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Kikuchi, Norihiro; Imai, Yasutomo*; Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Tanaka, Masaaki; Ohshima, Hiroyuki
JAEA-Data/Code 2025-018, 96 Pages, 2026/03
JAEA-Data-Code-2025-018.pdf:5.54MB
In the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, a detailed thermal-hydraulic analysis code named SPIRAL based on the finite element method (FEM) is being developed to evaluate the detailed thermal-hydraulic properties of fuel assemblies (FAs) in sodium-cooled fast reactors (FBRs). Because the quality of the computational grid (elements) used in the calculations has a significant impact on the prediction accuracy, the allocation of highquality elements in the wire-spacer-type FA pin bundle region is an important issue for numerical analysis. Although a commercial mesh generation program (mesher) with CAD data of FA's geometric shape can be considered as one measure, it is an extremely complicated task to perform element division of complex FA region. Therefore, to efficiently allocate high-quality elements, we developed a mesher that automatically performs element division in the FA region using the FA's geometric shape (design information) and meshing parameters as input conditions. This report describes the details of the mesher's various meshing models and their usage. To regularly allocate the computational grid for the complex FA region, the mesher first divides the region into multiple blocks using a multi-block method, then generates boundary-fitted curvilinear coordinate grids for each block region, and finally integrates them into a single FA mesh system. In addition, a combination of hexahedral elements and prism-shaped elements is arranged to maintain element continuity between adjacent block regions. Element division for both the normal FAs surrounded by a hexagonal crosssection tube and the irregular FAs, inside which a duct is installed to promote the discharge of molten fuel, is possible. The development of this mesher has made it possible to accurately and efficiently perform element division of complex FA region on various conditions.
/k
- modelKikuchi, Norihiro; Imai, Yasutomo*; Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Tanaka, Masaaki; Ohshima, Hiroyuki
JAEA-Data/Code 2025-017, 133 Pages, 2026/03
JAEA-Data-Code-2025-017.pdf:3.9MB
In a core design of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), it is necessary to confirm the integrity of fuel assemblies (FAs) in the core over a wide range of operating conditions. To evaluate the velocity and temperature distributions within the FAs in detail, we have been developing a detailed FA thermal-hydraulic analysis code named SPIRAL. In our previous works, we implemented numerical methods for fluid mechanics at isothermal conditions and turbulence models. Subsequently, we implemented turbulent heat transfer models for the evaluation of temperature distribution within the FAs, and validated them through experimental analyses mainly under high flow rate conditions. The thermal-hydraulics within the FAs varies depending on the operating conditions. Furthermore, the local Reynolds (Re) number within the FAs varies widely due to the influence of wire spacers spirally wound around the fuel rod. For this reason, it has been shown that standard and low Re number k-/k- models have difficulty reproducing the thermal-hydraulics in the laminar-turbulent transition region. Therefore, to reproduce the thermal-hydraulics over a wide Re number range, we developed a hybrid k-/k- model that combines the standard k-/k- model with the advantages of the low Re number k-/k- model. This paper describes the governing equations, constitutive equations derived from various turbulence models, their formularizations by the finite element method, their numerical treatment, and the treatment of boundary conditions. We also report the results of analyses conducted to validate the hybrid k-/k- model for predicting pressure drop and temperature distribution.
Kikuchi, Norihiro; Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Tanaka, Masaaki
Proceedings of 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, Vol.15 (Internet), p.647 - 659, 2026/01
An in-house subchannel analysis code called ASFRE have been developed to evaluate fuel assembly (FA) thermal-hydraulics in sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). In this study, models to solve the important phenomena in the FA and necessary experiments for validation were listed systematically in order to assess the reliability of the codes, through developing an importance ranking table for the phenomena and a validation matrix according to the guide-line for the verification and validation (V&V). The ranking table was developed to decide the priority for validation. In addition, a validation matrix of experimental data and numerical models in the codes for the high priority phenomena in the ranking table were developed to confirm the sufficiency of the validation process.
