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Maeda, Shigetaka; Ito, Chikara; Sekine, Takashi; Aoyama, Takafumi
Journal of Power and Energy Systems (Internet), 6(2), p.184 - 196, 2012/06
The verification of calculated core characteristics of the Joyo MK-III core using the JUPITER fast reactor standard analysis method was conducted by comparing with the measured values through the core physics tests. The purpose is to upgrade the core performance to increase the driver fuel burn-up and to increase the excess reactivity necessary for conducting various irradiation tests in the core region. Most of the C/Es are within 5% of unity. Through the comparisons, the calculation accuracy of the JUPITER standard analysis method for a small size sodium cooled fast reactor with a hard neutron spectrum was clarified. As a result of this study, more irradiation tests can be performed with appropriate safety margin and the efficient core and fuel management can be achieved to save the number of refueling.
Aoyama, Takafumi; Ishikawa, Takashi; Ito, Chikara; Iwata, Yoshihiro; Harano, Hideki*
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 106(1), p.611 - 613, 2012/06
We studied the failed fuel detection and location (FFDL) system by means of laser resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS). The applicability of the RIMS system for Monju and its installation were investigated in this study. It was found that the RIMS is able to identify the neighboring tag gas which is used for Monju with the 68% reliability. The newly designed RIMS system can be accommodated in the present facility and can be connected to primary cover gas lines without affects to the current FFDL function of the conventional system.
Ito, Chikara; Araki, Yoshio; Naito, Hiroyuki; Iwata, Yoshihiro; Aoyama, Takafumi
Proceedings of International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles (FR 2009) (CD-ROM), 12 Pages, 2012/00
no abstracts in English
Nakamura, Kinya*; Ogata, Takanari*; Kikuchi, Hironobu; Iwai, Takashi; Nakajima, Kunihisa; Kato, Tetsuya*; Arai, Yasuo; Uozumi, Koichi*; Hijikata, Takatoshi*; Koyama, Tadafumi*; et al.
Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 10(4), p.245 - 256, 2011/12
Sodium-bonded metallic fuel elements were fabricated for the first time in Japan for the irradiation test in the experimental fast test reactor JOYO. U-20Pu-10Zr fuel slugs of 200 mm in length and approximately 5 mm in diameter were fabricated in a small-scale injection casting furnace. Each fuel slug was loaded into the ferritic martenstic stainless steel (PNC-FMS) cladding tube with the sodium thermal bond, thermal insulator and reflector in a helium gas atmosphere glove box. After top-end plug welding to the cladding tube and heat treatment of the welding area, each fuel element was subjected to the sodium bonding process. After the inspection such as element length, gas plenum length and helium-leak tightness, six metallic fuel elements are transported to the JOYO site for the coming irradiation test.
Nakamura, Kinya*; Ogata, Takanari*; Kikuchi, Hironobu; Iwai, Takashi; Nakajima, Kunihisa; Kato, Tetsuya*; Arai, Yasuo; Koyama, Tadafumi*; Itagaki, Wataru; Soga, Tomonori; et al.
Proceedings of International Conference on Toward and Over the Fukushima Daiichi Accident (GLOBAL 2011) (CD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2011/12
CRIEPI and JAEA have fabricated sodium-bonded metallic fuel elements for the first time in Japan as a collaborative research, for use in the irradiation test at the experimental fast test reactor Joyo. The irradiation test aims to assess the irradiation behavior of the fuel and the internal wastage of the stainless-steel cladding by rare-earth fission products at a maximum cladding temperature above 873 K. U-20 wt% Pu-10 wt% Zr alloy fuel slugs of 200 mm length were fabricated in an injection-casting furnace using U metal, U-Pu alloy and Zr metal. Two types of fuel slug were fabricated, i.e., 5.05 mm and 4.95 mm in diameter, and loaded into a ferritic-martensitic stainless-steel cladding tubes, respectively. After top-end-plug welding to the cladding tube, each fuel element was subjected to sodium bonding to fill the annular gap between the fuel slug and the cladding with melted sodium. The fabrication results indicated that the characteristics of the fuel elements were within the required specifications.
Maeda, Shigetaka; Ito, Chikara; Sekine, Takashi; Aoyama, Takafumi
Proceedings of 19th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-19) (CD-ROM), 10 Pages, 2011/10
The verification of calculated core characteristics of the Joyo MK-III core using the JUPITER fast reactor standard analysis method was conducted by comparing with the measured values through the core physics tests. The purpose is to upgrade the core performance to increase the driver fuel burn-up and to increase the excess reactivity necessary for conducting various irradiation tests in the core region. Most of the C/Es are within 5% of unity. Through the comparisons, the calculation accuracy of the JUPITER standard analysis method for a small size sodium cooled fast reactor with a hard neutron spectrum like Joyo was clarified. As a result of this study, more irradiation tests can be performed with appropriate safety margin and the efficient core and fuel management can be achieved to save the number of refueling.
