Hydrogen isotope permeation from cooling water through various metal piping

In order to investigate the behavior of hydrogen isotope on the water–metal boundary, deuterium permeation experiments from heavy water vessel through various metal piping, such as pure iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), stainless steel (SS304), and pure iron with 10 μm gold plating, were performed at 573 K and at 15 MPa. During the experiment, surfaces of metal piping except gold plating one were oxidized at the heavy water boundary and then deuterium would generate by the oxidation reactions. This deuterium could be detected by mass spectrometer, which monitored the inside gases of the piping under continuous evacuation. The result showed clearly that the deuterium permeated through Fe, Ni, and SS304 piping was detected as mainly deuterium gas (D₂) under continuous evacuation, though that through gold plating one could not be detected effectively. The D₂ permeation rate through Fe, Ni, and SS304 piping reached equilibrium conditions with oxide generation at D₂O–metal boundary, although concluding the transfer mechanism will require further testing and modeling activities.     

Tribological Properties of Patterned NiFe-Covered Si Surfaces

The tribological properties of patterned surfaces were investigated under lubricated conditions. Micropatterns were fabricated on a Si surface using a combination of photolithography and plasma etching. NiFe film with a 150 nm thickness was then deposited on the patterned Si surface. We prepared four kinds of patterned surfaces: dimple, grating, bump, and mesh patterns. The dimensions of the patterns were: size 30–40 μm, pitch 120 μm, and depth 10–12 μm. Friction tests were carried out using a pin-on-plate tribometer. The pin specimen was made of cast iron and had a flat end. The normal load was varied from 9.8 to 98 mN, and the average sliding speed from 1.0 to 5.0 mm s⁻¹. Slideway lubricating oils or a gear oil were used as the lubricant, and the ISO viscosity grades of these oils were VG32, VG68, and VG320. The results showed that the friction coefficients of the two reverse patterns showed very similar tendencies and that circular patterns had a lower friction coefficient than did the rectangular patterns at a high bearing characteristic number. The surface geometry of the Si surface did not affect the friction coefficients at a low bearing characteristic number.     

Technique for recovering uranium from sludge-like uranium-bearing wastes using hydrochloric acid

Sludge-like uranium-bearing wastes generated from uranium refining and conversion R&D facilities are stored at the Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. So far, approximately 1500 t of uranium wastes with radioactivity levels exceeding 10,000 Bq/g have been generated. We have proposed an environmentally benign aqueous process for recovering uranium from wastes using hydrochloric acid (HCl). This makes it possible to dispose of the wastes easily, and to reclaim uranium as a resource. In this process, first, the uranium content in the calcium fluoride (CaF₂) sludge along with the entire sludge is dissolved almost completely in aqueous solutions containing HCl and aluminum chloride. The uranium species are then recovered as peroxide from the CaF₂ sludge solution. Their characteristics are similar to those specified for uranium ore concentrate. After recovering the uranium content, the uranium concentration in the solution is reduced to below 0.01 mg/L using an iminodiacetic chelating resin. Also, the uranium concentration of the precipitate generated by the neutralization of the barren solution falls below 1 Bq/g.     

Influence of tungsten–carbon mixed layer and irradiation defects on deuterium retention behavior in tungsten

The D₂⁺ fluence dependence on deuterium (D) retention was studied to clarify the D retention mechanism in tungsten. The additional D desorption stage was observed around 660 K in the TDS spectrum for a sample implanted with D₂⁺ up to the fluence of 10²³ D⁺ m^?2, which desorption stage was not observed the D₂⁺ implanted sample with the fluence less than 10²² D⁺ m^?2. The TEM observation showed that the highly dense voids were formed in tungsten by D₂⁺ implantation with the fluence of 10²³ D⁺ m^?2, considering that the D would be trapped by voids. To understand the D trapping by voids in C⁺ implanted tungsten, C⁺–D₂⁺ sequential implantation experiments at various C⁺ implantation temperatures were performed. It was found that the amount of D desorbed around 560 K was increased by increasing the C⁺ implantation temperature. The formation of the voids was observed with increasing the C⁺ implantation temperature by TEM, indicating that the increase of D desorption around 560 K was caused by the formation of voids. However, the desorption temperature of D trapped by voids in C⁺ implanted sample was lower than that in D₂⁺ implanted one. TEM observation and XPS measurement indicated that this difference was caused by the increase of void size and/or the presence of implanted carbon.     

