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JAEA Reports

Experimental study on prevention of high cycle thermal fatigue at the core outlet of advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor; Characteristics of temperature fluctuations and countermeasures to mitigate temperature fluctuations at a bottom of upper internal structure

Kobayashi, Jun; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ezure, Toshiki; Nagasawa, Kazuyoshi*; Kurihara, Akikazu; Tanaka, Masaaki

JAEA-Research 2022-009, 125 Pages, 2023/01

JAEA-Research-2022-009.pdf:29.22MB

The design studies of an advanced loop-type sodium-cooled fast reactor (Advanced- SFR) have been carried out by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). At the core outlet, temperature fluctuations occur due to mixing of hot sodium from the fuel assembly with cold sodium from the control rod channels and radial blanket assembly. These temperature fluctuations may cause high cycle thermal fatigue around a bottom of Upper Internal Structure (UIS) located above the core. Therefore, we conducted a water experiment using a 1/3 scale 60 degree sector model that simulated the upper plenum of the advanced loop-type sodium-cooled reactor. And we proposed some countermeasures against large temperature fluctuations that occur at the bottom of the UIS. In this report, we have summarized that the effect of the countermeasure structure to mitigate the temperature fluctuation generated at the bottom of UIS is confirmed, and the Reynolds number dependency of the countermeasure structure and the characteristics of the temperature fluctuation on the control rod surface.

Journal Articles

Investigation on natural circulation behavior for decay heat removal in reactor vessel of sodium-cooled fast reactor under severe accident condition, 2; Transient behavior under operations of multiple decay heat removal systems

Aizawa, Kosuke; Tsuji, Mitsuyo; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu

Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2022/10

In sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), optimizing the design and operate decay heat removal systems (DHRSs) is important for safety enhancement against severe accidents. Thus, it is required to evaluate the cooling capability of DHRSs including the natural circulation behavior inside the reactor vessel during heat-removal phase that the fuel debris relocated in the reactor vessel is cooled by DHRSs. In this study, the experiments which simultaneously operations of the dipped-type DHX and the penetrated-type DHX were conducted to investigate the effect of operating multiple decay heat removal system on the natural circulation behavior in the reactor vessel. After achieving the stable conditions by operating the dipped-type DHX or the penetrated-type DHX, the other DHX was operated and the transient behavior was clarified by the temperature measurements. The clear temperature rise in the reactor vessel was confirmed by operating the penetrated-type DHX as second DHX operation under the condition of the dipped-type DHX operation at the beginning and the high heater power of fuel debris on the core catcher. Therefore, it was confirmed that the inhibition of the cooling for the decay heat occurred by operating multiple DHXs.

Journal Articles

Investigation on natural circulation behavior for decay heat removal in reactor vessel of sodium-cooled fast reactor under severe accident condition, 1; Effect of decay-heat conditions on natural circulation behavior under dipped-type DHX operation conditions

Tsuji, Mitsuyo; Aizawa, Kosuke; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu

Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 6 Pages, 2022/10

In sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), decay heat removal after a core disruptive accident (CDA) is an important issue for the safety enhancement. Therefore, water experiments using a 1/10 scale experimental apparatus (PHEASANT) that simulates the reactor vessel of an SFR are conducted to investigate the natural circulation phenomena in the reactor vessel. In this study, experiments under the operation of the dipped-type DHX were conducted to investigate the effect of the heat generation ratio between the fuel debris on the core catcher in lower plenum and the reactor core remnant on the natural circulation behavior in the reactor vessel. The temperature distribution and the velocity distribution were measured under two heat generation conditions. Thus, the effect of the heat generation ratio between the fuel debris in the lower plenum and the reactor core remnant on the natural circulation behavior was quantitatively grasped under the dipped-type DHX operating conditions.

Journal Articles

Investigation on natural circulation for decay heat removal in reactor vessel of sodium-cooled fast reactor

Aizawa, Kosuke; Tsuji, Mitsuyo; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu; Miyake, Yasuhiro*; Nakane, Shigeru*; Ishida, Katsuji*

Proceedings of International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles; Sustainable Clean Energy for the Future (FR22) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2022/04

In sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), optimizing the design and operate decay heat removal systems (DHRSs) is important for safety enhancement against severe accidents that could lead to core melting. The natural circulation phenomena in a reactor vessel during operating a DHRS were clarified by conducting water experiments using a 1:10 scale experimental facility (PHEASANT) simulating the reactor vessel of loop-type SFRs. In this study, we investigated the natural circulation phenomena under conditions of operating the dipped-type DHX and RVACS using the results of temperature and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of temperature fluctuation on the PIV measurement were quantitatively evaluated.

