Study on actinide burning core concepts for the future phaseout of a fast reactor fuel cycle

Mori, Tetsuya; Naganuma, Masayuki; Oki, Shigeo

Nuclear Technology, 209(4), p.532 - 548, 2023/04

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2022.2133514

This paper deals with a conceptual study on a plutonium (Pu) and minor actinide (MA) burning fast reactor core for the distant future phaseout of a fast-reactor fuel cycle after it is commercialized and used for a long time. This burning core aims to reduce the Pu and MA inventories contained in the fuel cycle through multiple recycling. A key point for the core design is the degradation of Pu and MA during multiple recycling. This degradation affects the core feasibility by increasing the sodium void reactivity and decreasing the absolute value of the Doppler constant. A feasible core concept was found by incorporating the following three factors to improve the reactivity coefficients: core flattening, fuel burnup reduction, and the use of silicon carbide (SiC) in the cladding and wrapper tubes. Notably, softening the neutron spectrum using the SiC structural material not only improved the reactivity coefficients but also indirectly mitigated the degradation of Pu and MA. Consequently, the designed core allowed for multiple recycling to continue until the Pu and MA reduced significantly, particularly by about 99% in a phaseout scenario starting from a fast-reactor fleet of 30-GWe nuclear power capacity. Fast reactors were found to have the potential to become self-contained energy systems that can minimize the inventories of Pu they produced themselves, as well as long-lived MA. Fast reactors can be among the important options for environmental burden reduction in the future.

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.

Background radiation monitoring using manned helicopter for establishment of technique of nuclear emergency response in the fiscal year 2017 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Seguchi, Eisaku; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Kawabata, Tomoki; Toyoda, Masayuki*; Tobita, Shinichiro*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Sato, Kazuhiko*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2018-016, 98 Pages, 2019/02

JAEA-Technology-2018-016.pdf:18.64MB

By the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive material was released from the NPS. After the nuclear disaster, airborne radiation monitoring using manned helicopter was conducted around FDNPS. We have carried out the background monitoring around the nuclear power stations of the whole country to apply the airborne radiation monitoring technique that has been cultivated in Fukushima against nuclear emergency response. The results of monitoring around Tomari, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa and Genkai Nuclear Power Station in the fiscal 2017 were summarized in this report. In addition, technical issues were described.

Retreat from stress; Rattling in a planar coordination

Suekuni, Koichiro*; Lee, C. H.*; Tanaka, Hiromi*; Nishibori, Eiji*; Nakamura, Atsushi*; Kasai, Hidetaka*; Mori, Hitoshi*; Usui, Hidetomo*; Ochi, Masayuki*; Hasegawa, Takumi*; et al.

Advanced Materials, 30(13), p.1706230_1 - 1706230_6, 2018/03

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201706230

Thermoelectric materials for highly efficient devices must satisfy conflicting requirements of high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity. In this paper, we studied the crystal structure and phonon dynamics of tetrahedrites (Cu,Zn)(Sb,As)S. The results revealed that the Cu atoms in a planar coordination are rattling, which effectively scatter phonons. These findings provide a new strategy for the development of highly efficient thermoelectric materials with planar coordination.

Radiation monitoring using manned helicopter around the Nuclear Power Station in the fiscal year 2016 (Contract research)

Sanada, Yukihisa; Mori, Airi; Iwai, Takeyuki; Seguchi, Eisaku; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Kawabata, Tomoki; Toyoda, Masayuki*; Tobita, Shinichiro*; Hiraga, Shogo; Sato, Yoshiharu; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2017-034, 117 Pages, 2018/02

JAEA-Technology-2017-034.pdf:25.18MB

By the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), caused by the East Japan earthquake and the following tsunami occurred on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive materials was released from the NPS. After the nuclear disaster, airborne radiation monitoring using manned helicopter was conducted around FDNPS. This result of the aerial radiation monitoring using the manned helicopter in the fiscal 2016 were summarized in the report. In addition, we developed the discrimination technique of the Rn-progenies. The accuracy of aerial radiation monitoring was evaluated by taking into consideration GPS position error.

