Activation level of the concrete building and pressure vessel in JAEA-Tokai tandem accelerator

Abstract

ABSTRACT The activation level of the JAEA-Tokai tandem accelerator facility was investigated experimentally in advance of the future decommissioning. JAEA-Tokai tandem accelerator facility has a higher terminal voltage of 18 MV and a larger total floor area, Compared to other electrostatic accelerators with terminal voltage of 1 MV to 6 MV. Therefore, determination for ‘where,’ ‘what,’ and ‘how many’ nuclides are produced in the facility is crucial. Thermal neutrons generated by beam losses associated with accelerator operations contribute significantly to the activation of equipment and facilities. The accumulated activities of60Co and152Eu; the most considerable radionuclides at the decommissioning, can be deduced by the thermal neutron fluence rate during the accelerator operation. In this study, thermal neutron fluence measurement on the surface of the pressure vessel and concrete building was conducted with conventional methods using dosimeters and metal foil detectors as well as a new method using a portable γ-ray detector. The thermal neutron fluence in the facility during the accelerator operation ranges from 101 to 104 n/cm2/s. The sum of deduced activities of60Co and152Eu in 50 years is much lower than the clearance level of 0.1 Bq/g in all areas except in the irradiation room.