JAEA Reports

Experimental study on velocity distribution in the subchannels of a fuel pin bundle with wrapping wire; Evaluation of the characteristics of flow field in 3-pin bundle

Hiyama, Tomoyuki; Aizawa, Kosuke; Nishimura, Masahiro; Kurihara, Akikazu

JAEA-Research 2021-009, 29 Pages, 2021/11

JAEA-Research-2021-009.pdf:2.25MB

In sodium-cooled fast reactors, high burnup of fuel is required for practical use. It is important to predict and evaluate the flow behavior in a fuel assembly because there is a concern that the heat removal capacity of the fuel assembly with high burnup will be locally reduced due to swirling and thermal deformation of the fuel rods. In this study, flow field measurement tests were conducted using a 3-pin bundle system test specimen for the purpose of elucidating the phenomenon and constructing a verification database for thermal hydraulics analysis code. The viewpoints of the experiment for elucidating the phenomenon are as follows; (1) Overall flow behavior in the subchannel including near the wrapping wire, (2) Relationship between Reynolds number including laminar flow region and flow field, and (3) Evaluation of the effect of the presence or absence of wrapping wire on the flow field. As a result, detailed flow field data in the subchannel was obtained by PIV measurement. It was found that when the wrapping wire crossed the subchannel, the flow occurred toward adjacent subchannel and the flow occurred that follows the winding direction of the wrapping wire. It was confirmed that the tendency of the flow velocity distribution of the Reynolds number in the laminar flow region is significantly different from that of the transition region and the turbulent region under the condition. The test was conducted using a same 3-pin bundle system without the wrapping wire, and it was confirmed that mixing by the wrapping wire occurred even in the laminar flow region.

Journal Articles

Water experiments on thermal striping phenomena at the core outlet of an advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor, 1; Proposal of countermeasures to mitigate temperature fluctuations around control rods

Kobayashi, Jun; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ezure, Toshiki; Kurihara, Akikazu; Tanaka, Masaaki

Hozengaku, 20(3), p.89 - 96, 2021/10

Hot sodium from the fuel assembly can mix with cold sodium from the control rod (CR) channel and the blanket assemblies at the bottom plate of the Upper Internal Structure (UIS) of Advanced-SFR. Temperature fluctuation due to mixing of the fluids at different temperature between the core outlet and cold channel may cause high cycle thermal fatigue on the structure around the bottom of UIS. A water experiment using a 1/3 scale 60 degree sector model simulating the upper plenum of the Advanced-SFR has been conducted to examine countermeasures for the significant temperature fluctuation generated around the bottom of UIS. We focused on the temperature fluctuations near the primary and backup control rod channels, and studied the countermeasure structure to mitigate the temperature fluctuation through temperature distribution and flow velocity distribution measurements. As a result, effectiveness of the countermeasure to mitigate the temperature fluctuation intensity was confirmed.

Journal Articles

Water experiments on thermal striping phenomena at the core outlet of an advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor, 2; Proposal of countermeasures to mitigate temperature fluctuations around radial blanket fuel assemblies

Kobayashi, Jun; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ezure, Toshiki; Kurihara, Akikazu; Tanaka, Masaaki

Hozengaku, 20(3), p.97 - 101, 2021/10

Focusing on the thermal striping phenomena that occurs at a bottom of the internal structure of an advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor (Advanced-SFR) that has been designed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, a water experiment using a 1/3 scale 60 degree sector model simulating the upper plenum of the Advanced-SFR has been conducted to examine countermeasures for the significant temperature fluctuation generated around the bottom of Upper Internal Structure (UIS). In the previous paper, we reported the effect of measures to mitigate temperature fluctuations around the control rod channels. In this paper, the same test section was used, and a water experiment was conducted to obtain the characteristics of temperature fluctuations around the radial blanket fuel assembly. And the shape of the Core Instrumentation Support Plate (CIP) was modified, and it was confirmed that it was highly effective in alleviating temperature fluctuations around the radial blanket fuel assembly.