Radiation monitoring using manned helicopter around the Nuclear Power Station in the fiscal year 2015 (Contract research)

Sanada, Yukihisa; Munakata, Masahiro; Mori, Airi; Ishizaki, Azusa; Shimada, Kazumasa; Hirouchi, Jun; Nishizawa, Yukiyasu; Urabe, Yoshimi; Nakanishi, Chika*; Yamada, Tsutomu*; et al.

JAEA-Research 2016-016, 131 Pages, 2016/10

JAEA-Research-2016-016.pdf:20.59MB

By the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), caused by the East Japan earthquake and the following tsunami occurred on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive materials was released from the NPS. After the nuclear disaster, airborne radiation monitoring using manned helicopter was conducted around FDNPS. In addition, background dose rate monitoring was conducted around Sendai Nuclear Power Station. These results of the aerial radiation monitoring using the manned helicopter in the fiscal 2015 were summarized in the report.

High power laser developments with femtosecond to nanosecond pulse durations for laser shock science and engineering

Kiriyama, Hiromitsu; Mori, Michiaki; Suzuki, Masayuki*; Daito, Izuru*; Okada, Hajime; Ochi, Yoshihiro; Tanaka, Momoko; Sato, Masatoshi*; Tamaoki, Yoshinori*; Yoshii, Takehiro*; et al.

Reza Kenkyu, 42(6), p.441 - 447, 2014/06

http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/40020137371

We describe three specific high power laser systems that are being developed in our laboratory for many applications in high field science, nonlinear optics and material processing. We report on a femtosecond petawatt-class Ti:sapphire chirped-pulse amplification laser system that can produce a pulse energy of 20 J of 40 fs pulse duration, a picosecond high intensity Yb:YAG chirped-pulse amplification laser system that can generate a pulse energy of 100 mJ of 0.5 ps pulse duration, and a nanosecond high repetition rate Nd:YAG laser system that can provide an average power of 360 W with a pulse duration of 30 ns delivered at a 1 kHz repetition rate. We discuss the basic design aspects and present the results from our experimental investigations of these laser systems.

Fermi surface and magnetic properties of antiferromagnet EuBi

Nakamura, Ai*; Hiranaka, Yuichi*; Hedo, Masato*; Nakama, Takao*; Tatetsu, Yasutomi*; Maehira, Takahiro*; Miura, Yasunao*; Mori, Akinobu*; Tsutsumi, Hiroki*; Hirose, Yusuke*; et al.

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 82(12), p.124708_1 - 124708_6, 2013/12

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSJ.82.124708

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Annual report for fiscal year 2011

Kunimaru, Takanori; Mikake, Shinichiro; Nishio, Kazuhisa; Tsuruta, Tadahiko; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Sasao, Eiji; Hikima, Ryoichi; Tanno, Takeo; Sanada, Hiroyuki; et al.

JAEA-Review 2013-018, 169 Pages, 2013/09

JAEA-Review-2013-018.pdf:15.71MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) is pursuing a geoscientific research and development project namely the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in crystalline rock environment in order to construct scientific and technological basis for geological disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste (HLW). The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase II and the Phase III in 2011 fiscal year. This report shows the results of the investigation, construction and collaboration studies in fiscal year 2011, as a part of the Phase II and Phase III based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2010.

High-temperature continuous operation of the HTTR

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Sawa, Kazuhiro; Kunitomi, Kazuhiko; Hino, Ryutaro; Ogawa, Masuro; Komori, Yoshihiro; Nakazawa, Toshio*; Iyoku, Tatsuo; Fujimoto, Nozomu; Nishihara, Tetsuo; et al.

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 10(4), p.290 - 300, 2011/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J11.020

A high temperature (950C) continuous operation has been performed for 50 days on the HTTR from January to March in 2010, and the potential to supply stable heat of high temperature for hydrogen production for a long time was demonstrated for the first time in the world. This successful operation could establish technological basis of HTGRs and show potential of nuclear energy as heat source for innovative thermo-chemical-based hydrogen production, emitting greenhouse gases on a "low-carbon path" for the first time in the world.