An investigation of corium in Fukushima Daiichi Unit-1 accident

The core melt composition resulting from the Fukushima Daiichi Unitl Nuclear Power Plant (FD-U1) accident is essential for the corium characterization phase before decommissioning or handling of radioactive waste. Several models were applied by different research groups for the estimation of corium composition. In this paper, the investigation of the isotopic composition, and radioactivity of the radio-nuclides in the corium10 and 50 years post-accident were calculated using Monte Carlo code, MCNPX 2.7. The results showed that the estimated core materials inventory at reactor scram before core melt was about 123.97 ton, and after the formation of the corium melt was about 140.702 ton, which agrees with the predictions calculated using other models. Also, the total corium activity was about 6.046E+17 Bq and 1.89E+17 Bq 10 and 50 years post- accident, respectively. The radionuclide compositions in the corium are necessary for decommissioning plan of F-D-U1. Furthermore, RELAP/SCDAPSIM MOD3.4 code was used for the analysis of thermal performance of the FD-U1 reactor core starting from the time of the accident up to corium formation and slumping to the lower head of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). Our analysis indicates that the hydrogen generation started on Marchll th , around 18:39. The results were compared with MELCOR code and OECD/NEA BSAF Phase I results, which were found in good agreement.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the composition and radioactivity of the corium resulting from the Fukushima Daiichi Unitl Nuclear Power Plant accident. The thermal performance of the reactor core is also analyzed. The results show good agreement with predictions from other models, and the radionuclide composition of the corium is important for decommissioning plans.