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Yamasaki, Ryota; Aizawa, Kosuke; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu
Proceedings of 13th Korea-Japan Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS13) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2024/11
Ezure, Toshiki; Akimoto, Yuta; Onojima, Takamitsu; Kurihara, Akikazu; Tanaka, Masaaki
Proceedings of 20th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-20) (Internet), p.3652 - 3662, 2023/08
In order to grasp the thermal-hydraulic behaviors during decay heat removal by dipped-direct heat exchangers (D-DHXs) in a sodium-cooled fast reactor, an experimental study was performed using a sodium experimental facility. The simulated core of PLANDTL-2 was formed by 55 hexagonal-shaped flow channel tubes, which allows to examine the cooling behavior of the simulated core region having multiple rows of fuel assemblies including the thermal hydraulic behavior to the radial direction. In this study, transient core cooling behavior in the situation after the scram with the decay heat removal using a D-DHX was examined. The time evolution of the temperature was measured in the whole system including the simulated core region. As the results, it was confirmed there was not excessively skewed temperature distribution in the radial direction in the core region.
Akimoto, Yuta; Ezure, Toshiki; Onojima, Takamitsu; Kurihara, Akikazu
Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2023/05
A numerical analysis method has been developed to evaluate thermal-hydraulic behaviors in a reactor vessel under the operation of a NC-DHRS at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. During the validation of the evaluation method, in addition to uncertainties due to the numerical solution and input parameters in simulations, it is important to quantify uncertainties due to the experimental data. From this perspective, JAEA has been developing an experimental database and uncertainty evaluation methods for sodium experiments during operation of the NC-DHRS. In this study, the authors have proposed an uncertainty evaluation approach during relative calibrations of thermocouples in sodium experiments. The proposed approach was applied to experimental data obtained in a sodium NC-DHRS experiment conducted at PLANDTL-2. As a result, uncertainties of the experimental data were successfully evaluated and the applicability of the method to temperature measurement in sodium experiments was confirmed.
Aizawa, Kosuke; Hiyama, Tomoyuki; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu
Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 6 Pages, 2023/05
Self-actuated shutdown system (SASS) is a passive reactor-shutdown system that utilizes a Curie-point electromagnet (CPEM), which features the characteristic of loss in magnetism when the magnet temperature reaches the Curie point. A control rod with SASS is inserted into the core by gravity without recourse to any active shutdown system. To allow the SASS to effectively function, efficiently guiding high-temperature fluid from the fuel assembly to CPEM is important. Therefore, CPEM features a complicated shape such as having 45 fins, and a flow collector is installed upstream of CPEM to direct the flow from the fuel subassembly outlet to CPEM. In this report, the water experiment was performed on the full-scale model that simulates from the outlets of the fuel assemblies to the SASS flow collector, and flow phenomena around the temperature sensing part was analyzed from the data obtained by PIV measurement.
Kobayashi, Jun; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ezure, Toshiki; Nagasawa, Kazuyoshi*; Kurihara, Akikazu; Tanaka, Masaaki
JAEA-Research 2022-009, 125 Pages, 2023/01
JAEA-Research-2022-009.pdf:29.22MB
The design studies of an advanced loop-type sodium-cooled fast reactor (Advanced- SFR) have been carried out by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). At the core outlet, temperature fluctuations occur due to mixing of hot sodium from the fuel assembly with cold sodium from the control rod channels and radial blanket assembly. These temperature fluctuations may cause high cycle thermal fatigue around a bottom of Upper Internal Structure (UIS) located above the core. Therefore, we conducted a water experiment using a 1/3 scale 60 degree sector model that simulated the upper plenum of the advanced loop-type sodium-cooled reactor. And we proposed some countermeasures against large temperature fluctuations that occur at the bottom of the UIS. In this report, we have summarized that the effect of the countermeasure structure to mitigate the temperature fluctuation generated at the bottom of UIS is confirmed, and the Reynolds number dependency of the countermeasure structure and the characteristics of the temperature fluctuation on the control rod surface.
