Technical
Seminar:
Overview of the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) -
Treated Water - Toward Fukushima Reconstruction
Date & Time
13 April 2023 (Thursday) immediately after the AGM of the Nuclear Division; 6:45 pm - 8:00 pm nominal;
Venue
Chan Yat Mei Sophie Room, HKIE Headquarters, 9/F Island Beverley, No 1 Great George Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong / Zoom Webinar
Deadline of Application
7 April 2023 (Friday)
Programme Highlights
Decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake 12 years ago, is steadily progressing. In order to complete the decommissioning work, the location of 1,000 tanks storing water used to cool the reactors must be used for decommissioning workspace. Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) is a device that purifies water containing radioactive materials and makes it possible to discharge it into the ocean. The water thus purified is called ALPS-treated water. This seminar will provide an overview of the plan for the discharge of ALPS-treated water into the ocean and its safety.
Speaker Biography
Professor Takashi Hibiki is a Chair Professor at the City University of Hong Kong. He is granted the Global STEM Professorship from Hong Kong Government. Professor Hibiki is a professor emeritus at Purdue University in the US. His research expertise includes multiphase flow mechanics, heat and mass transfer, and nuclear reactor safety. He is internationally known as the author of a classic two-phase flow textbook, “Thermo-Fluid Dynamics of Two-Phase Flow.” He is a fellow member of several academic societies, including the American Nuclear Society and the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. Professor Hibiki is listed as one of the world’s top 2% of scientists reported by Stanford University.
Registration and Enquiry
The seminar is free of charge and prior registration is required. Priority will be given to members of Nuclear Division. The number of participants is limited to 70 (for physical participants) and 200 (zoom webinar). For registration, please submit online application via the following weblink: https://forms.gle/oCBnioZbhtMXvMFc8. Successful applicants will be notified by email.
For enquiries, please contact us by sending email to nuclear@ne.hkie.org.hk.
Disclaimer
All
information and views expressed by speakers and in their conference materials
do not reflect the official opinion and position of HKIE. No responsibility is
accepted by the HKIE or their publisher for such information and views
including their accuracy, correctness and veracity.
ReportIn order to proceed with the decommissioning work of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant which was damaged during the Great East Japan Earthquake 12 years ago, the site needs to gradually release over 1,000 storage tanks of treated water arisen from fuel debris cooling and underground water ingress in order to provide workspace for plant decommissioning. The Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) had been used to remove radioactive materials from the water and makes it compatible for release into the ocean.
A technical seminar was organized on 13 April 2023 by the Nuclear Division on the handling of ALPS-treated water and the way forward on Fukushima Reconstruction. Over 250 participants joined this seminar presented by Professor Takashi Hibiki, Chair Professor of Thermal-Fluid Engineering of the City University of Hong Kong.
Professor Hibiki firstly shared an overview of the progress and challenges of reconstruction of Fukushima. The basics of radiation and tritium were then briefed, explaining that tritium is a naturally occurring radioactive form of hydrogen and a by-product of nuclear power generation. He then introduced the principles of radioactive water management which includes 1) removing the contamination source, 2) redirection of groundwater away from the contamination source and 3) isolating contaminated water. ALPS had been used to remove most of the radioactive materials except tritium via the multi-nuclide removal facility, and the treated water has been held in storing tanks. It is planned to dilute the tanks of treated water more than 100 times with concentration of tritium lowered to at most 1/40 of the national regulatory limit before discharging to the sea. The option of seaborne discharge is considered practical based on the ease of forecasting radioactive diffusion and monitoring. The radioactive impact due to the discharge would be minimal and is estimated to be far below natural radiation dosage. Strengthened environmental monitoring plan by different Japanese organizations and third parties such as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be implemented for the discharge.
On behalf of the Nuclear Division, we wish to express our sincere gratitude to Professor Hibiki for providing this enlightening seminar to our members.
Ir Professor Herman Tsui, Chairman of the Nuclear Division, presented souvenir to Professor Takashi Hibiki
By Mr Stan Mou