Fukui, Makoto; Chizuwa, Shingo*; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki; Hashimoto, Makoto
JAEA-Review 2025-045, 42 Pages, 2025/12
JAEA-Review-2025-045.pdf:2.95MB
Hot laboratory (HL) at Oarai Nuclear Engineering Institute is a facility that conducts post-irradiation testing of fuel samples and reactor materials in hot cells. A set of local sampling system (LSS) is installed as a radiation control equipment to monitor the concentration of radioactive materials in the air in work environment. The LSS of HL equipped 23 sampling points, which are called as local sampling ends (LSE). It was recognized that air sampling had not operated at some of the LSE, and the concentration of radioactive materials in the air was not measured as prescribed. In this report, we evaluated the effect of partial termination of the LSS and the resulting increase in sampling intervals on the control of radioactive material concentrations in the air using airflow analysis assuming the diffusion of radioactive materials from hot cells in the controlled area of HL. The Service Area of the HL, where 10 LSEs were set in a wide area, was selected as an evaluation area. Airflow analysis including the diffusion of virtual contaminant particles was conducted on the evaluation area. Diffusion of virtual contaminants from hot cells and sampling of virtual contaminants at LSEs are simulated in the case of LSS in fully working and LSS with termination of 4 LSEs. The evaluation results showed that the effect of the partial termination of LSS and the resulting increase in sampling intervals on the control of the concentration of radioactive materials in the air are small.
Tanaka, Masaaki; Doda, Norihiro; Hamase, Erina; Kuwagaki, Kazuki; Mori, Takero; Okajima, Satoshi; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Yoshimura, Kazuo; Matsushita, Kentaro; Hashidate, Ryuta; et al.
Nihon Kikai Gakkai Rombunshu (Internet), 91(943), p.24-00229_1 - 24-00229_12, 2025/03
To assist conceptual studies of various reactor systems conducted by private sectors in nuclear power innovation, an innovative design system named ARKADIA (Advanced Reactor Knowledge- and AI-aided Design Integration Approach through the whole plant lifecycle) has been developed. In this paper, focusing on the ARKADIA-Design, achievements in the development of optimization processes in the fields of the core design, the plant structure design, and the maintenance schedule planning, as major function of ARKADIA-Design, and numerical analysis methods including coupled analysis to be used for the detailed analysis to confirm the plant performance after optimization are introduced at this point in time.
Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki
Nihon Kikai Gakkai 2024-Nendo Nenji Taikai Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 5 Pages, 2024/09
In the study of safety enhancements on advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor, it has been essential to evaluate the influence of buoyancy on pressure drop in a fuel assembly at mixed convection condition during natural circulation under the decay heat removal operation. In this study, the numerical simulations of the 19-rod and 91-rod bundle water experiments at low flow rate conditions were performed for the validation of a thermal-hydraulic analysis code named SPIRAL with the hybrid turbulence model. The influence of buoyancy on the velocity and temperature distributions was analyzed, and the applicability of the hybrid turbulence model to the pressure drop evaluation was investigated by comparison with the experimental friction factors.
Tanaka, Masaaki; Doda, Norihiro; Hamase, Erina; Kuwagaki, Kazuki; Mori, Takero; Okajima, Satoshi; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Yoshimura, Kazuo; Matsushita, Kentaro; Hashidate, Ryuta; et al.
Dai-28-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 5 Pages, 2024/06
To assist conceptual studies of various reactor systems conducted by private sectors in nuclear power innovation, development of an innovative design system named ARKADIA (Advanced Reactor Knowledge- and AI-aided Design Integration Approach through the whole plant lifecycle) is undergoing. In this paper, focusing on the ARKADIA-Design, achievements in the development of optimization processes in the fields of the core design, the plant structure design, and the maintenance schedule planning, as major function of ARKADIA-Design, and numerical analysis methods to be used for the detailed analysis to confirm the plant performance after optimization are introduced at this point in time.
