Technology to Separate Tritium from Water Treated with Multi-Nuclide Removal Equipment (ALPS)
As of May 2021, the existence of a technology to separate tritium from water treated with multi-nuclide removal equipment (ALPS) (hereinafter, “ALPS treated water, etc.
) at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc., (hereinafter, “TEPCO”) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
In response to the government's basic policy of the handling of ALPS treated water, etc., TEPCO announced the measures regarding ALPS treated water, etc. in April 2021 as follows:
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TEPCO will proceed with the preparation for establishing the necessary facilities, etc. aiming for starting discharge of ALPS treated water
into the sea in around two years' time. -
Large amounts of the water will not be discharged at once and the time required for decommissioning will be used effectively.
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In the meantime, TEPCO will continue to keep a close eye on new developments in the technology to separate tritium from water.
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A new scheme will be considered involving third parties on implementing a wide range of surveys and accepting proposals for new developments in the tritium separation technology.
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If any realistically practical technology to separate tritium from ALPS treated water, etc. is identified, TEPCO will vigorously proceed with the verification and adoption.
Note 1) Water treated with multi-nuclide removal equipment (ALPS) so that the concentrations of radioactive substances other than tritium sufficiently satisfy regulatory standards for safety (sum of ratios of legally required concentrations, excluding tritium, is less than 1) is referred to as, “ALPS treated water.” Water that has been purified with multi-nuclide removal equipment (ALPS), but for which the concentrations of radioactive substances do not meet regulatory standards for safety (sum of ratios of legally required concentrations, excluding tritium, is 1 or higher) is referred to as, "Treated water to be re-purified." The term “ALPS treated water, etc.” is used when referring to both types of water.
Note2) Total of ALPS treated water, etc. and strontium removed water (water which cesium and strontium have been removed prior to treatment with ALPS.)
Timeline: August 2022-October 2022
In this project, an open request is planned to be issued every quarter from March 2022. For an organization with a potential proposal, NineSigma will ask additional questions and discuss directly with them as needed, even while the application is still open.
【Attention】
In relation to the open call for “Technology to separate Tritium from Water Treated with Multi-Nuclide Removal Equipment (ALPS)”, it was reported that there was acts such as demanding money based on a false information that their proposal has been adopted.
TEPCO Group Companies, NineSigma Group Companies and the relevant ministries will NOT demand for any money related to this open call.
Number of tanks 2
1,047
(as of April, 1 2021)
Amount of water being stored in tanks 2
Apporx. 1.25million m 3
(as of April, 1 2021)
Average tritium concentration 2
Approx. 620,000Bq/L
(as of April, 1 2021)
Total amount of tritium 2
Approx.
780trillionBq
(as of April, 1 2021)
Technology to Separate Tritium from Water Treated with Multi-Nuclide Removal Equipment (ALPS)
NineSigma seeks a viable technology to separate tritium from water treated with Multi-Nuclide Removal Equipment (ALPS) (hereinafter, “ALPS treated water, etc.), which is being generated at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc., (hereinafter, “TEPCO”) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Due to the very public nature of this request, there is a possibility that the names of the proposing organizations and/or individuals to be disclosed to third parties or the public whether they are selected by the client or not, with prior consent in order to ensure transparency. (Whether each proposer is selected or not will not be disclosed or made public.) However, organizations and/or individuals that do not agree on disclosure are also welcome to participate.
Status: Need is Closed