This picture, 121KB

Fig. 4-9 Remote cutting machines applied to JPDR Various remote cutting machines were applied to dismantling of JPDR.

The Japan Power Demonstration Reactor (JPDR) located in JAERI generated Japan's first electricity from nuclear power in 1963. Fifty nuclear power plants are now in operation in Japan. Since the lifetime of a nuclear power plant is estimated to be 30 to 40 years, dismantling of these nuclear power plants is expected to be necessary in the 21st century. The R&D of technologies for reactor dismantling is therefore necessary to develop and utilize nuclear power. The JPDR dismantling demonstration project, which is the leading project in Japan, began at JAERI in 1981. All dismantling activities were completed without any accidents using remote cutting systems by the end of March 1996. The waste arising from the dismantling of JPDR weighed 24,400 tons including 3,770 tons of radioactive waste. All radioactive waste is under safe control. The safe dismantling of a nuclear power plant was demonstrated by the completion of the JPDR dismantling project. Data on manpower expenditures, radiation exposure of workers, waste produced, etc., were collected and stored in the dismantling data base for application to dismantling of nuclear power plants in the 21st century. In addition, based on the lessons learned in the dismantling of JPDR, advanced technology development for reactor dismantling is in progress to enhance the safety and efficiency of nuclear power plant dismantling in Japan.

Reference Y. Miyasaka et al., Results and Outline of JPDR Dismantling Demonstration Project, Nippon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi, 38, 553 (1996).

Select a topic in left column