Development of coupling technology for high temperature gas-cooled reactors and hydrogen production facility; HTTR heat application test project plan

Ishii, Katsunori; Morita, Keisuke; Noguchi, Hiroki; Aoki, Takeshi; Mizuta, Naoki; Hasegawa, Takeshi; Nagatsuka, Kentaro; Nomoto, Yasunobu; Shimizu, Atsushi; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; et al.

Dai-27-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.1299/jsmepes.2023.27.A242

Experiment and numerical simulation of pulsation flow in single channel for Li-7 enrichment technology development by MCCCE method

Horiguchi, Naoki; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Kitatsuji, Yoshihiro; Hasegawa, Makoto*; Kishimoto, Tadafumi*

Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2023/05

From the viewpoint of energy security in Japan and reduction of the environmental load, continuous operation of light water reactors is essential. Since a pH adjuster with enriched Li-7 ions is required for water quality control on PWR, the development of Li-7 enrichment technology is one of the key issues. The multi-channel counter-current electrophoresis (MCCCE) method has been developed as the technology with a low environmental load. To put this method into practical use, it is necessary to understand Li-7 ion behavior in the channel flow and optimize the experimental condition to separate Li-7 and its isotope. In this paper, to understand Li-7 ion behavior in a single channel of the experimental apparatus, a numerical simulation method based on a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code with a particle tracking method, TPFIT-LPT, was developed. In the method, the motion of multiple ions under the electric field was simulated as a particle with an added velocity by the electric field. The difference in the isotopes was represented by changing of the magnitude of the added velocity. We also considered that although it is impossible to measure the behavior of each ion, it is important to measure the flow velocity of the bulk fluid for the validation of the numerical simulation. We developed a lab-scale experimental apparatus in which the single channel of the actual apparatus was simplified to measure the flow velocity by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). We set a pulsation flow condition on the lab-scale experiment, which is one of difficult conditions for the numerical simulation, and measured the velocity. As the result, we confirmed that the pulsation flow was reproduced. We set the measured data as the inlet boundary condition of the numerical simulation and conducted it. As the numerical result, we confirmed the ions affected by the electric field moved upstream with pulsation. We also confirmed the effect of the electric field on the motion of the isotope.

Design and actual performance of J-PARC 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron for high-intensity operation

Yamamoto, Kazami; Kinsho, Michikazu; Hayashi, Naoki; Saha, P. K.; Tamura, Fumihiko; Yamamoto, Masanobu; Tani, Norio; Takayanagi, Tomohiro; Kamiya, Junichiro; Shobuda, Yoshihiro; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(9), p.1174 - 1205, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2038301

In the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, the purpose of the 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) is to accelerate a 1 MW, high-intensity proton beam. To achieve beam operation at a repetition rate of 25 Hz at high intensities, the RCS was elaborately designed. After starting the RCS operation, we carefully verified the validity of its design and made certain improvements to establish a reliable operation at higher power as possible. Consequently, we demonstrated beam operation at a high power, namely, 1 MW. We then summarized the design, actual performance, and improvements of the RCS to achieve a 1 MW beam.

Safety design philosophy of HTTR Heat Application Test Facility

Aoki, Takeshi; Shimizu, Atsushi; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; Okita, Shoichiro; Hasegawa, Takeshi; Mizuta, Naoki; Sato, Hiroyuki; Sakaba, Nariaki

JAEA-Technology 2022-011, 60 Pages, 2022/07

JAEA-Technology-2022-011.pdf:2.08MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency is planning a High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) heat application test producing hydrogen with the HTTR which achieved the highest reactor outlet coolant temperature of 950C in the world to realize a massive, cost-effective and carbon-free hydrogen production technology utilizing a high temperature gas cooled reactor (HTGR). In the HTTR heat application test, it is required to establish its safety design for coupling a hydrogen production plant to HTGR through the licensing by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA). A draft of a safety design philosophy for the HTTR heat application test facility was considered taking into account postulated events due to the plant modification and coupling of the hydrogen production plant based on the HTTR safety design which was authorized through the safety review of the NRA against New Regulatory Requirements. The safety design philosophy was examined to apply proven conventional chemical plant standards to the hydrogen production plant for ensuring public safety against disasters caused by high pressure gases. This report presents a result of a consideration on safety design philosophies regarding the reasonability and condition to apply the High Pressure Gas Safety Act for the hydrogen production plant, safety classifications, seismic design classification, identification of important safety system.

Reliability of J-PARC accelerator system over the past decade

Yamamoto, Kazami; Hasegawa, Kazuo; Kinsho, Michikazu; Oguri, Hidetomo; Hayashi, Naoki; Yamazaki, Yoshio; Naito, Fujio*; Yoshii, Masahito*; Toyama, Takeshi*

JPS Conference Proceedings (Internet), 33, p.011016_1 - 011016_7, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSCP.33.011016

The Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) is a multipurpose facility for scientific experiments. The accelerator complex consists of a 400-MeV Linac, a 3-GeV Rapid-Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) and a 30-GeV Main Ring synchrotron (MR). The RCS delivers a proton beam to the neutron target and MR, and the MR delivers the beams to the neutrino target and the Hadron Experimental Facility. The first operation of the neutron experiments began in December 2008. Following this, the user operation has been continued with some accidental suspensions. These suspensions include the recovery work due to the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 and the radiation leak incident at the Hadron Experimental Facility. In this report, we summarize the major causes of suspension, and the statistics of the reliability of J-PARC accelerator system is analyzed. Owing to our efforts to achieve higher reliability, the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) has been improved.