Journal Articles

Velocity distribution in the subchannels of a pin bundle with a wrapping wire; Evaluation of the Reynolds number dependence in a three-pin bundle

Aizawa, Kosuke; Hiyama, Tomoyuki; Nishimura, Masahiro; Kurihara, Akikazu; Ishida, Katsuji*

Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 8(4), p.20-00547_1 - 20-00547_11, 2021/08

A sodium-cooled fast reactor has been designed to attain a high burn-up core in commercialized fast reactor cycle systems. The sodium-cooled fast reactor adopts a wire spacer between fuel pins. The wire spacer performs functions of securing the coolant channel and the mixing between subchannels. In high burn-up fuel subassemblies, the fuel pin deformation due to swelling and thermal bowing may decrease the local flow velocity in the subassembly and influence the heat removal capability. Therefore, understanding the flow field in a wire-wrapped pin bundle is important. This study performed particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements using a wire-wrapped three-pin bundle water model to grasp the flow field in the subchannel under conditions, including the laminar to turbulent regions. In the region away from the wrapping wire, the maximum flow velocity was increased by decreasing the Re number. Accordingly, the PIV measurements using the three-pin bundle geometry without the wrapping wire were also conducted to understand the effect of the wrapping wires on the flow field in the subchannel. The results confirmed that the mixing due to the wrapping wire occurred, even in the laminar condition. These experimental results are useful not only for understanding the pin bundle thermal hydraulics, but also for the code validation.

Journal Articles

Development of hydrogen monitor; Applicability investigation of acoustic technique

Aizawa, Kosuke; Ara, Kuniaki; Hino, Ryutaro; Hirabayashi, Masaru*

Proceedings of OECD/NEA Specialist Workshop on Advanced Measurement Method and Instrumentation for enhancing Severe Accident Management in an NPP addressing Emergency, Stabilization and Long-term Recovery Phases (SAMMI 2020) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2020/12

Many functions of the instrumentation system did not work in the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in the severe condition. The function of the hydrogen concentration measurement system was lost due to power supply loss and coolant loss because the system was based on the sampling method. Therefore, the development of an on-site installation type hydrogen monitor which is not based on the sampling method and has environment resistance characteristics is required. Thus, a new type of hydrogen monitor by using acoustic technique has been developed at JAEA. The measurement principle is to detect the changing of sound velocity with the hydrogen concentration in a mixed gas. In this paper, the basic performance and influence of environmental conditions are described.

Journal Articles

Development and application of a $$^3$$He neutron spin filter at J-PARC

Okudaira, Takuya; Oku, Takayuki; Ino, Takashi*; Hayashida, Hirotoshi*; Kira, Hiroshi*; Sakai, Kenji; Hiroi, Kosuke; Takahashi, Shingo*; Aizawa, Kazuya; Endo, Hitoshi*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 977, p.164301_1 - 164301_8, 2020/10

 Times Cited Count:8 Percentile:81.16(Instruments & Instrumentation)

Journal Articles

Investigation on velocity distribution in the subchannels of pin bundle with wrapping wire; Evaluation of Reynolds number dependence in 3-pin bundle

Aizawa, Kosuke; Hiyama, Tomoyuki; Nishimura, Masahiro; Kurihara, Akikazu; Ishida, Katsuji*

Proceedings of 2020 International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2020) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2020/08

A sodium-cooled fast reactor is designed to attain a high burn-up core in commercialized fast reactor cycle systems. In high burn-up fuel subassemblies, the deformation of fuel pin due to the swelling and thermal bowing may decrease local flow velocity in the subassembly and influence the heat removal capability. Therefore, it is important to obtain the flow velocity distribution in a wire wrapped pin bundle. In this study, the detailed flow velocity distribution in the subchannel has been obtained by PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) measurement using a wire-wrapped 3-pin bundle water model. Flow velocity conditions in the pin bundle were set from 0.036 m/s ($$Re$$ = 270) to 1.6m/s ($$Re$$ = 13,500). From the PIV results, the maximum flow velocity was increased by decreasing the $$Re$$ number in the region away from the wrapping wire. Moreover, the PIV measurements by using the 3-pin bundle geometry without the wrapping wire were conducted. From the results, the effect of the wrapping wire on the flow field in the subchannel was understood. There experimental results useful not only for understanding of pin bundle thermal hydraulics but also code validation.

Journal Articles

Study on cooling process in a reactor vessel of sodium-cooled fast reactor under severe accident; Velocity measurement experiments simulating operation of decay heat removal systems

Tsuji, Mitsuyo; Aizawa, Kosuke; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu; Miyake, Yasuhiro*

Proceedings of 2020 International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2020) (Internet), 5 Pages, 2020/08

The water experiments using a 1/10 scale experimental apparatus simulating the reactor vessel of SFR were conducted to investigate the natural circulation phenomena in a reactor vessel. In this paper, the natural circulation flow field in the reactor vessel was measured by the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) method. The PIV measurement was carried out under the operation of the dipped-type direct heat exchanger (DHX) installed in the upper plenum when 20% of the core fuel fell to the lower plenum and accumulated on the core catcher. From the results of PIV measurement, it was quantitatively confirmed that the upward flow occurred at the center region of the lower and upper plenums. In addition, the downward flows were confirmed near the reactor vessel wall in the upper plenum and through outermost layer of the simulated core in the lower plenum. Moreover, the relationship between the temperature field and the velocity field was investigated in order to understand the natural circulation phenomenon in the reactor vessel. From the above results, it was confirmed that the natural circulation cooling path was established under the dipped-type DHX operation.