Ito, Chikara; Ito, Hideaki; Ishida, Koichi; Aoyama, Takafumi
JAEA-Technology 2011-007, 56 Pages, 2011/06
In the experimental fast reactor Joyo, measurement for characterizing and predicting the deposition condition and the condition change of the corrosion product (CP) that is the major radiation source in equipments and piping of primary cooling system has been carried out regularly from early period of reactor operation. Cooling system modification work with the shift to the MK-III core was carried out after the last measurement that was carried out, and the main equipments such as intermediate heat exchangers were replaced. This measurement in this report was carried out at after the 2nd cycle operation of the MK-III core which started formal operation.
Maeda, Shigetaka; Yamamoto, Masaya; Soga, Tomonori; Sekine, Takashi; Aoyama, Takafumi
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 48(4), p.693 - 700, 2011/04
Core modification was investigated to further increase the core burn-up of the experimental fast reactor Joyo. This modification also enables the core to accommodate more irradiation test subassemblies that have lower fissile material content compared to the driver fuel. The design calculations showed that the replacement of the radial reflector elements made of stainless steel with those made of zirconium of nickel-base ally is effective in improving neutron efficiency. The irradiation tests capacity can be increased by reducing the number of control rods based on the re-evaluation of the design margin in the control rod worth calculation. These modifications will be useful to save driver fuels and to enhance the Joyo's irradiation capability.
Ito, Hideaki; Maeda, Shigetaka; Naito, Hiroyuki; Akiyama, Yoichi; Miyamoto, Kazuyuki; Ashida, Takashi; Noguchi, Koichi; Ito, Chikara; Aoyama, Takafumi
JAEA-Technology 2010-049, 129 Pages, 2011/03
The in-vessel gamma dose rate was measured in the experimental fast reactor Joyo to evaluate the activation of reactor structural components and the radiation exposure of the fiber scope used for in-vessel visual inspection. The measurement system, which requires a wide sensitivity range and high durability in a high-temperature environment, was specifically developed for use in the sodium cooled fast reactor. Using this system, the in-vessel gamma dose rate with cooling times of 450 and 720 days after reactor shutdown was measured in Joyo, which has been operated for 71,000 hours over approximately 30 years. The gamma dose rate was calculated using QAD-CGGP2 code with the gamma source intensity obtained by the ORIGEN2 code. The neutron flux used as input to the ORIGEN2 was evaluated by the Joyo dosimetry method. The ratio between the calculated and experimental values ranged from 1.1 to 2.4, confirming the accuracy of gamma dose rate and component activation calculation.
Maeda, Shigetaka; Naito, Hiroyuki; Ito, Chikara; Aoyama, Takafumi
Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology (Internet), 1, p.182 - 185, 2011/02
In-vessel rate measurements have been conducted in the experimental fast reactor Joyo to obtain experimental data and to verify the analysis method. The in-vessel
dose with cooling times of 500 and 700 days after reactor shutdown was measured in Joyo which had been operated for approximately 30 years. The
dose was calculated using QAD code with the
source obtained by ORIGEN2 code. The ratios between the calculated and experimental value was ranged 1.3 and 2.7. The accuracy of analys method for the amount and distribution of radioactive products and
ray dose inside reactor vessel was confirmed for the in-vessel inspection or repair.
Maeda, Shigetaka; Ito, Chikara; Aoyama, Takafumi; Maeda, Yukimoto; Chatani, Keiji
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 103(1), p.581 - 582, 2010/11
The experimental fast reactor Joyo of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is the first liquid sodium fast reactor in Japan. Thirty years of successful operation of Joyo has shown excellent safety and reliability, and has contributed much to the LMFBR development program. Many kinds of irradiation experience have been accumulated to develop the fuels and materials for the prototype reactor Monju and future fast reactors. Accumulated data have been registered with OECD/NEA database with expectation that these data will be widely used. Joyo is presently temporary shutdown because of periodical inspection including in-vessel inspection and repair. After restart, Joyo will play a key role for a wide variety of science and technology fields as fast neutron irradiation bed.
Kawasaki, Hirotsugu; Aoyama, Takafumi; Sakuma, Yuichi
Denki Kyokai-Ho, (1030), p.12 - 17, 2010/10
no abstracts in English
Ito, Chikara; Iwata, Yoshihiro; Harano, Hideki*; Iguchi, Tetsuo*; Aoyama, Takafumi
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 102(1), p.416 - 417, 2010/06
no abstracts in English
Nakanishi, Shigeyuki*; Hosoya, Takusaburo; Kubo, Shigenobu*; Kotake, Shoji; Takamatsu, Misao; Aoyama, Takafumi; Ikarimoto, Iwao*; Kato, Jungo*; Shimakawa, Yoshio*; Harada, Kiyoshi*
Nuclear Technology, 170(1), p.181 - 188, 2010/04
Times Cited Count:14 Percentile:69.9(Nuclear Science & Technology)A self-actuated shutdown system (SASS) for sodium cooled fast reactor (SFR) is a passive safety feature which inserts control rods by the gravity force, where the detachment of the rods would be achieved by the coolant temperature rise under anticipated transient without scram (ATWS) conditions. Various out-of-pile tests have already carried out to investigate the basic characteristics of SASS, and a demonstration test of holding stability under the reactor operation condition has been performed, where a function test of the driving system to re-connect and of pulling out the control rod have been done in the experimental reactor JOYO. The element irradiation tests have been also conducted to confirm that no impact will be foreseen by the irradiation. The effectiveness of SASS for a reference core design of JSFR has been evaluated through all types of ATWS. As a result, it is ensured that JSFR will have a reliable passive shutdown system.
