Radioactivity and radionuclides in deciduous teeth formed before the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Takahashi, Atsushi*; Chiba, Mirei*; Tanahara, Akira*; Aida, Jun*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Murakami, Shinobu*; Koarai, Kazuma; Ono, Takumi*; Oka, Toshitaka; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 11(1), p.10355_1 - 10355_11, 2021/05

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89910-0

Japan - IAEA Joint Nuclear Energy Management School 2016

Yamaguchi, Mika; Hidaka, Akihide; Ikuta, Yuko; Murakami, Kenta*; Tomita, Akira*; Hirose, Hiroya*; Watanebe, Masanori*; Ueda, Kinichi*; Namaizawa, Ken*; Onose, Takatoshi*; et al.

JAEA-Review 2017-002, 60 Pages, 2017/03

JAEA-Review-2017-002.pdf:9.41MB

Since 2010, IAEA has held the NEM School to develop future leaders who plan and manage nuclear energy utilization in their county. Since 2012, JAEA together with Japan Nuclear HRD Network, University of Tokyo, Japan Atomic Industrial Forum and JAIF International Cooperation Center have cohosted the school in Japan in cooperation with IAEA. Since then, the school has been held in Japan every year. In 2006, Japanese nuclear technology and experience, such as lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, were provided to offer a unique opportunity for the participants to learn about particular cases in Japan. Through the school, we contributed to the internationalization of Japanese young nuclear professionals, development of nuclear human resource of other countries including nuclear newcomers, and enhanced cooperative relationship with IAEA. Additionally, collaborative relationship within the network was strengthened by organizing the school in Japan.

Engineering study of gas flow in breeder pebble bed for fusion blanket

Seki, Yohji; Yoshikawa, Akira; Tanigawa, Hisashi; Hirose, Takanori; Ezato, Koichiro; Enoeda, Mikio; Sakamoto, Kensaku

Dai-17-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu, p.265 - 266, 2012/06

In the case of a water cooled ceramic breeder in a blanket, pebbles of a ceramic tritium breeder are packed in a container constituted by a partition plate. Helium purge gas is applied as a transport fluid in a tritium recovery system. It is of importance to build database of a pressure drop as part of a design of the tritium recovery system. In this experimental study, the pressure drops of He gas through pebble bed were measured within the wide range of a flow rate up to 100 L/min. The results indicate that a laminar flow is dominant and the pressure drop was correctly predicted by the empirical equation within a part of flow rate. Reliability of prediction ability of pressure drop was established by this experiment within the flow rate which is less than 60 L/min. Moreover, this paper describes that slight difference between the experimental result and the empirical equation within a range of flow rate from 60 L/min to 100 L/min.

Numerical simulation of turbulent flow of coolant in a test blanket module of nuclear fusion reactor

Seki, Yohji; Onishi, Yoichi*; Yoshikawa, Akira; Tanigawa, Hisashi; Hirose, Takanori; Ozu, Akira; Ezato, Koichiro; Tsuru, Daigo; Suzuki, Satoshi; Yokoyama, Kenji; et al.

Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology (Internet), 2, p.139 - 142, 2011/10

https://doi.org/10.15669/pnst.2.139

R&D of a test blanket module (TBM) with a water-cooled solid breeder has been performed for ITER. For our design, the temperature of a coolant pressurized up to 15 MPa is designed as 598 K in an outlet of the TBM, respectively. Establishment of estimation methods of the flow phenomena is important for designs of the channel network and predictions of the material corrosion and erosion. A purpose of our research is to establish and verify the method for the prediction of the flow phenomena. The Large-eddy simulation and Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes simulation have been performed to predict the pressure drop and flow rates in the channels of the side wall. It results the inhomogeneous flow rates in each channel. At viewpoint of the heat removal capability, however, the smallest flow-rates near the first wall are evaluated with satisfying acceptance criteria. Moreover, the results of the numerical simulation correspond with those of experiment performed for the real size mock-up.

Numerical simulation of turbulent flow of coolant in a test blanket module of nuclear fusion reactor

Seki, Yohji; Onishi, Yoichi*; Yoshikawa, Akira; Tanigawa, Hisashi; Hirose, Takanori; Ozu, Akira; Ezato, Koichiro; Tsuru, Daigo; Suzuki, Satoshi; Yokoyama, Kenji; et al.

Proceedings of Joint International Conference of 7th Supercomputing in Nuclear Application and 3rd Monte Carlo (SNA + MC 2010) (USB Flash Drive), 4 Pages, 2010/10

R&D of a test blanket module (TBM) with a water-cooled solid breeder has been performed for ITER. For our design, the temperature of a coolant pressurized up to 15 MPa is designed as 598 K in an outlet of the TBM, respectively. Establishment of estimation methods of the flow phenomena is important for designs of the channel network and predictions of the material corrosion and erosion. A purpose of our research is to establish and verify the method for the prediction of the flow phenomena. The Large-eddy simulation and Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes simulation have been performed to predict the pressure drop and flow rates in the channels of the side wall. It results the inhomogeneous flow rates in each channel. At viewpoint of the heat removal capability, however, the smallest flow-rates near the first wall are evaluated with satisfying acceptance criteria. Moreover, the results of the numerical simulation correspond with those of experiment performed for the real size mockup.