Progress in ECRF antenna development for JT-60SA

Structural, mechanical and optical design work on antennas/launchers for the electron cyclotron range of frequency heating and current drive system in JT-60 Super Advanced (JT-60SA) have been advanced based on a linear motion antenna concept. A CAD model of the launcher was built with realistic component sizes. A mock-up of the steering structure consisting of two different bellows sections for poloidal and toroidal beam scanning was fabricated to test movement of the bellows. The poloidal (?40° to +20°) and toroidal (?15° to +15°) injection angle ranges required in JT-60SA were shown to be realized by this steering structure and mirrors.     

Cloning and expression analysis of two catalase genes from Aspergillus oryzae

Fungi contain distinct genes encoding the same class of enzyme that are differentially regulated according to conditions. We cloned two catalase genes, catA and catB, from Aspergillus oryzae. The catA gene predicts a 747-amino-acid polypeptide sharing 81% identity with Aspergillus fumigatus catalase (catA) and 77% with Aspergillus nidulans catalase (catA). The catB gene predicts a 725-amino-acid polypeptide sharing 82% identity with A. fumigatus catalase (catB) and 75% with A. nidulans catalase (catB). However, the catA and catB genes share little homology (41%) with one another, suggesting that each gene belongs to a distinct gene family. Overexpression studies demonstrated that both genes encode a functional catalase. Promoter assays indicated that the catA gene is developmentally regulated as it was preferentially expressed in solid-state cultures undergoing sporulation. However, its expression was not affected by hydrogen peroxide treatment. Conversely, the catB gene was highly expressed under all culture conditions tested, and it was induced by hydrogen peroxide treatment. These results suggest that the catB gene may be mainly used for detoxification of oxidative stress while the catA gene may have another role such as chaperoning proteins in the spore.     

Transmission electron microscopic observations of nanobubbles and their capture of impurities in wastewater

Unique properties of micro- and nanobubbles (MNBs), such as a high adsorption of impurities on their surface, are difficult to verify because MNBs are too small to observe directly. We thus used a transmission electron microscope (TEM) with the freeze-fractured replica method to observe oxygen (O₂) MNBs in solutions. MNBs in pure water and in 1% NaCl solutions were spherical or oval. Their size distribution estimated from TEM images close to that of the original solution is measured by light-scattered methods. When we applied this technique to the observation of O₂ MNBs formed in the wastewater of a sewage plant, we found the characteristic features of spherical MNBs that adsorbed surrounding impurity particles on their surface.     

Deuterium trapping by irradiation damage in tungsten induced by different displacement processes

The deuterium trapping behaviors in tungsten damaged by light ions with lower energy (10 keV C⁺ and 3 keV He⁺) or a heavy ion with higher energy (2.8 MeV Fe²⁺) were compared by means of TDS to understand the effects of cascade collisions on deuterium retention in tungsten. By light ion irradiation, most of deuterium was trapped by vacancies, whose retention was almost saturated at the damage level of 0.2 dpa. For the heavy ion irradiation, the deuterium trapping by voids was found, indicating that cascade collisions by the heavy ion irradiation would create the voids in tungsten. Most of deuterium trapped by the voids was desorbed in higher temperature region compared to that trapped by vacancies. It was also found that deuterium could accumulate in the voids, resulting in the formation of blisters in tungsten.     

Stable photonic millimeter-wave generation using an integrated reciprocating optical modulator

We investigated stability and phase noise of V-band millimeter-wave generated by using a hybrid integrated reciprocating optical modulator consisting of a pair of fiber Bragg gratings and a LiNbO/sub 3/ optical phase modulator. The amplitude fluctuation of generated millimeter-wave was less than 1% without using feedback stabilization technique. Phase noise of the millimeter-wave was -74.3 dBc/Hz at 10-kHz offset.