Present status of test operation at Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant of JNFL

At RRP, following Water Test, test operations such as Chemical Test and Uranium Test have been implemented step by step. In this paper, report shall be made regarding purpose of test operations, basic policy and execution of test operations focusing mainly on Chemical test and Uranium test results. The paper has the following contents: 1.Introduction; 2.Purpose of test operations; 2-1.Basic policy regarding test operations; 2-2.Policy for selection of test items; 3.Chemical test; 3-1. Outline of chemical test (start in Nov. 2002); 3-2. Chemical test on the vitrification facility; (1) Outline of the vitrification facility; (2) Main results; 4.Uranium test; 4-1.Outline of uranium test (start in Dec. 2004); 4-2.Uranium test on the head-end facility; (1) Outline of the head-end facility; (2) Main results; 4-3.Uranium test on the separation facility; (1) Outline of the separation facility; (2) Main results; 4-4.Uranium test on the purification facility; (1) Outline of the purification facility; (2) Main results; 4-5.Uranium test on the uranium denitration facility; (1) Outline of the uranium denitration facility; (2) Main results; 5.Situation of malfunctions; 6.Conclusion. In conclusion it is shown that during the course of test operations at RRP, though not vital to safety or to plant essential performance, various kinds of malfunctions have been detected and necessary corrective measures have been also taken in each stage. Concerning operators, they are improving their technical skills by experiences through test operations, observation of facility condition and corrective measures to process alarms and also obtaining operational know-how by COGEMA tutors assistance for operation training started from Jan. 2003. In the near future, the total confirmation test using the whole RRP shall be implemented as 'Main Plant General Test', and then know-how accumulated during test operations shall be well reflected for moving to the next phase, the Active Test