Experimental investigation of nonisothermal interaction between Fe-Zr melt and stainless steel forming "metallic debris" in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Ito, Ayumi*; Kanno, Tatsuya*; Iwama, Takayuki*; Ueda, Shigeru*; Sato, Takumi; Nagae, Yuji

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 217, p.111333_1 - 111333_14, 2025/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111333

In the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 2, the formation of a metallic pool, mainly comprising Fe and Zr, has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to the failure of the reactor pressure vessel. This study focuses on material interactions during the early core degradation that led to metallic pool formation in the late phase of the in-vessel degradation process. Initially, two compositions, Fe-87Zr and Fe-15Zr (at%), were heated to the liquidus temperature of 1723 K, dropped onto SS at lower temperatures, and the metallographic structure of the reaction products was examined. Subsequently, the Fe-87Zr melt at temperatures ranging from 1723 to 1873 K was dropped onto oxidized SS to evaluate the influence of the oxide layer on degradation. This study confirmed that the liquidus temperatures of all intermetallic compounds were below 2000 K, and the metallic debris could be a source of the "metallic pool formation" predicted by recent severe accident analysis.

Unique deformation behavior of ultrafine-grained 304 stainless steel at 20 K

Mao, W.*; Gong, W.; Kawasaki, Takuro; Gao, S.*; Ito, Tatsuya; Yamashita, Takayuki*; Harjo, S.; Zhao, L.*; Wang, Q.*

Scripta Materialia, 264, p.116726_1 - 116726_6, 2025/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.116726

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.

Impact of the ground-state 4 symmetry for anisotropic hybridization in the heavy-fermion superconductor CeNiGe

Fujiwara, Hidenori*; Nakatani, Yasuhiro*; Aratani, Hidekazu*; Kanai-Nakata, Yuina*; Yamagami, Kohei*; Hamamoto, Satoru*; Kiss, Takayuki*; Yamasaki, Atsushi*; Higashiya, Atsushi*; Imada, Shin*; et al.

Physical Review B, 108(16), p.165121_1 - 165121_10, 2023/10

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.108.165121

Development of wide range monitor for HTTR; Improvement for heat resistance performance against heat cycle

Kozawa, Takayuki; Suganuma, Takuro; Homma, Fumitaka; Higashimura, Keisuke*; Ukai, Takayuki*; Saito, Kenji

JAEA-Technology 2023-007, 24 Pages, 2023/06

JAEA-Technology-2023-007.pdf:2.24MB

To improve the reliability of the HTTR wide range monitor in a high-temperature environment, structural changes of the wide range monitor were investigated. It was clear that the structure for directly joins of the MI cable core wire and metal tube instead of the joins with lead wire is the most reliable method with shortest way. From a result of the thermal cycle tests and high temperature endurance tests for a mock-up connecting this connection parts, it was clear that the soundness of the connection part was maintained under the usage conditions of the HTTR.

Present status of J-PARC MUSE

Shimomura, Koichiro*; Koda, Akihiro*; Pant, A. D.*; Natori, Hiroaki*; Fujimori, Hiroshi*; Umegaki, Izumi*; Nakamura, Jumpei*; Tampo, Motonobu*; Kawamura, Naritoshi*; Teshima, Natsuki*; et al.

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 2462, p.012033_1 - 012033_5, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2462/1/012033

High-power test of an APF IH-DTL prototype for the muon linac

Nakazawa, Yuga*; Iinuma, Hiromi*; Iwata, Yoshiyuki*; Cicek, E.*; Ego, Hiroyasu*; Futatsukawa, Kenta*; Kawamura, Naritoshi*; Mibe, Tsutomu*; Mizobata, Satoshi*; Otani, Masashi*; et al.