Tsuji, Mitsuyo; Aizawa, Kosuke; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu
Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 6 Pages, 2022/10
In sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), decay heat removal after a core disruptive accident (CDA) is an important issue for the safety enhancement. Therefore, water experiments using a 1/10 scale experimental apparatus (PHEASANT) that simulates the reactor vessel of an SFR are conducted to investigate the natural circulation phenomena in the reactor vessel. In this study, experiments under the operation of the dipped-type DHX were conducted to investigate the effect of the heat generation ratio between the fuel debris on the core catcher in lower plenum and the reactor core remnant on the natural circulation behavior in the reactor vessel. The temperature distribution and the velocity distribution were measured under two heat generation conditions. Thus, the effect of the heat generation ratio between the fuel debris in the lower plenum and the reactor core remnant on the natural circulation behavior was quantitatively grasped under the dipped-type DHX operating conditions.
Aizawa, Kosuke; Tsuji, Mitsuyo; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu
Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2022/10
In sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), optimizing the design and operate decay heat removal systems (DHRSs) is important for safety enhancement against severe accidents. Thus, it is required to evaluate the cooling capability of DHRSs including the natural circulation behavior inside the reactor vessel during heat-removal phase that the fuel debris relocated in the reactor vessel is cooled by DHRSs. In this study, the experiments which simultaneously operations of the dipped-type DHX and the penetrated-type DHX were conducted to investigate the effect of operating multiple decay heat removal system on the natural circulation behavior in the reactor vessel. After achieving the stable conditions by operating the dipped-type DHX or the penetrated-type DHX, the other DHX was operated and the transient behavior was clarified by the temperature measurements. The clear temperature rise in the reactor vessel was confirmed by operating the penetrated-type DHX as second DHX operation under the condition of the dipped-type DHX operation at the beginning and the high heater power of fuel debris on the core catcher. Therefore, it was confirmed that the inhibition of the cooling for the decay heat occurred by operating multiple DHXs.
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.
Aizawa, Kosuke; Tsuji, Mitsuyo; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu; Miyake, Yasuhiro*; Nakane, Shigeru*; Ishida, Katsuji*
Proceedings of International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles; Sustainable Clean Energy for the Future (FR22) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2022/04
In sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), optimizing the design and operate decay heat removal systems (DHRSs) is important for safety enhancement against severe accidents that could lead to core melting. The natural circulation phenomena in a reactor vessel during operating a DHRS were clarified by conducting water experiments using a 1:10 scale experimental facility (PHEASANT) simulating the reactor vessel of loop-type SFRs. In this study, we investigated the natural circulation phenomena under conditions of operating the dipped-type DHX and RVACS using the results of temperature and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of temperature fluctuation on the PIV measurement were quantitatively evaluated.
Hiyama, Tomoyuki; Aizawa, Kosuke; Nishimura, Masahiro; Kurihara, Akikazu
JAEA-Research 2021-009, 29 Pages, 2021/11
JAEA-Research-2021-009.pdf:2.25MB
In sodium-cooled fast reactors, high burnup of fuel is required for practical use. It is important to predict and evaluate the flow behavior in a fuel assembly because there is a concern that the heat removal capacity of the fuel assembly with high burnup will be locally reduced due to swirling and thermal deformation of the fuel rods. In this study, flow field measurement tests were conducted using a 3-pin bundle system test specimen for the purpose of elucidating the phenomenon and constructing a verification database for thermal hydraulics analysis code. The viewpoints of the experiment for elucidating the phenomenon are as follows; (1) Overall flow behavior in the subchannel including near the wrapping wire, (2) Relationship between Reynolds number including laminar flow region and flow field, and (3) Evaluation of the effect of the presence or absence of wrapping wire on the flow field. As a result, detailed flow field data in the subchannel was obtained by PIV measurement. It was found that when the wrapping wire crossed the subchannel, the flow occurred toward adjacent subchannel and the flow occurred that follows the winding direction of the wrapping wire. It was confirmed that the tendency of the flow velocity distribution of the Reynolds number in the laminar flow region is significantly different from that of the transition region and the turbulent region under the condition. The test was conducted using a same 3-pin bundle system without the wrapping wire, and it was confirmed that mixing by the wrapping wire occurred even in the laminar flow region.
