Development of hydrogen behavior integrated analysis system

Terada, Atsuhiko; Thwe Thwe, A.; Hino, Ryutaro*; Harai, Yasutaka*; Sasaki, Gaku*; Shingeya, Hideshi*; Yamashita, Toshiyuki*; Yoneda, Jiro*; Okabayashi, Kazuki*; Sakamoto, Hiroyuki*; et al.

JAEA-Data/Code 2025-012, 151 Pages, 2025/12

JAEA-Data-Code-2025-012.pdf:9.69MB

Based on the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, we have highly paid attention to the advancement of the fundamental technologies which are indispensable in timely response to hydrogen safety measures and assessments especially in both nuclear reactors and decommissioning. Focusing on this attention, we developed an analysis system that predicts the behavior of hydrogen from generation to diffusion, combustion and explosion. The system utilizes the commercial computational fluid dynamics software (FLUENT, AUTODYN), and incorporates new modules and pre/post-processors in order to withstand the general practical use. We also developed a system by utilizing open-source code (OpenFOAM) that can be used in hydrogen disaster prevention plans for nuclear facilities. So far, we have expanded the system to deal with the phenomena that should be considered from the practical point of view for PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) in nuclear power plants. This report summarizes the overview of the integrated analysis system for hydrogen behavior, the handling method, and real scale analysis examples.

Core deformation reactivity with neutronics-thermal hydraulics-structural mechanics coupled analysis for FFTF LOFWOS Test #13

Doda, Norihiro; Kato, Shinya; Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Tanaka, Masaaki; Nakamine, Yoshiaki*; Igawa, Kenichi*; Iida, Masaki*

Proceedings of 21st International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-21) (Internet), 14 Pages, 2025/08

Accurate evaluation of reactivity feedback due to core deformation during power increases in sodium-cooled fast reactors requires comprehensive modeling of the interactions among neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, and core mechanics. To accurately consider these interactions, JAEA has developed an evaluation method that combines multiple analysis codes that model these phenomena in detail. In this study, the evaluation method was applied to the core analysis of the FFTF LOFWOS Test #13, and the analysis results of net reactivity were compared with the test results. The sensitivity analysis results of the core structural design parameters showed that the core bowing behavior has a significant effect on the temporal variation of net reactivity.

Annual report on the effluent control of low level liquid waste in Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories FY2022

Kokubun, Yuji; Nakada, Akira; Seya, Natsumi; Nagaoka, Mika; Koike, Yuko; Kubota, Tomohiro; Hirao, Moe; Yoshii, Hideki*; Otani, Kazunori*; Hiyama, Yoshinori*; et al.

JAEA-Review 2023-052, 118 Pages, 2024/03

JAEA-Review-2023-052.pdf:3.67MB

Based on the regulations (the safety regulation of Tokai Reprocessing Plant, the safety regulation of nuclear fuel material usage facilities, the radiation safety rule, the regulation about prevention from radiation hazards due to radioisotopes, which are related with the nuclear regulatory acts, the local agreement concerning with safety and environment conservation around nuclear facilities, the water pollution control law, and by law of Ibaraki Prefecture), the effluent control of liquid waste discharged from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories of Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been performed. This report describes the effluent control results of the liquid waste in the fiscal year 2022. In this period, the concentrations and the quantities of the radioactivity in liquid waste discharged from the reprocessing plant, the plutonium fuel fabrication facilities, and the other nuclear fuel material usage facilities were much lower than the limits authorized by the above regulations.

A Study on improvement of three-dimensional seismic analysis method of nuclear building using a large-scale observation system, 1; Analysis of entire response of the reactor building based on seismic observation records

Yamakawa, Koki*; Moritani, Hiroshi*; Saruta, Masaaki*; Iiba, Masanori*; Nishida, Akemi; Kawata, Manabu; Iigaki, Kazuhiko

Transactions of the 27th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology (SMiRT 27) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2024/03

no abstracts in English

Development of virtual plant model for design rationalization of fast reactors by multi-level simulation system; Confirmation of functionality in application to U.S. experimental fast reactor EBR-II

Yoshimura, Kazuo; Doda, Norihiro; Nakamine, Yoshiaki*; Fujisaki, Tatsuya*; Igawa, Kenichi*; Iida, Masaki*; Tanaka, Masaaki

Dai-27-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 5 Pages, 2023/09

In Japan Atomic Energy Agency, a virtual plant model of the sodium-cooled fast reactor plant composed in a computer is being developed to reduce the development cost, by replacing the experiments to the numerical simulations with coupled analyses of the physical phenomena accounting for the interaction between components under various plant conditions. Through the numerical analysis of the ULOHS test in the U.S. experimental fast reactor named EBR-II, applicability of the virtual plant model was confirmed in comparison with the measured data including the core inlet temperature and the reactor power.