Doda, Norihiro; Nakamine, Yoshiaki*; Yoshimura, Kazuo; Kuwagaki, Kazuki; Hamase, Erina; Yokoyama, Kenji; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Mori, Takero; Hashidate, Ryuta; Tanaka, Masaaki
Keisan Kogaku Koenkai Rombunshu (CD-ROM), 29, 6 Pages, 2024/06
As a part of the development of the "Advanced Reactor Knowledge- and AI-aided Design Integration Approach through the whole plant lifecycle (ARKADIA)" to utilize the knowledge obtained through the sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) and combine the latest numerical simulation technologies, ARKADIA-Design is being developed to support the optimization of SFRs in the conceptual design stage. ARKADIA-Design consists of three systems of Virtual Plant Life System (VLS), Enhanced and AI-aided optimization System (EAS), and Knowledge Management System (KMS). A design optimization framework controls the linkage among the three systems through the interfaces in each system. In this study, we have developed a prototype of the framework for core design optimization using the coupled analysis functions in VLS and optimization control function in the linkage of EAS and VLS to investigate the applicability of the framework to the SFR design optimization process.
Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Imai, Yasutomo*; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki; Ohshima, Hiroyuki
Nuclear Technology, 210(5), p.814 - 835, 2024/05
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.00(Nuclear Science & Technology)In the study of safety enhancement on advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor, it is essential to clarify the thermal-hydraulics under various operation conditions in a fuel assembly (FA) with the wire-wrapped fuel pins to assess the structural integrity of the fuel pin. A finite element thermal-hydraulics analysis code named SPIRAL has been developed to analyze the detailed thermal-hydraulics phenomena in a FA. In this study, the numerical simulations of the 37-pin bundle sodium experiments at different Re number conditions, including a transitional condition between laminar and turbulent flows and turbulent flow conditions, were performed to validate the hybrid turbulence model equipped in SPIRAL. The temperature distributions predicted by SPIRAL was consistent with those measured in the experiments. Through the validation study, the applicability of the hybrid turbulence model in SPIRAL to thermal-hydraulic evaluation of sodium-cooled FA in the wide range of Re number was confirmed.
Be and 
Al under direct muon-induced spallation in granite quartz and its implications for past high-energy cosmic ray fluxesSakurai, Hirohisa*; Kurebayashi, Yutaka*; Suzuki, Soichiro*; Horiuchi, Kazuho*; Takahashi, Yui*; Doshita, Norihiro*; Kikuchi, Satoshi*; Tokanai, Fuyuki*; Iwata, Naoyoshi*; Tajima, Yasushi*; et al.
Physical Review D, 109(10), p.102005_1 - 102005_18, 2024/05
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.00(Astronomy & Astrophysics)Secular variations of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) are inseparably associated with the galactic activities and should reflect the environments of the local galactic magnetic field, interstellar clouds, and nearby supernova remnants. The high-energy muons produced in the atmosphere by high-energy GCRs can penetrate deep underground and generate radioisotopes in the rock. As long lived radionuclides such as Be and Al have been accumulating in these rocks, concentrations of Be and Al can be used to estimate the long-term variations in high-energy muon yields, corresponding to those in the high-energy GCRs over a few million years. This study measured the production cross sections for muon induced Be and Al by irradiating positive muons with the momentum of 160 GeV/c on the synthetic silica plates and the granite core at the COMPASS experiment line in CERN SPS. In addition, it the contributions of the direct muon spallation reaction and the nuclear reactions by muon-induced particles on the production of long lived radionuclides in the rocks were clarified.