Kobayashi, Jun; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ezure, Toshiki; Kurihara, Akikazu; Tanaka, Masaaki
Hozengaku, 20(3), p.89 - 96, 2021/10
Hot sodium from the fuel assembly can mix with cold sodium from the control rod (CR) channel and the blanket assemblies at the bottom plate of the Upper Internal Structure (UIS) of Advanced-SFR. Temperature fluctuation due to mixing of the fluids at different temperature between the core outlet and cold channel may cause high cycle thermal fatigue on the structure around the bottom of UIS. A water experiment using a 1/3 scale 60 degree sector model simulating the upper plenum of the Advanced-SFR has been conducted to examine countermeasures for the significant temperature fluctuation generated around the bottom of UIS. We focused on the temperature fluctuations near the primary and backup control rod channels, and studied the countermeasure structure to mitigate the temperature fluctuation through temperature distribution and flow velocity distribution measurements. As a result, effectiveness of the countermeasure to mitigate the temperature fluctuation intensity was confirmed.
Kobayashi, Jun; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ezure, Toshiki; Kurihara, Akikazu; Tanaka, Masaaki
Hozengaku, 20(3), p.97 - 101, 2021/10
Focusing on the thermal striping phenomena that occurs at a bottom of the internal structure of an advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor (Advanced-SFR) that has been designed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, a water experiment using a 1/3 scale 60 degree sector model simulating the upper plenum of the Advanced-SFR has been conducted to examine countermeasures for the significant temperature fluctuation generated around the bottom of Upper Internal Structure (UIS). In the previous paper, we reported the effect of measures to mitigate temperature fluctuations around the control rod channels. In this paper, the same test section was used, and a water experiment was conducted to obtain the characteristics of temperature fluctuations around the radial blanket fuel assembly. And the shape of the Core Instrumentation Support Plate (CIP) was modified, and it was confirmed that it was highly effective in alleviating temperature fluctuations around the radial blanket fuel assembly.
Aizawa, Kosuke; Hiyama, Tomoyuki; Nishimura, Masahiro; Kurihara, Akikazu; Ishida, Katsuji*
Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 8(4), p.20-00547_1 - 20-00547_11, 2021/08
A sodium-cooled fast reactor has been designed to attain a high burn-up core in commercialized fast reactor cycle systems. The sodium-cooled fast reactor adopts a wire spacer between fuel pins. The wire spacer performs functions of securing the coolant channel and the mixing between subchannels. In high burn-up fuel subassemblies, the fuel pin deformation due to swelling and thermal bowing may decrease the local flow velocity in the subassembly and influence the heat removal capability. Therefore, understanding the flow field in a wire-wrapped pin bundle is important. This study performed particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements using a wire-wrapped three-pin bundle water model to grasp the flow field in the subchannel under conditions, including the laminar to turbulent regions. In the region away from the wrapping wire, the maximum flow velocity was increased by decreasing the Re number. Accordingly, the PIV measurements using the three-pin bundle geometry without the wrapping wire were also conducted to understand the effect of the wrapping wires on the flow field in the subchannel. The results confirmed that the mixing due to the wrapping wire occurred, even in the laminar condition. These experimental results are useful not only for understanding the pin bundle thermal hydraulics, but also for the code validation.
Sugimoto, Taro*; Kaneko, Akiko*; Abe, Yutaka*; Uchibori, Akihiro; Kurihara, Akikazu; Takata, Takashi; Ohshima, Hiroyuki
Nuclear Engineering and Design, 380, p.111306_1 - 111306_11, 2021/08
Times Cited Count：4 Percentile：41.66(Nuclear Science & Technology)Liquid droplet entrainment by a high-speed gas jet is a key phenomenon for evaluation of sodium-water reaction. In this study, a visualization experiment for liquid droplet entrainment by an air jet in a water pool by using frame-straddling method was carried for development of an entrainment model in a sodium-water reaction analysis code. This experiment successfully provided clear images that captured generation and movement of droplets. Droplet diameter and moving speed were obtained at different locations and gas jet velocities from image processing. The measured data contributes phenomena elucidation and model development.
Saito, Masafumi*; Kaneko, Akiko*; Abe, Yutaka*; Uchibori, Akihiro; Kurihara, Akikazu; Takata, Takashi*; Ohshima, Hiroyuki
Proceedings of 28th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 28) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2021/08
In order to provide the data for validation and improvement of the sodium-water reaction analysis code, a visualization experiment on liquid droplet entrainment in a high-pressure air jet submerged in a water pool was conducted. Diameter and velocity of entrained liquid droplets were successfully measured. The effect of a nozzle shape was elucidated.
