Differential pressure rise event for filters of HTTR primary helium gas circulators, 2; Investigation of filter deposits and recurrence prevention measures

Nemoto, Takahiro; Fujiwara, Yusuke; Arakawa, Ryoki; Choyama, Yuya; Nagasumi, Satoru; Hasegawa, Toshinari; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Watanabe, Masashi; Onishi, Takashi; Kawamoto, Taiki; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2024-003, 17 Pages, 2024/06

JAEA-Technology-2024-003.pdf:1.91MB

In order to investigate the cause of the increase in differential pressure in the primary helium circulator filter that occurred during the RS-14 cycle, a clogged filter was investigated. As a result of the investigation, deposits caused by silicone oil were confirmed on the surface of the filter element. These results revealed that the cause of filter clogging was silicone oil mixed into the primary system due to performance deterioration of the charcoal filter in the gas circulator of primary helium purification system. As a measure to prevent the recurrence of this event, in addition to the conventional management based on operating hours for replacing of charcoal filter in the gas circulator of primary helium purification system, we have established a new replacement plan for every three years.

Overview of JENDL-4.0/HE and benchmark calculations

Kunieda, Satoshi; Iwamoto, Osamu; Iwamoto, Nobuyuki; Minato, Futoshi; Okamoto, Tsutomu; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Nakashima, Hiroshi; Iwamoto, Yosuke; Iwamoto, Hiroki; Kitatani, Fumito; et al.

JAEA-Conf 2016-004, p.41 - 46, 2016/09

https://doi.org/10.11484/jaea-conf-2016-004

Neutron- and proton-induced cross-section data are required in a wide energy range beyond 20 MeV, for the design of accelerator applications. New evaluations are performed with recent knowledge in the optical and pre-equilibrium model calculations. We also evaluated cross-sections for p+Li and p+Be which have been highly requested from a medical field. The present high-energy nuclear data library, JENDL-4.0/HE, includes evaluated cross-sections for incident neutrons and protons up to 200 MeV (for about 130 nuclei). We overview substantial features of the library, i.e., (1) systematic evaluation with CCONE code, (2) challenges for evaluations of light nuclei and (3) inheritance of JENDL-4.0 and JENDL/HE-2007. In this talk, we also focus on the results of benchmark calculation for neutronics to show performance of the present library.

Internship using nuclear facilities in Oarai Research and Development Center

Takemoto, Noriyuki; Itagaki, Wataru; Kimura, Nobuaki; Ishitsuka, Etsuo; Nakatsuka, Toru; Hori, Naohiko; Ooka, Makoto; Ito, Haruhiko

JAEA-Review 2013-063, 34 Pages, 2014/03

JAEA-Review-2013-063.pdf:8.46MB

Nuclear energy is important from a viewpoint of economy and energy security in Japan. However, the lack of nuclear engineers and scientists in future is concerned after the sever accident of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has occurred. Institute of National Colleges of Technology planned to carry out training programs for human resource development of nuclear energy field including on-site training in nuclear facilities. Oarai Research and Development Center in Japan Atomic Energy Agency cooperatively carried out an internship for nuclear disaster prevention and safety utilizing the nuclear facilities such as the JMTR. Thirty two students joined in total in the internship from FY 2011 to FY2013. In this paper, contents and results of the internship are reported.

Development of soft X-ray microscopy using Fresnel zone plate for observation of laser-induce surface dynamics

Nishikino, Masaharu; Baba, Motoyoshi*; Suemoto, Toru; Hasegawa, Noboru; Ishino, Masahiko; Kaihori, Takeshi; Kawachi, Tetsuya; Yamagiwa, Mitsuru

X-Ray Lasers 2012; Springer Proceedings in Physics, Vol.147, p.199 - 202, 2014/00

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00696-3_32

The dynamical processes of the laser-induced surface modifications such as laser ablation come to attract much attention for the micro processing by the ultra-short laser pulse. It is difficult to observe these phenomena directly, because they are non-repetitive, unrepeatable, and occur very rapidly (pico-second) in a very small (micron) area. In order to observe the detailed laser-ablation process, we have developed the proto-type reflected soft X-ray microscopy using the Fresnel zone plate. The experimental setup and spatial resolution of the X-ray microscopy will be presented.

Experimental verification of femtosecond laser ablation schemes by time-resolved soft X-ray reflective imaging

Tomita, Takuro*; Yamamoto, Minoru*; Hasegawa, Noboru; Terakawa, Kota*; Minami, Yasuo*; Nishikino, Masaharu; Ishino, Masahiko; Kaihori, Takeshi*; Ochi, Yoshihiro; Kawachi, Tetsuya; et al.

Optics Express (Internet), 20(28), p.29329 - 29337, 2012/12

https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.029329

Pump and probe reflective imaging using a soft X-ray laser probe was applied to the observation of the early stage of femtosecond laser ablation process on platinum. In strongly excited area, drastic and fast reflectivity drop was observed. In moderately excited area, the decay of the reflectivity is slower than that in the strongly excited area, and the reflectivity reaches its minimum at t = 160 ps. In weakly excited area, laser-induced reflectivity change was not observed. These results give the critical information about the femtosecond laser ablation.

Development of the X-ray interferometer and the method of spatial and temporal synchronization of XRL and optical pulse

Hasegawa, Noboru; Ochi, Yoshihiro; Kawachi, Tetsuya; Terakawa, Kota*; Tomita, Takuro*; Yamamoto, Minoru; Nishikino, Masaharu; Oba, Toshiyuki; Kaihori, Takeshi; Imazono, Takashi; et al.

