Improving the safety of the high temperature gas-cooled reactor "HTTR" based on Japan's new regulatory requirements

Hamamoto, Shimpei; Shimizu, Atsushi; Inoi, Hiroyuki; Tochio, Daisuke; Homma, Fumitaka; Sawahata, Hiroaki; Sekita, Kenji; Watanabe, Shuji; Furusawa, Takayuki; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; et al.

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 388, p.111642_1 - 111642_11, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2021.111642

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency adapted High-Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) to meet the new regulatory requirements that began in December 2013. The safety and seismic classifications of the existing structures, systems, and components were discussed to reflect insights regarding High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) that were acquired through various HTTR safety tests. Structures, systems, and components that are subject to protection have been defined, and countermeasures to manage internal and external hazards that affect safety functions have been strengthened. Additionally, measures are in place to control accidents that may cause large amounts of radioactive material to be released, as a beyond design based accident. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rigorously and appropriately reviewed this approach for compliance with the new regulatory requirements. After nine amendments, the application to modify the HTTR's installation license that was submitted in November 2014 was approved in June 2020. This response shows that facilities can reasonably be designed to meet the enhanced regulatory requirements, if they reflect the characteristics of HTGRs. We believe that we have established a reference for future development of HTGR.

Hydrochemical investigation at the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory; Compilation of groundwater chemistry data in the Mizunami Group and the Toki Granite (fiscal year 2019)

Fukuda, Kenji; Watanabe, Yusuke; Murakami, Hiroaki; Amano, Yuki; Aosai, Daisuke*; Hara, Naohiro*

JAEA-Data/Code 2020-012, 80 Pages, 2020/10

JAEA-Data-Code-2020-012.pdf:3.55MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been investigating groundwater chemistry to understand the influence of excavation and maintenance of underground facilities as part of the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in Mizunami, Gifu, Japan. In this report, we compiled data of groundwater chemistry and microbiology obtained at the MIU in the fiscal year 2019. In terms of ensuring traceability of data, basic information (e.g. sampling location, sampling time, sampling method and analytical method) and methodology for quality control are described.

How different is the core of F from O ?

Tang, T. L.*; Uesaka, Tomohiro*; Kawase, Shoichiro; Beaumel, D.*; Dozono, Masanori*; Fujii, Toshihiko*; Fukuda, Naoki*; Fukunaga, Taku*; Galindo-Uribarri, A.*; Hwang, S. H.*; et al.

Physical Review Letters, 124(21), p.212502_1 - 212502_6, 2020/05

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.212502

The structure of a neutron-rich F nucleus is investigated by a quasifree () knockout reaction. The sum of spectroscopic factors of orbital is found to be 1.0 0.3. The result shows that the O core of F nucleus significantly differs from a free O nucleus, and the core consists of 35% O, and 65% excited O. The result shows that the O core of F nucleus significantly differs from a free O nucleus. The result may infer that the addition of the proton considerably changes the neutron structure in F from that in O, which could be a possible mechanism responsible for the oxygen dripline anomaly.

Intercomparison of numerical atmospheric dispersion prediction models for emergency response to emissions of radionuclides with limited source information in the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Iwasaki, Toshiki*; Sekiyama, Tsuyoshi*; Nakajima, Teruyuki*; Watanabe, Akira*; Suzuki, Yasushi*; Kondo, Hiroaki*; Morino, Yu*; Terada, Hiroaki; Nagai, Haruyasu; Takigawa, Masayuki*; et al.

Atmospheric Environment, 214, p.116830_1 - 116830_11, 2019/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.116830

The utilization of numerical atmospheric dispersion prediction (NDP) models for accidental discharge of radioactive substances was recommended by a working group of the Meteorological Society of Japan. This paper is to validate the recommendation through NDP model intercomparison in the accidental release from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. Emission intensity is assumed to be constant during the whole forecast period for the worst-case scenario unless time sequence of emission is available. We expect to utilize forecasts of surface air contaminations for preventions of inhalations of radioactive substances, and column-integrated amounts for mitigation of radiation exposure associated with wet deposition. Although NDP forecasts have ensemble spread, they commonly figure out relative risk in space and time. They are of great benefit to disseminating effective warnings to public without failure. The multi-model ensemble technique may be effective to improve the reliability.

Hydrochemical investigation at the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory; Compilation of groundwater chemistry data in the Mizunami group and the Toki granite (fiscal year 2017)

Fukuda, Kenji; Watanabe, Yusuke; Murakami, Hiroaki; Amano, Yuki; Hayashida, Kazuki*; Aosai, Daisuke*; Kumamoto, Yoshiharu*; Iwatsuki, Teruki

JAEA-Data/Code 2018-021, 76 Pages, 2019/03

JAEA-Data-Code-2018-021.pdf:3.78MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been investigating groundwater chemistry to understand the influence of excavation and maintenance of underground facilities as part of the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in Mizunami, Gifu, Japan. In this report, we compiled data of groundwater chemistry and microbiology obtained at the MIU in the fiscal year 2017. In terms of ensuring traceability of data, basic information (e.g. sampling location, sampling time, sampling method and analytical method) and methodology for quality control are described.