Okajima, Satoshi; Mori, Takero; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki; Miyazaki, Masashi
Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 10(4), p.23-00042_1 - 23-00042_12, 2023/08
In this paper, we propose the simplified procedure to estimate failure probability of components subjected to thermal transient for the design optimization. Failure probability can be commonly used as an indicator of component integrity for various failure mechanisms. In order to reduce number of analyses required for one estimation, we have adopted the First Order Second Moment (FOSM) method as the estimation method of failure probability on the process of the optimization, and an orthogonal table in experiment design method is utilized to define conditions of the analyses for the evaluation of the input parameters for the FOSM method. The superposition of ramp responses is also utilized to evaluate the time history of thermal transient stress instead of finite element analysis. Through the demonstration study to optimize thickness of cylindrical vessel subjected to thermal transient derived from shutdown, we confirmed that the procedure can evaluate the failure probability depending on the cylinder thickness with practical calculation cost.
Doda, Norihiro; Kato, Shinya; Hamase, Erina; Kuwagaki, Kazuki; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Ohgama, Kazuya; Yoshimura, Kazuo; Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Yokoyama, Kenji; Uwaba, Tomoyuki; et al.
Proceedings of 20th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-20) (Internet), p.946 - 959, 2023/08
An innovative design system named ARKADIA is being developed to realize the design of advanced nuclear reactors as safe, economical, and sustainable carbon-free energy sources. This paper focuses on ARKADIA-Design for design studies as a part of ARKADIA and introduces representative verification methods for numerical analysis methods of the core design. ARKADIA-Design performs core performance analysis of sodium-cooled fast reactors using a multiphysics approach that combines neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, core mechanics, and fuel pin behavior analysis codes. To confirm the validity of these analysis codes, validation matrices are identified with reference to experimental data and reliable numerical analysis results. The analysis models in these codes and the representative practices for the validation matrices are described.
Kikuchi, Norihiro; Imai, Yasutomo*; Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Doda, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki
Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science, 9(3), p.031401_1 - 031401_11, 2023/07
In the design study of an advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor (Advanced-SFR) investigated in JAEA, the use of a specific fuel assembly with an inner duct structure called FAIDUS has been investigated to enhance safety of Advanced-SFR. Since the fuel rods have an asymmetric layout by the inner duct, the validity confirmation of the numerical results of an in-house subchannel analysis code named ASFRE was required. In this paper, therefore, the code-to-code comparisons was applied with numerical results of ASFRE and those of an in-house CFD code named SPIRAL. The applicability of ASFRE was indicated through the confirmation of the consistency of specific temperature distributions.
Doda, Norihiro; Nakamine, Yoshiaki*; Kuwagaki, Kazuki; Hamase, Erina; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Yoshimura, Kazuo; Matsushita, Kentaro; Tanaka, Masaaki
Keisan Kogaku Koenkai Rombunshu (CD-ROM), 28, 5 Pages, 2023/05
As a part of the development of the "Advanced Reactor Knowledge- and AI-aided Design Integration Approach through the whole plant lifecycle (ARKADIA)" to automatically optimize the life cycle of innovative nuclear reactors including fast reactors, ARKADIA-design is being developed to support the optimization of fast reactor in the conceptual design stage. ARKADIA-Design consists of three systems (Virtual plant Life System (VLS), Evaluation assistance and Application System (EAS), and Knowledge Management System (KMS)). A design optimization framework controls the connection between the three systems through the interfaces in each system. This paper reports on the development of an optimization analysis control function that performs design optimization analysis combining plant behavior analysis by VLS and optimization study by EAS.
Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Imai, Yasutomo*; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki; Gerschenfeld, A.*
Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2023/05
Removal of core decay heat by utilizing natural circulation is expected as a significant measure to enhance the safety of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). Accurate evaluation of the temperature distribution in the fuel assembly (FA) at the low Re regime in natural circulation operation is demanded. A detailed thermal-hydraulics analysis code named SPIRAL has been developed to clarify thermal-hydraulic phenomena in the FA at various operation conditions. In this study, SPIRAL with the hybrid turbulence model was applied to analyze a large-scale fuel assembly experiment of a 91-pin bundle for two cases at the mixed and the natural convection conditions respectively in low Re regime with heat transfer from outside of the FA. The applicability of the SPIRAL to the thermal-hydraulics evaluation of FA at mixed and natural convection conditions was confirmed by the comparisons of temperatures predicted by SPIRAL with those measured in the experiment.