X-Ray Lasers 2010; Springer Proceedings in Physics, Vol.136, p.353 - 358, 2011/12

http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB05543208

The understanding of the dynamics of the initial process is important for the micro processing and welding by the ultra-short laser pulse. The X-ray laser is suitable for probing this initial process because it has short wavelength (Ni-like Ag, 13.9 nm) and short duration (7 ps). For this investigation, the origin of time of the pumping pulse is quite important. In this study, we used the scintillation plate and the plasma gate technique to realize the spatial and temporal synchronization of the pump and probe pulses. For the spatial alignment, a CsI scintillation plate that was set at the sample position was illuminated by both the X-ray laser pulse, and the fluorescence light were detected by the CCD camera. For the temporal synchronization, we set a thin foil at the sample position. We measured the transmission of the X-ray laser while changing a temporal delay of the pumping laser with respect to the time of X-ray laser pulse to obtain the origin of the irradiation time.

Observation of femtosecond laser ablation process by using the soft X-ray laser interferometer

Yamamoto, Minoru; Hasegawa, Noboru; Terakawa, Kota*; Umeda, Yoshifumi*; Tomita, Takuro*; Ochi, Yoshihiro; Nishikino, Masaharu; Ishino, Masahiko; Imazono, Takashi; Kaihori, Takeshi; et al.

Proceedings of 12th International Symposium on Laser Precision Microfabrication (LPM 2011) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2011/06

Femtosecond lasers have been used for material processing. However, the physical processes responsible for femtosecond laser ablation have not been understood completely. These processes involve melting, vaporization, re-solidification or ablation, which occur in a very short time from pico- to nano-seconds. To understand the physical processes, it is essential to reveal the dynamics of ultrafast surface morphological change after laser irradiation. At JAEA, the laser-driven plasma soft X-ray laser (SXRL) that has extremely high spatial and spectral purity was constructed. It delivers soft X-ray photons at 89.2 eV (13.9 nm) with a photon number of exceeding , which is sufficient to obtain a single shot interferogram. By using this system, the soft X-ray laser interferometer with the lateral resolution of 1.8 m and a depth resolution of 1 nm was developed. We report on demonstration of time-resolved measurement of femtosecond-laser ablation dynamics by using the soft X-ray laser interferometer.

Microdosimetric evaluation of the neutron field for BNCT at Kyoto University Reactor by using the PHITS code

Baba, Hiromi*; Onizuka, Yoshihiko*; Nakao, Minoru*; Fukahori, Mai*; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Sakurai, Yoshinori*; Tanaka, Hiroki*; Endo, Satoru*

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 143(2-4), p.528 - 532, 2011/02

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncq511

The PHITS simulation were performed to reproduce the geometrical setup of an experiment that measured the microdosimetric energy distributions at the Kyoto University Reactor (KUR) where two types of tissue equivalent proportional counters (TEPC) were used, one with A-150 wall alone and another with a 50 ppm boron loaded A-150 wall. It was found that the PHITS code is a useful tool for the simulation of the energy deposited in tissue in BNCT based on the comparisons with experimental results.

A Feasibility study on a small sodium cooled reactor as a diversified power source

Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Okano, Yasushi; Hori, Toru*; Okubo, Yoshiyuki*; Shimakawa, Yoshio*; Tanaka, Toshihiko*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 43(8), p.829 - 843, 2006/08

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.43.829

In phase II of the feasibility study of commercialized fast reactor cycle systems, we make a concept of a small sodium cooled reactor for a power source of a city with various requirements, such as, safety and economical competitiveness. Various reactor concepts are surveyed and a tank type reactor whose intermediate heat exchanger and primary main pumps are arranged in series is selected. In this study, a compact long life core and a simple reactor structure designs are pursued. The core type is three regional Zr concentration with one Pu enrichment core, the reactor outlet temperature achieves 550C and the reactor electric output increases from 150MWe to 165MWe. The construction cost is much higher than the economical goal in the case of FOAK. But the construction cost in the case of NOAK is estimated to be 85.6% achieving the economical goal.

Development of a slim manipulator type fuel handling machine for a commercialized fast reactor

Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Usui, Shinichi; Konomura, Mamoru; Sadahiro, Daisuke*; Tozawa, Katsuhiro*; Hori, Toru*; Toda, Mikio*; Kotake, Shoji*

Proceedings of 14th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-14) (CD-ROM), 7 Pages, 2006/07

A seismic analysis has been performed showing that the seismic interaction between the UIS and the FHM can be avoided adopting gapless bearings at the FHM arm joint. An angular contact ball bearing is suitable for the new FHM since it can eliminate gaps by preload pressure. A major problem of the FHM bearings is lubrication since the contact pressure between steel rings and ball increases because of ball bearing. Additionally, FHM operating temperature is about 200 deg-C and normal grease is not applicable under argon gas with sodium vapor. A endurance test with 1/10 scale bearings in the air has been performed to show applicability of angular contact ball bearings to the FHM arm joint. The results with 20,000 cycle showed that bearings with combination of MoS coating steel rings and ceramics balls can be tolerable as the FHM operating condition. A real scale bearing test in argon gas with sodium vapor has also been demonstrated to reveal bearing size and sodium vapor effects.