Proceedings of 31st International Linear Accelerator Conference (LINAC 2022) (Internet), p.275 - 278, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.18429/JACoW-LINAC2022-MOPORI22

We conducted a high-power test of a prototype cavity of a 324-MHz inter-digital H-mode drift tube linac (IH-DTL) for the muon g-2/EDM experiment at J-PARC. This prototype cavity (short-IH) was developed to verify the fabrication methodology for the full-length IH cavity with a monolithic DT structure. After 40 h of conditioning, the short-IH has been stably operated with an RF power of 88 kW, which corresponds to 10% higher accelerating field than the design field (E0) of 3.0 MV/m. In addition, the thermal characteristics and frequency response were measured, verifying that the experimental data was consistent with the three-dimensional model. In this paper, the high-power tests of this IH-DTL for muon acceleration are described.

End-to-end simulations and error studies of the J-PARC muon linac

Takeuchi, Yusuke*; Tojo, Junji*; Yamanaka, T.*; Nakazawa, Yuga*; Iinuma, Hiromi*; Kondo, Yasuhiro; Kitamura, Ryo; Morishita, Takatoshi; Cicek, E.*; Ego, Hiroyasu*; et al.

Proceedings of 31st International Linear Accelerator Conference (LINAC 2022) (Internet), p.562 - 564, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.18429/JACoW-LINAC2022-TUPORI08

A muon linac is under development for future muon g-2/EDM experiments at J-PARC. The linac provides a 212 MeV muon beam to an MRI-type compact storage ring. After the initial acceleration using the electrostatic field created by mesh and cylindrical electrodes, the muons are accelerated using four types of radio-frequency accelerators. To validate the linac design as a whole, end-to-end simulations were performed using General Particle Tracer. In addition, error studies were performed to investigate the effects on beam and spin dynamics of various errors in the accelerator components and input beam distribution. This paper describes the results of the end-to-end simulations and error studies.

Fabrication and low-power test of disk-and-washer cavity for muon acceleration

Takeuchi, Yusuke*; Tojo, Junji*; Nakazawa, Yuga*; Kondo, Yasuhiro; Kitamura, Ryo; Morishita, Takatoshi; Cicek, E.*; Ego, Hiroyasu*; Futatsukawa, Kenta*; Kawamura, Naritoshi*; et al.

Proceedings of 13th International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC 22) (Internet), p.1534 - 1537, 2022/06

https://doi.org/doi:10.18429/JACoW-IPAC2022-TUPOMS046

The muon g-2/EDM experiment is under preparation at Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), and the muon linear accelerator for the experiment is being developed. A Disk-and-Washer (DAW) cavity will be used for the medium-velocity part of the accelerator, and muons will be accelerated from = = 0.3 to 0.7 with the operating frequency of 1.296 GHz. Machining, brazing, and low-power measurements of a prototype cell reflecting the design of the first tank of DAW were performed to identify fabrication problems. Several problems were identified, such as misalignment of washers during brazing, and some measures will be taken in the actual tank fabrication. In this paper, the results of the prototype cell fabrication will be reported.

Improving the safety of the high temperature gas-cooled reactor "HTTR" based on Japan's new regulatory requirements

Hamamoto, Shimpei; Shimizu, Atsushi; Inoi, Hiroyuki; Tochio, Daisuke; Homma, Fumitaka; Sawahata, Hiroaki; Sekita, Kenji; Watanabe, Shuji; Furusawa, Takayuki; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; et al.

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 388, p.111642_1 - 111642_11, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2021.111642

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency adapted High-Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) to meet the new regulatory requirements that began in December 2013. The safety and seismic classifications of the existing structures, systems, and components were discussed to reflect insights regarding High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) that were acquired through various HTTR safety tests. Structures, systems, and components that are subject to protection have been defined, and countermeasures to manage internal and external hazards that affect safety functions have been strengthened. Additionally, measures are in place to control accidents that may cause large amounts of radioactive material to be released, as a beyond design based accident. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rigorously and appropriately reviewed this approach for compliance with the new regulatory requirements. After nine amendments, the application to modify the HTTR's installation license that was submitted in November 2014 was approved in June 2020. This response shows that facilities can reasonably be designed to meet the enhanced regulatory requirements, if they reflect the characteristics of HTGRs. We believe that we have established a reference for future development of HTGR.