Journal Articles

Development of the neutron polarizer for the T-violation search using compound nuclei

Okudaira, Takuya; Oku, Takayuki; Sakai, Kenji; Ino, Takashi*; Hayashida, Hirotoshi*; Hiroi, Kosuke; Shinohara, Takenao; Kakurai, Kazuhisa*; Aizawa, Kazuya; Shimizu, Hirohiko*; et al.

Proceedings of Science (Internet), 356, p.029_1 - 029_5, 2019/12

The technology development section carries out the development of the neutron polarization device: $$^{3}$$He Spin Filter. It is often used for the fundamental physics region. In order to explain the matter-dominated universe, a time reversal violation is necessary and searches for new physics are conducted in the world. The T-violation search using a polarized neutron beam is planned at J-PARC. A large $$^{3}$$He spin filter is needed to polarize high energy neutrons for the experiment and is developed in JAEA. Recently, we developed the accurate measurement system to evaluate the polarization of $$^{3}$$He and a vacuum system to make the $$^{3}$$He spin filter, and large $$^{3}$$He spin filters for epi-thermal neutron was made using the system. The current status of the development of the $$^{3}$$He spin filter will be talked.

Journal Articles

Effects of temperature fluctuation on PIV measurement of natural circulation flow field

Tsuji, Mitsuyo; Aizawa, Kosuke; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu; Miyake, Yasuhiro*

Proceedings of 14th International Symposium on Advanced Science and Technology in Experimental Mechanics (14th ISEM'19) (USB Flash Drive), 4 Pages, 2019/11

The particle image velocimetry (PIV) was measured in scaled-model water experiments simulating a natural circulation flow field in a sodium-cooled fast reactor vessel. The temperature fluctuation in the natural circulation flow field causes the distribution of the refractive index. Thus, the temperature fluctuation affects the uncertainty of the velocity in the PIV measurement. In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of the temperature fluctuation on the PIV measurement in the natural circulation flow field.

Journal Articles

Development of under sodium viewer for next generation sodium-cooled Fast reactor; Imaging test in sodium

Aizawa, Kosuke; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Ara, Kuniaki; Yui, Masahiro*; Jinno, Kentaro*; Hiramatsu, Takashi*

Proceedings of 2019 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2019) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2019/05

Inspection technique in opaque liquid metal coolant is one of important issues for sodium-cooled fast reactors. Various under sodium viewers (USVs), including horizontal USVs for obstacle detection and imaging USVs, have been developed in several research institutes and countries. We aim practical realization of imaging USV which adopts an optical receiving system, which measures the vibration displacement of diaphragm by using a laser as a receiving sensor. This study mainly focuses on the sensitivity improvement of a receiving sensor. An issue for the sensitivity improvement of the receiving sensor is the sound pressure propagation inside the receiving sensor. Prototype tests in the water and sodium were conducted in order to resolve the issue. In addition, imaging experiments in the water and sodium were conducted using the improved receiving sensor. From the results of imaging experiments, the relation between obtained wave profile and the regeneration imaging was confirmed.

Journal Articles

Performance evaluation of eddy current flowmeter in Monju

Aizawa, Kosuke; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Morohashi, Yuko

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 55(12), p.1393 - 1401, 2018/12

 Times Cited Count:2 Percentile:24.05(Nuclear Science & Technology)

Measurement of the temperature and flow rate at each fuel subassembly outlet is an effective way for a liquid metal fast breeder reactor to detect a loss of coolant accident or reactivity-initiated accident in the early stage and to understand the reactor's thermal hydrodynamic performance. Japan Atomic Energy Agency has developed the eddy current flowmeter in practical use and installed 34 of them in the upper core structure of fast breeder reactor, Monju. This report presents data obtained by using the flowmeters in Monju. We observed high linearity between each of the flowmeter's signal intensity and the primary sodium's flow rate under 10-100% flow rate condition. The fluctuation of flow rate observed by the flowmeters was below 0.2 m/s which is 5% of the time-averaged velocity under a rated condition. These experimental results show that the eddy current flowmeter is an effective tool to detect the changes in relative flow rate.

