Nuclear Research using the Diamond Synchrotron

Nuclear

Research Area

The use of nuclear power presents numerous challenges with safety and radioactive waste management key considerations. An area of nuclear research of particular importance in the UK is the field of nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management. As a nation, we have accumulated radioactive waste from a variety of sources including nuclear power stations and the use of radio-active materials in medicine, industry and research which needs to be disposed of in a safe and secure manner.

Diamond provides specialist analytical techniques for the atomic to microscale characterisation of materials relevant to all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.

Fuels and Decommissioning

Develop and characterise new materials and coatings;
Molecular scale analysis of speciation by spectroscopic and diffraction techniques;
Follow chemical reactions in extraction of transuranic elements.

Interaction with the Environment

Probe radionuclide interactions with ground water and environmental systems;
Investigate geomicrobiology in the presence of radionuclides using spectroscopic techniques;
Monitor and identify the evolution of mineral phases by X-ray diffraction or spectroscopy;
Investigate the behvaiour of contaminants in the environment within soil of mineral samples.

Waste Management

Detect and identify specific elements present in contaminated land;
Image damage, cracks and voids in containers to understand failure mechanisms;
Molecular characterisation of waste to identify species present and their chemical environments;
Understand chemical processes relevant to geological disposal facility design and maintenance.

Storage Materials

Assess performance of materials such as stainless steel, concrete and zirconium based cladding used for long term radwaste storage;
Detect corrosion processes in storage materials;
Obtain experimental data to inform predictive modelling approaches.

Related Case Studies
Related News

Related Case Studies

Increasing fuel efficiency whilst retaining reactor safety

The Problem profilephoto

To be fully effective, the cladding encapsulating nuclear fuel
must be highly resistant to radiation damage, be relatively
transparent to thermal neutrons, have effective corrosion
resistance and good mechanical properties. Zirconium alloys are well suited to these needs and have therefore to date been the most favoured material for fuel cladding. Commonly used alloys such as Zircaloy-2, Zircaloy-4, M5TM and ZIRLOTM also include small amounts of iron which has been shown to increase corrosion resistance.

Evaluating the long-term risk from radioactive particles at Fukushima

The Problem profilephoto

In March 2011 a major earthquake hit Japan’s East coast. Although the six nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) were robust enough to survive the seismic effects, the subsequent 15 metre tsunami had devastating effects, causing a power failure and loss of core cooling. Rising heat within the reactor cores caused the fuel rods to overheat and partially melt down, and radioactive material was released into the surrounding area.

Look but don’t touch; non-invasive analysis of ILW containment

The Problem profilephoto

Uranium (U) metal, attached to Magnox cladding and removed from spent fuel prior to reprocessing, is a key component of the UK’s intermediate level waste (ILW). It is encapsulated in grout and sealed within stainless steel canisters in preparation for interim storage and eventual disposal. Understanding corrosion processes that may occur in these U-containing waste canisters is critical to ensuring the safe long term containment of this ILW (>100 years).