Nanoscale ice-type structural fluctuation in spinel titanates

Torigoe, Shuhei*; Hattori, Takayuki*; Kodama, Katsuaki; Honda, Takashi*; Sagayama, Hajime*; Ikeda, Kazutaka*; Otomo, Toshiya*; Nitani, Hiroaki*; Abe, Hitoshi*; Murakawa, Hiroshi*; et al.

Physical Review B, 98(13), p.134443_1 - 134443_7, 2018/10

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.98.134443

Magnetic Bragg dip and Bragg edge in neutron transmission spectra of typical spin superstructures

Mamiya, Hiroaki*; Oba, Yojiro; Terada, Noriki*; Watanabe, Norimichi*; Hiroi, Kosuke; Shinohara, Takenao; Oikawa, Kenichi

Scientific Reports (Internet), 7(1), p.15516_1 - 15516_8, 2017/11

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-15850-3

no abstracts in English

Study on the deterioration mechanism of layered rock-salt electrodes using epitaxial thin films; Li(Ni, Co, Mn)O and their Zr-O surface modified electrodes

Abe, Machiko*; Iba, Hideki*; Suzuki, Kota*; Minamishima, Hiroaki*; Hirayama, Masaaki*; Tamura, Kazuhisa; Mizuki, Junichiro*; Saito, Tomohiro*; Ikuhara, Yuichi*; Kanno, Ryoji*

Journal of Power Sources, 345, p.108 - 119, 2017/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.01.103

The surface structure of the Li(Ni, Co, Mn)O electrode was studied during charge/discharge process using electrochemical methods and X-ray/Neutron scattering techniques. It was found that during charge/discharge process the coverage of spinel structure increased. The spinel structure has low electrochemical activity and is not involved in Li insertion/extraction. After the surface modification, it was found that the coverage of the spinel structure did not increase. Further, it was also found out that the Li concentration at the electrode/electrolyte interface increased.

Observed and analyzed data for clay veins in granite

Ueki, Tadamasa; Tanabe, Hiroaki*; Niwa, Masakazu; Ishimaru, Tsuneari; Shimada, Koji

JAEA-Data/Code 2016-010, 292 Pages, 2016/09

JAEA-Data-Code-2016-010.pdf:76.12MB

Occurrence of recent activity of faults is often evaluated based on displacements of subsurface sediments covering the faults. However, this evaluation is not applicable for faults that occur where subsurface sediments are not found. In this study, mesoscopic description in a field, microscopic observation using thin sections, chemical composition mapping for polished slabs, X-ray diffraction analysis, particle size distribution analysis, and detailed analysis for quartz fragments (scanning electron microscopy and measurement of electron spin resonance signals) were carried out for clay veins in order to contribute a development of evaluation of fault activity. This Data/Code reports the results of these observation and analyses.

Vacancy effects on one-dimensional migration of interstitial clusters in iron under electron irradiation at low temperatures

Sato, Yuki*; Abe, Yosuke; Abe, Hiroaki*; Matsukawa, Yoshitaka*; Kano, Sho*; Onuki, Somei*; Hashimoto, Naoyuki*

Philosophical Magazine, 96(21), p.2219 - 2242, 2016/06

https://doi.org/10.1080/14786435.2016.1194533

We performed in situ observation of one-dimensional (1D) migration of self-interstitial atom (SIA) clusters in iron under electron irradiation at 110-300 K using high-voltage electron microscopy. Most 1D migration was stepwise positional changes of SIA clusters at irregular time intervals at all temperatures. The frequency of 1D migration did not depend on the irradiation temperature. It was directly proportional to the damage rate, suggesting that 1D migration was induced by electron irradiation. In contrast, the 1D migration distance depended on the temperature: distribution of the distance ranged over 100 nm above 250 K, decreased steeply between 250 and 150 K and was less than 20 nm below 150 K. The distance was independent of the damage rate at all temperatures. Next, we examined fluctuation in the interaction energy between an SIA cluster and vacancies of random distribution at concentrations -, using molecular statics simulations. The fluctuation was found to trap SIA clusters of 4 nm diameter at vacancy concentrations higher than . We proposed that 1D migration was interrupted by impurity atoms at temperatures higher than 250 K, and by vacancies accumulated at high concentration under electron irradiation at low temperatures where vacancies are not thermally mobile.