Journal Articles

Measurement of Velocity Field in Five Jets Water Test (FIWAT) for thermal striping in sodium-cooled fast reactor

Aizawa, Kosuke; Kobayashi, Jun; Tanaka, Masaaki; Kurihara, Akikazu; Ishida, Katsuji*; Nagasawa, Kazuyoshi*

Proceedings of 11th Korea-Japan Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS-11) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2018/11

A conceptual design of an advanced loop type sodium cooled reactor has been carried out in the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Temperature fluctuation is caused by mixing of fluids at different temperature from the control rod channels and the core fuel assemblies, high cycle thermal fatigue may arise on the Core Instrument Plane (CIP) at bottom of the Upper Internal Structure (UIS). In JAEA, 1/3-scaled five jets water tests (FIWAT) have been performed in order to investigate thermal striping phenomena around the CIP. In this study, the velocity field was measured in the mixing area between the jet outlet and the bottom of the structure by using particle image velocimetry (PIV) to compare with the temperature fluctuation characteristics.

Journal Articles

Demonstration of under sodium viewer in Monju

Aizawa, Kosuke; Sasaki, Koei; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Fukuie, Masaru*; Jimbo, Noboru*

Nuclear Technology, 204(1), p.74 - 82, 2018/10

 Times Cited Count:0 Percentile:0.01(Nuclear Science & Technology)

Development of inspection technique in opaque liquid metal coolant is one of the important issues to ensure the safety of Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR). Performance tests of an Under Sodium Viewer (USV), which was developed to detect an obstacle in the reactor vessel (RV) of LMFBR Monju, have been carried out. The ultrasonic sensors and reflectors are located across the core inside of the Monju's RV. The USV can detect an obstacle existing in between the core top and the Upper Core Structure (UCS) bottom by identifying differences of echo signals. This report describes the USV performance tests. In the tests, the reference echo signals under various conditions were accumulated and the signal to noise ratio successfully exceeded the target value. Measured signals clearly differed from with and without an obstacle. These experimental results show the performance of the USV for detecting an obstacle in the specified place.

Journal Articles

Development of under sodium viewer for next generation sodium-cooled fast reactors

Aizawa, Kosuke; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Ara, Kuniaki; Yui, Masahiro*; Uemoto, Yohei*; Kurokawa, Masaaki*; Hiramatsu, Takashi*

Proceedings of International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles; Next Generation Nuclear Systems for Sustainable Development (FR-17) (USB Flash Drive), 9 Pages, 2017/06

Inspection in opaque liquid metal coolant is one of important issues for sodium-cooled fast reactors. To facilitate operations and maintenance activities, various under sodium viewers (USVs), including horizontal USVs for obstacle detection for a long distance and imaging USVs for a short and middle distance imaging, have been developed in several research institutes and countries. In this study, an imaging USV for a middle distance, approximately 1 m, has been developed. The USV in this study adopts an optical receiving system which measures the vibration displacement of diaphragm by using a laser as a receiving sensor. This study mainly focuses on the sensitivity improvement for a transmission sensor and the receiving sensor. In addition, an imaging experiment in the water was conducted using the new transmission sensor and receiving sensor. The experimental results showed that the newly developed USV sensors can make higher resolution images of a target than the previous sensors.

Journal Articles

Development of prototype reactor maintenance, 2; Application to piping support of sodium-cooled reactor prototype

Arai, Masanobu; Kunogi, Kosuke; Aizawa, Kosuke; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Takaya, Shigeru; Kubo, Shigenobu; Kotake, Shoji*; Ito, Takaya*; Yamaguchi, Akira*

Proceedings of 2017 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2017) (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2017/04

Applications for maintenance program on piping support of prototype fast breeder reactor Monju are studied. Based on degradation mechanism, snubbers in Monju primary cooling system showed lifetime more than the plant lifetime of 30 years by experiments conservatively. For the first step during construction, visual inspection on accessible all supports could be available. In that visual inspection, mounting conditions and damages of all accessible supports could be monitored. One of major features of the Monju primary piping system is large thermal expansion due to large temperature difference between maintenance and operation conditions. Thanks to that large thermal expansion, integrity of the piping support could be monitored by measuring piping displacement. When technologies of piping displacement monitoring are matured in Monju, visual inspection on piping support could be shifted to piping displacement monitoring. At that stage, the visual inspection could be limited only on representative supports.

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