Nanostructures and viscosities of nafion dispersions in water/ethanol from dilute to concentrated regimes

Gupit, C. I.*; Li, X.*; Maekawa, Ryosuke*; Hasegawa, Naoki*; Iwase, Hiroki*; Takata, Shinichi; Shibayama, Mitsuhiro*

Macromolecules, 53(4), p.1464 - 1473, 2020/02

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.9b02314

Status of J-PARC accelerators

Hasegawa, Kazuo; Kinsho, Michikazu; Oguri, Hidetomo; Yamamoto, Kazami; Hayashi, Naoki; Yamazaki, Yoshio; Naito, Fujio*; Yoshii, Masahito*; Yamamoto, Noboru*; Koseki, Tadashi*

Proceedings of 15th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (Internet), p.1317 - 1321, 2018/08

After the summer shutdown in 2017, the J-PARC restarted user operation in late October. The Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) used a spare target and the beam power was limited to 150-200kW. The target was replaced with a new one in the summer shutdown. The beam power was for user operation gradually increased from 300 kW to 500 kW. We have successfully demonstrated 1MW 1hour operation in July 2018. The beam power for the neutrino experimental facility (NU) was 440 kW to 470 kW. The beam was delivered to the hadron experimental facility (HD) from January to February in 2018. The repetition rate of the main ring was shortened from 5.52 to 5.20 seconds, the beam power was increased from 44 to 50 kW. From March 2018, we delivered to the NU at 490 kW stably. In the fiscal year of 2017, the availabilities for the MLF, NU and HD are 93%, 89% and 66%, respectively.

Status of J-PARC accelerators

Hasegawa, Kazuo; Kinsho, Michikazu; Oguri, Hidetomo; Yamamoto, Kazami; Hayashi, Naoki; Yamazaki, Yoshio; Naito, Fujio*; Hori, Yoichiro*; Yamamoto, Noboru*; Koseki, Tadashi*

Proceedings of 14th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (Internet), p.1317 - 1321, 2017/12

After the summer shutdown in 2016, the J-PARC restarted user operation late in October for the neutrino experiments (NU) and early in November for the materials and life science experimental facility (MLF). The beam power for the NU was 420 kW in May 2016, but increased to 470 kW in February 2017 thanks to the change and optimization of operation parameters. For the hadron experimental facility (HD), we started beam tuning in April, but suspended by a failure of the electro static septum. After the treatment, we delivered beam at the power of 37 kW. We delivered beam at 150kW for the MLF. In the fiscal year of 2016, the linac, the 3 GeV synchrotron (RCS) and the MLF were stable and the availability was high at 93%. On the contrary, the main ring has several failures and the availabilities were 77% and 84% for NU and HD, respectively.

Performance and status of the J-PARC accelerators

Hasegawa, Kazuo; Hayashi, Naoki; Oguri, Hidetomo; Yamamoto, Kazami; Kinsho, Michikazu; Yamazaki, Yoshio; Naito, Fujio*; Koseki, Tadashi*; Yamamoto, Noboru*; Hori, Yoichiro*

Proceedings of 8th International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC '17) (Internet), p.2290 - 2293, 2017/06

https://doi.org/10.18429/JACoW-IPAC2017-TUPVA090

The J-PARC is a high intensity proton facility and the accelerator consists of a 400 MeV linac, a 3 GeV Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) and a 30 GeV Main Ring Synchrotron (MR). We have taken many hardware upgrades such as front end replacement and energy upgrade at the linac, vacuum improvement, collimator upgrade, etc. The beam powers for the neutrino experiment and hadron experiment from the MR have been steadily increased by tuning and reducing beam losses. The designed 1 MW equivalent beam was demonstrated and user program was performed at 500 kW from the RCS to the neutron and muon experiments. We have experienced many failures and troubles, however, to impede full potential and high availability. In this report, operational performance and status of the J-PARC accelerators are presented.

Experimental study on failure estimation method for circumferentially cracked pipes subjected to multi-axial loads

Li, Y.; Hasegawa, Kunio; Miura, Naoki*; Hoshino, Katsuaki*

Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, 139(1), p.011204_1 - 011204_10, 2017/02

https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4033531

To investigate the failure behavior of cracked pipes subjected to multi-axial loads including the torsion moment, failure experiments were performed on 20 mm diameter stainless steel pipes with a circumferential surface crack or a through-wall crack under combined axial force, bending and torsion moments. Based on the experimental results, the failure estimation methods were investigated.