A Remote-operated System to Map Radiation Dose in the Fukushima Daiichi Primary Containment Vessel

Department ofElectrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester, United Kingdom, UK
Department of Engineering, Lancaster University, United Kingdom.
Nagoaka University of Technology, Japan.
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan.
National Maritime Research Institute, Japan.

email: matthew.nancekievill@manchester.ac.uk

Published online: 10 January 2018

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a submersible system based on a remote-operated vehicle coupled with radiation detectors to map the interior of the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. It has the aim oflocating fuel debris. The AVEXIS submersible vehicle used in this study has been designed as a low-cost, potentially disposable, inspection platform that is the smallest of its class and is capable of being deployed through a 150 mm diameter access pipe. To map the gamma-ray environment, a cerium bromide scintillator detector with a small form factor has been incorporated into the AVEXIS to identify radioactive isotopes via gamma-ray spectroscopy. This provides the combined system with the potential to map gamma-ray spectra and particle locations throughout submerged, contaminated facilities, such as Units 1, 2 and 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The hypothesis of this research is to determine the sensitivity of the combined system in a submerged environment that replicates the combination of gamma radiation and water submersion but at lower dose rates.