Kikuchi, Norihiro; Mori, Takero; Okajima, Satoshi; Tanaka, Masaaki; Miyazaki, Masashi
Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2023/05
JAEA is developing an evaluation system aided by artificial intelligence (AI) named ARKADIA (Advanced Reactor Knowledge- and AI-aided Design Integration Approach through the whole plant lifecycle). A sub-system of it, named ARKADIA-Design, is being developed to support the design optimization study for an advanced nuclear plant including a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR). Authors are developing a design optimization process for the structure of the component in SFR. This paper describes the outline of a design optimization process, the brief introduction of evaluation methods for the process, and the result of the demonstration of the optimization process for a feasibility study. The development is being performed in a representative problem considering the thermal transient and seismic motion as a major issue in SFRs. Through the demonstration, it was confirmed that the optimization process under development may provide an optimal solution to the representative problem.
Okajima, Satoshi; Mori, Takero; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki; Miyazaki, Masashi
Proceedings of 29th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 29) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2022/08
In this paper, we propose the simplified procedure to estimate failure probability of components subjected to thermal transient for the design optimization. Failure probability can be commonly used as an indicator of component integrity for various failure mechanisms. In order to reduce number of analyses required for one estimation, we have adopted the First Order Second Moment (FOSM) method as the estimation method of failure probability on the process of the optimization, and an orthogonal table in experiment design method is utilized to define conditions of the analyses for the evaluation of the input parameters for the FOSM method. Through the demonstration study to optimize thickness of cylindrical vessel subjected to thermal transient derived from shutdown, we confirmed that the procedure can evaluate the failure probability depending on the cylinder thickness with practical calculation cost.
Kikuchi, Norihiro; Mori, Takero; Okajima, Satoshi; Tanaka, Masaaki; Miyazaki, Masashi
Dai-26-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 5 Pages, 2022/07
In JAEA, the design optimization method for plant structure has been developed on the process to output optimal solution of the thickness of reactor vessel wall against thermal transient and seismic loads in a SFR as a representative problem. Resistance characteristic of the wall on the load derived from thermal transient is one of the most important factors for safety estimation on the structural integrity. Failure probability of components against thermal transient was set to one of variables in the objective function for a common scale to compare with other variables in different failure mechanisms. In the iterative process to achieve the optimal solution, a number of evaluations to measure the influence on the load derived from thermal transient was necessarily conducted. More reduction of required time for evaluations is desired. To perform the iterative evaluation process efficiently, the automatization of parametric analyses was implemented in the optimization process.
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
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.
Doda, Norihiro; Hamase, Erina; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki
Proceedings of International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles; Sustainable Clean Energy for the Future (FR22) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2022/04
In conventional design studies of sodium-cooled fast reactors, plant dynamics and local phenomena were evaluated separately by using simple models and detailed models, respectively, and their interaction was considered through the boundary conditions settings with conservativeness for each individual analysis. Thus, the final result through the analyses may contain excessive conservativeness. Therefore, JAEA began to develop a multi-level simulation system in which detailed analysis codes are coupled with a plant dynamics analysis code. Focusing on core thermal-hydraulics, a coupled analysis method using a plant dynamics analysis code Super-COPD and a subchannel analysis code ASFRE has been developed. The analysis on a test in the experimental fast reactor EBR-II was performed to validate the coupled analysis. Through the comparison of the analysis results and the measurement, it was confirmed that the coupled analysis could predict the transient temperature distribution in the subassembly, and the multi-level simulation by changing the level of detail in analysis model could be performed for core thermal-hydraulics.
