclear power.