Umeda, Ryota; Kondo, Toshiki; Kikuchi, Shin; Kurihara, Akikazu
Proceedings of 28th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 28) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2021/08
In this study, in order to obtain the fundamental information on aerosol transport behavior between cells, the Multiple cells with Expandable connecting pipe Test facility (MET) was manufactured and preliminary experiments were performed. In the preliminary experiments, simulated particles were used in a test system with two cells connected horizontally or vertically, and their transport behavior was measured. As a result, it was possible to confirm the behavior of the simulated particles transporting to the horizontal or vertical cells from the results such as images and sedimentation data.
Akimoto, Yuta; Ezure, Toshiki; Onojima, Takamitsu; Kurihara, Akikazu
Dai-25-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 5 Pages, 2021/07
In order to improve the reliability of the experimental database for a decay heat removal system in sodium-cooled fast reactors, uncertainty evaluation of temperature measurement data in thermal hydraulic experiments using sodium as the working fluid was investigated using the sodium experimental facility PLANDTL-2. In this study, an evaluation method of uncertainty due to the influence of the heat loss from the test section and the uncertainty of reference thermocouples was proposed for the relative calibration of thermocouples fixed inside the test section of PLANDTL-2. Moreover, the method has also been applied to the temperature measurement data of PLANDTL-2 experiment, and the confidence interval was evaluated to confirm the applicability of the method.
Umeda, Ryota; Shimoyama, Kazuhito; Kurihara, Akikazu
Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 19(4), p.234 - 244, 2020/12
Sodium-water reaction caused by failure of the steam generator tube of sodium-cooled fast reactor induce the wastage phenomenon, which has erosive and corrosive feature. In this report, the authors have performed the self-wastage experiments under high sodium temperature condition to evaluate the effect of wastage form/geometry by using two types of initial defect such as the micro fine pinhole and fatigue crack, and water leak rate on self-wastage rate. Based on the consideration of crack type influence, it was confirmed that self-wastage rate did not strongly depend on the initial defect geometry. As a mechanism of the self-plug phenomenon, it is speculated that sodium oxide intervenes and inhibits the progress of self-wastage. The dependence of initial sodium temperature on self-wastage rate was clearly observed, and new self-wastage correlation was derived considering the initial sodium temperature.
Aizawa, Kosuke; Hiyama, Tomoyuki; Nishimura, Masahiro; Kurihara, Akikazu; Ishida, Katsuji*
Proceedings of 2020 International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2020) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2020/08
A sodium-cooled fast reactor is designed to attain a high burn-up core in commercialized fast reactor cycle systems. In high burn-up fuel subassemblies, the deformation of fuel pin due to the swelling and thermal bowing may decrease local flow velocity in the subassembly and influence the heat removal capability. Therefore, it is important to obtain the flow velocity distribution in a wire wrapped pin bundle. In this study, the detailed flow velocity distribution in the subchannel has been obtained by PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) measurement using a wire-wrapped 3-pin bundle water model. Flow velocity conditions in the pin bundle were set from 0.036 m/s (
= 270) to 1.6m/s ( = 13,500). From the PIV results, the maximum flow velocity was increased by decreasing the number in the region away from the wrapping wire. Moreover, the PIV measurements by using the 3-pin bundle geometry without the wrapping wire were conducted. From the results, the effect of the wrapping wire on the flow field in the subchannel was understood. There experimental results useful not only for understanding of pin bundle thermal hydraulics but also code validation.
Tsuji, Mitsuyo; Aizawa, Kosuke; Kobayashi, Jun; Kurihara, Akikazu; Miyake, Yasuhiro*
Proceedings of 2020 International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2020) (Internet), 5 Pages, 2020/08
The water experiments using a 1/10 scale experimental apparatus simulating the reactor vessel of SFR were conducted to investigate the natural circulation phenomena in a reactor vessel. In this paper, the natural circulation flow field in the reactor vessel was measured by the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) method. The PIV measurement was carried out under the operation of the dipped-type direct heat exchanger (DHX) installed in the upper plenum when 20% of the core fuel fell to the lower plenum and accumulated on the core catcher. From the results of PIV measurement, it was quantitatively confirmed that the upward flow occurred at the center region of the lower and upper plenums. In addition, the downward flows were confirmed near the reactor vessel wall in the upper plenum and through outermost layer of the simulated core in the lower plenum. Moreover, the relationship between the temperature field and the velocity field was investigated in order to understand the natural circulation phenomenon in the reactor vessel. From the above results, it was confirmed that the natural circulation cooling path was established under the dipped-type DHX operation.
