Recovery of helium refrigerator performance for cryogenic hydrogen system at J-PARC MLF

Aso, Tomokazu; Teshigawara, Makoto; Hasegawa, Shoichi; Muto, Hideki; Aoyagi, Katsuhiro; Nomura, Kazutaka; Takada, Hiroshi

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 1021(1), p.012085_1 - 012085_4, 2018/06

BB2016-1899.pdf:0.54MB

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1021/1/012085

Investigation and measures of abnormal events of helium refrigerator for cryogenic hydrogen system at J-PARC

Aso, Tomokazu; Teshigawara, Makoto; Hasegawa, Shoichi; Aoyagi, Katsuhiro*; Muto, Hideki*; Nomura, Kazutaka*; Takada, Hiroshi; Ikeda, Yujiro

JAEA-Technology 2017-021, 75 Pages, 2017/08

JAEA-Technology-2017-021.pdf:33.03MB

Liquid hydrogen is employed as a cold neutron moderator material at the spallation neutron source of Materials and Life science experimental Facility of Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). From January 2015, it became observable that the differential pressure between heat exchangers and an 80 K adsorber (ADS) in a helium refrigerator system increased with operating time. In November 2015, the differential pressure rise became more significant, leading to degrade the refrigerating performance in cooling liquid hydrogen. In order to investigate the cause of the abnormal differential pressure rise between the heat exchangers and the ADS, we carried out visual inspection inside the heat exchangers and analyzed the impurities contained in the helium gas. Unfortunately, we could not identify the impurities causing the performance degradation, but observed a trace of oil in the inlet piping of the heat exchanger. Based on investigations of the abnormal events occurred in the refrigerators with similar refrigerating capacity at other facilities, we took measures that cleaning the heat exchangers with Freon and replacing the ADS with new one. As a result, the differential pressure rise phenomenon was removed to recover the performance. We have detected oil from the Freon used for cleaning the heat exchangers and at a felt supporting charcoal packed in the ADS. In particular, oil was accumulated in membranous form onto the felt at the entrance side in the ADS. The amount of oil contained in the helium gas was about 10 ppb or so, less than the design value, in the helium refrigerator. However, the oil accumulated onto the felt in the ADS through long operating period may cause abnormal differential pressure rise, leading to the performance degradation of the helium refrigerator. Further study is needed to specify the cause more clearly.

Operational experiences of J-PARC cryogenic hydrogen system for a spallation neutron source

Tatsumoto, Hideki; Aso, Tomokazu; Otsu, Kiichi; Kawakami, Yoshihiko; Aoyagi, Katsuhiro; Muto, Hideki

IOP Conference Series; Materials Science and Engineering, 101, p.012107_1 - 012107_8, 2015/12

https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/101/1/012107

The Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) cryogenic hydrogen system was completed in April 2008. The proton beam power was gradually increased to 500 kW. A trial 600-kW proton beam operation was successfully completed in April 2015. We achieved long-lasting operation for more than three months. However, thus far, we encountered several problems such as unstable operation of the helium refrigerator because of some impurities, failure of a welded bellows of an accumulator, and hydrogen pump issues. Furthermore, the Great East Japan Earthquake was experienced during the cryogenic hydrogen system operation in March 2011. In this study, we describe the operation characteristics and our experiences with the J-PARC cryogenic hydrogen system.

Performance degradation of helium refrigerator for liquid hydrogen circulation system of J-PARC high intensity neutron source; Over view of performance degradation

Aso, Tomokazu; Teshigawara, Makoto; Hasegawa, Shoichi; Muto, Hideki*; Aoyagi, Katsuhiro*; Takada, Hiroshi; Ikeda, Yujiro

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Performance degradation of helium refrigerator for liquid hydrogen circulation system of J-PARC high intensity neutron source; Investigation of performance degradation

Teshigawara, Makoto; Aso, Tomokazu; Hasegawa, Shoichi; Muto, Hideki*; Aoyagi, Katsuhiro*; Takada, Hiroshi; Ikeda, Yujiro

no journal, , 

Performance degradation of helium refrigerator was occurred for liquid hydrogen circulation system of J-PARC high intensity neutron source since 2015. In order to find the cause of performance degradation of helium refrigerator, we investigated the impurities in helium gas and accumulated oil in inside cold box components by quadrupole mass spectrometer and organic solvent extraction. The measured impurities and accumulated oil were less than design value. We collected 143g of total amount of accumulated oil from heat exchanger and adosorber, which was corresponded to estimated value from 10 ppb of oil contamination in helium and accumulated operation period. However, we only could find out that accumulated oil like coating film on top surface of felt, which was used to hold the active charcoal in adsorber. We report detailed measurement results of impurities, accumulated oil, etc., to find the cause of performance degradation.

Present status and test result of 1MW proton beam injection of liquid hydrogen circulation system of J-PARC high intensity neutron source

Aso, Tomokazu; Teshigawara, Makoto; Muto, Hideki*; Aoyagi, Katsuhiro*; Takada, Hiroshi

no journal, , 

Liquid hydrogen (20 K, 1.4 MPaG) is employed as a cold neutron moderator material at the 1 MW spallation neutron source of Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). The cryogenic hydrogen system, combined with a helium refrigerator, was adopted to generate a liquid hydrogen circulation flow (185 g/s). Since January 2015, a pressure drop gradually increased between heat exchangers HXs) and an adsorber (ADS) in the helium refrigerator for each operation, causing the refrigerator performance degradation. The performance of helium refrigerator could be recovered as a result of countermeasures focused on accumulated oil removal, such as cleaning the inside HXs and exchanging the ADS at 2016 summer shutdown, however the detailed cause is still in doubt. On the other hand, a long run stable operation could be secured over 175 days in 2018. Just end of long run operation, a first high-intensity-beam injection with 1MW beam power was also carried out for one hour aiming to confirm the refrigerator performance according to design requirement.

Remote technology development for function advancement of research base, 5; Applicability examination for leakage sealing using the photo-curable resin

Shimada, Kozue; Ooka, Makoto; Maekawa, Yasunari; Tomizuka, Chiaki; Murakami, Tomoyuki*; Katagiri, Genichi*; Ozaki, Hiroshi*; Aoyagi, Katsuhiro*; Kawamura, Hiroshi

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Attempts of radiation safety education in the southern Fukushima-Hamadoori district, 3; Joint NCT-JAEA radiation safety/decommissioning classes and meetings at the campus

Nakai, Toshiro; Sato, Seichi*; Kinoshita, Hirotsugu*; Jitsukawa, Shiro*; Aoyagi, Katsuhiro*; Nara, Koichi*; Suzuki, Shigekazu*; Katayama, Atsushi

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Development of a water stoppage technique using the photo-curable resin for decommissioning

Shimada, Kozue; Ooka, Makoto; Maekawa, Yasunari*; Tomizuka, Chiaki; Katagiri, Genichi*; Aoyagi, Katsuhiro*; Shibata, Takuya; Koyama, Shinichi

no journal, ,