Annual report on the effluent control of low level liquid waste in Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories FY2021

Nakada, Akira; Kanai, Katsuta; Kokubun, Yuji; Nagaoka, Mika; Koike, Yuko; Yamada, Ryohei*; Kubota, Tomohiro; Hirao, Moe; Yoshii, Hideki*; Otani, Kazunori*; et al.

JAEA-Review 2022-079, 116 Pages, 2023/03

JAEA-Review-2022-079.pdf:2.77MB

Based on the regulations (the safety regulation of Tokai Reprocessing Plant, the safety regulation of nuclear fuel material usage facilities, the radiation safety rule, the regulation about prevention from radiation hazards due to radioisotopes, which are related with the nuclear regulatory acts, the local agreement concerning with safety and environment conservation around nuclear facilities, the water pollution control law, and by law of Ibaraki Prefecture), the effluent control of liquid waste discharged from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories of Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been performed. This report describes the effluent control results of the liquid waste in the fiscal year 2021. In this period, the concentrations and the quantities of the radioactivity in liquid waste discharged from the reprocessing plant, the plutonium fuel fabrication facilities, and the other nuclear fuel material usage facilities were much lower than the limits authorized by the above regulations.

Development of evaluation method for core deformation reactivity in sodium-cooled fast reactor; Verification of core deformation reactivity evaluation based on first-order perturbation theory

Doda, Norihiro; Kato, Shinya; Iida, Masaki*; Yokoyama, Kenji; Tanaka, Masaaki

Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2022/10

In the conventional core design in sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), negative reactivity feedback due to core deformation was neglected because of large uncertainty in analytical evaluation. To optimize core design, it is necessary to develop an analytical evaluation method and eliminate excessive conservativeness. An evaluation method for core deformation reactivity has been developed by coupling analysis of neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, and structural mechanics. For the verification study of the neutronics calculation method, the reactivity was calculated for the deformed core geometry in which the fuel assembly (FA) moved horizontally in the radial direction for each row from the core center. Compared to reference values derived from Monte Carlo calculations, the calculated reactivity due to FA displacement agreed well in the core region and was overestimated in the reflector region. The modification challenges in development of the core deformation model were identified.

Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors

Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Morishita, Masaki*; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ando, Masanori; Ashida, Takashi; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Doda, Norihiro; Enuma, Yasuhiro; Ezure, Toshiki; Fukano, Yoshitaka; et al.

Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors; JSME Series in Thermal and Nuclear Power Generation, Vol.3, 631 Pages, 2022/07

https://shop.elsevier.com/books/sodium-cooled-fast-reactors/morishita/978-0-12-824076-2

This book is a collection of the past experience of design, construction, and operation of two reactors, the latest knowledge and technology for SFR designs, and the future prospects of SFR development in Japan. It is intended to provide the perspective and the relevant knowledge to enable readers to become more familiar with SFR technology.

Commissioning of X-ray micro beam by Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirror

Tanida, Hajime; Tsuji, Takuya; Kobata, Masaaki

JAEA-Technology 2021-031, 25 Pages, 2022/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-031.pdf:2.3MB

In the decommissioning of the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, analysis of fuel debris to understand its characteristics is very important. The fuel debris removed for testing and analyzing will be fine particulates. Non-destructive analytical methods using X-rays are effective for such samples, but in order to apply them to fine particles, the X-rays must be focused to the micrometer order. For this purpose, the Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirror was introduced. In this paper, we record the selection, specification, adjustment of the mirror, and write down the example of mapping of elements and evaluation of their valence by this mirror.

Three-dimensional bulk Fermi surfaces and Weyl crossings of CoMnGa thin films underneath a protection layer

Kono, Takashi*; Kakoki, Masaaki*; Yoshikawa, Tomoki*; Wang, X.*; Sumida, Kazuki; Muro, Takayuki*; Goto, Kazuki*; Sakuraba, Yuya*; Umetsu, Rie*; Kimura, Akio*

Physical Review B, 104(19), p.195112_1 - 195112_8, 2021/11

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.104.195112

Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy utilizing soft X-ray synchrotron radiation was applied to Heusler-type CoMnGa thin films that have a 1-nm Al capping layer. The bulk Fermi surfaces and band structures varied along the out-of-plane momentum, stemming from the three-dimensional crystal structure, in the absence of any in situ surface treatment. In addition, there were characteristic intersecting bands (Weyl cones), with crossing points near the Fermi level, which were consistent with computed results. The Weyl cones are of bulk origin and are responsible for the high anomalous Nernst and the anomalous Hall coefficients. A close comparison of the experimental band structures in CoMnGe and CoMnGa indicated that the rigid band picture is valid in both alloys and that fine carrier tuning is possible by replacing Ga with Ge to improve the anomalous conductivity.