Iwata, Yoshihiro; Ito, Chikara; Aoyama, Takafumi*
KEK Proceedings 2010-10, p.52 - 62, 2010/02
For the fast reactors, rapid and accurate detection of fuel failures as well as subsequent identification of failed fuel location, if occurred, are essential to protect workers from radiation exposure and to reduce radiation contamination. A new type of failed fuel detection and location (FFDL) technique focused on the gas tagging method has been proposed by using resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) for the isotope analysis of the cover gas. Precise isotope analysis of ppt level Kr and Xe in Ar needed involves the two problems, which are the saturation of the output voltage by Ar ions and the Ar
interference mainly with
Kr. We proposed two methods, Brewster window and electrode with a slit-type hole, to decrease the adverse effect of Ar
and Ar
ions without any loss of Kr
and Xe
ion signals. The obtained measurement results using 100 ppt of Kr containing Ar standard gas show that we could successfully decrease the Ar
ion yield by one to two orders of magnitude or more and that the mass peak of
Kr corresponding to its nuclide concentration of
2 ppt was clearly observed without any obvious Ar
peak. The precision of the isotope analysis seems to be about 10% for ppt level detection of Kr and slightly better for Xe, and is dominated by statistical errors. The next step is to increase the detection efficiency of our RIMS system to reduce statistical errors for further reliability improvement of RIMS in the FFDL system.
Okawachi, Yasushi; Maeda, Shigetaka; Ito, Chikara; Kawahara, Hirotaka; Aoyama, Takafumi; Ishida, Koichi
JAEA-Technology 2009-047, 130 Pages, 2009/09
This report summarizes the contents about "Reactor physics and plant dynamics experiments using the Joyo simulator" which is one of the training themes. Training is performed using the full scope nuclear reactor simulator for Joyo operation training. While pushing from starting of a nuclear reactor in each experiment of criticality, a control rod proofreading examination, measurement of the temperature of a nuclear reactor, or the reactivity coefficient accompanying output change, feedback reactivity measurement of a fast reactor, etc. and understanding self-regulating characteristics peculiar to a nuclear reactor, the operation of a nuclear reactor can be experienced.
Itagaki, Wataru; Saito, Takakazu; Imaizumi, Kazuyuki; Nagai, Akinori; Aoyama, Takafumi; Maeda, Yukimoto
Dai-14-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu, p.435 - 438, 2009/06
no abstracts in English
Ishikawa, Koki; Takamatsu, Misao; Kawahara, Hirotaka; Mihara, Takatsugu; Kurisaka, Kenichi; Terano, Toshihiro; Murakami, Takanori; Noritsugi, Akihiro; Iseki, Atsushi; Saito, Takakazu; et al.
JAEA-Technology 2009-004, 140 Pages, 2009/05
Probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) has been applied to nuclear plants as a method to achieve effective safety regulation and safety management. In order to establish the PSA standard for fast breeder reactor (FBR), the FBR-PSA for internal events in rated power operation is studied by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The level1 PSA on the experimental fast reactor Joyo was conducted to investigate core damage probability for internal events with taking human factors effect and dependent failures into account. The result of this study shows that the core damage probability of Joyo is 5.010
per reactor year (/ry) and that the core damage probability is smaller than the safety goal for existed plants (10 ry) and future plants (10
/ry) in the IAEA INSAG-12 (International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group) basic safety principle.
Kaito, Takeji; Otsuka, Satoshi; Inoue, Masaki; Asayama, Tai; Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Mizuta, Shunji; Ukai, Shigeharu*; Furukawa, Tomohiro; Ito, Chikara; Kagota, Eiichi; et al.
Journal of Nuclear Materials, 386-388, p.294 - 298, 2009/04
Times Cited Count:30 Percentile:88.38(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)In order to examine irradiation effect on creep rupture strength of Oxide Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) steel claddings, the in-pile creep rupture test was conducted using Material Testing Rig with Temperature Control (MARICO)-2 in the experimental fast reactor JOYO. Fourteen creep rupture events were successfully detected by the temperature change in each capsule and the -ray spectrometry of the cover gas. Time to creep ruptures of six ODS steel specimens were identified by means of Laser Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry (RIMS), and no irradiation effect on creep rupture strength was confirmed within the irradiation condition in the MARICO-2 test.
Aoyama, Takafumi; Ito, Chikara; Okazaki, Koki*; Harano, Hideki*; Watanabe, Kenichi*; Iguchi, Tetsuo*
Nihon Kikai Gakkai Rombunshu, B, 75(751), p.468 - 470, 2009/03
no abstracts in English