Overview of the R&D activities of water cooled ceramic breeder blanket

Enoeda, Mikio; Hirose, Takanori; Tanigawa, Hisashi; Tsuru, Daigo; Yoshikawa, Akira; Seki, Yohji; Nishi, Hiroshi; Yokoyama, Kenji; Ezato, Koichiro; Suzuki, Satoshi

Proceedings of 18th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-18) (CD-ROM), p.645 - 649, 2010/05

https://doi.org/10.1115/ICONE18-30143

This paper overviews the research and development activity of Water Cooled Ceramic Breeder (WCCB) Blanket in Japan. Japan is performing development of WCCB Blanket as the primary candidate of the breeding blanket for the fusion DEMO reactor. Regarding the development of blanket module fabrication technology, a real scale First Wall (FW) was fabricated using Reduced Activation Ferritic Martensitic Steel (RAFMS) F82H. Using fabricated FW mockup, thermo-hydraulic performance and high heat flux tests were successfully performed with the heat flux equivalent to ITER TBM condition, 0.5 MW/m, 80 cycles with the coolant condition as DEMO, 15 MPa 300 C. Also, real scale Side Wall (SW) and real scale breeder pebble bed structure have been successfully fabricated. Furthermore, assembling of the real scale FW plate mockup and SW plate mockup was successfully performed. Development of major key technologies for the WCCB TBM structure fabrication has been almost completed.

Cyclically induced softening in reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel before and after neutron irradiation

Kim, S.-W.; Tanigawa, Hiroyasu; Hirose, Takanori; Koyama, Akira*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 386-388, p.529 - 532, 2009/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.12.168

Low cycle fatigue (LCF) results at ambient temperature under diametral strain controlled conditions of the reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel, F82H IEA heat before and after neutron irradiated samples are reported. The results show that cyclic softening behavior is the main mechanical feature observed in this material. A detailed analysis for the hysteresis loops was carried out to determine the friction and back stresses. The friction stress is equivalent to the resistance which the dislocations have to overcome to keep moving in the lattice. The back stress depends on the density of long-range impenetrable obstacles that are created by the dislocations movement such as pile-ups. The cyclic softening of F82H IEA heat is related with the decrease of the friction stress. Moreover, the friction and back stress behavior of neutron irradiated samples show significantly different behavior than those of unirradiated samples.

Effects of surface morphology and distributed inclusions on the low cycle fatigue behavior of miniaturized specimens of F82H steel

Kim, S.-W.*; Tanigawa, Hiroyasu; Hirose, Takanori; Koyama, Akira*

Journal of ASTM International (Internet), 5(8), 8 Pages, 2008/09

Depending on the pulse lengths, the operating conditions, and the thermal conductivity, oscillating temperature gradients will cause elastic and elastic-plastic cyclic deformation giving rise to (creep-) fatigue in the structural first wall and blanket components. Small specimen testing technology and related remote-control testing techniques are indispensable for the effective use of the limited volumes of materials test reactor and proposed intense neutron sources. In order to perform an accurate fatigue lifetime assessment using small specimen, the effects of material factors (surface morphology, inclusion, etc.) on low cycle fatigue (LCF) is mandatory. In this work, the LCF properties of F82H IEA heat were examined for three kinds of surface morphology with miniaturized hourglass-type fatigue specimens (SF-1), and the correlation between LCF crack initiation/propagation and distribution of inclusions also revealed by using SF-1 specimen. Fracture surfaces and crack initiation sites were investigated by SEM.

Status and key issues of reduced activation martensitic steels as the structural materials of ITER test blanket module and beyond

Tanigawa, Hiroyasu; Shiba, Kiyoyuki; Hirose, Takanori; Kasada, Ryuta*; Wakai, Eiichi; Jitsukawa, Shiro; Kimura, Akihiko*; Koyama, Akira*

Proceedings of 21st IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2006) (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2007/03

http://www-naweb.iaea.org/napc/physics/FEC/FEC2006/html/node165.htm#34754

The status of research and development of reduced activation martensitic steels (RAMs) in Japan are reviewed and key issues suggested from recent achievements in Japan since the last conference are highlighted, with the aim of the fabrication for the ITER Test Blanket Module (TBM) and application for the DEMO reactor. It was pointed out that international collaboration would be desirable for research on key issues such as precipitate stability under irradiation or Ta effects which are common for all RAMs and require an extensive research effort.

Microstructural analysis of mechanically tested reduced activation ferritc/martensitic steels

Tanigawa, Hiroyasu; Hirose, Takanori; Ando, Masami; Jitsukawa, Shiro; Kato, Yudai*; Koyama, Akira*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 307-311(Part1), p.293 - 298, 2002/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(02)01002-4

It has been a key issue to get the mechanical understanding of fracture process on microstructure basis, especially on neutron-irradiated materials, but not yet to be understood well enough as for the difficulty of making transmission electron microscope (TEM) thin film sample from mechanical-tested specimen. To solve this technical problem, the focused ion beam (FIB) micro-sampling system was installed to the Research Hot Laboratory of Japan Atomic Research Institute (JAERI), Japan. This system makes it possible to fabricate the TEM specimens from the critical points of mechanical-tested radioactive specimens, such as the crack initiation points of fatigue fracture on neutron irradiated specimen. In this paper, the microstructure of mechanical-tested specimen of Reduced Activation Ferritic/martensitic steels, RAFs are investigated focusing on the helium effects to fatigue fracture.