Development of a simplified boiling model applied for large-scale detailed two-phase flow simulations based on the VOF method

Ono, Ayako; Sakashita, Hiroto*; Yamashita, Susumu; Suzuki, Takayuki*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki

Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 11(4), p.24-00188_1 - 24-00188_12, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.1299/mej.24-00188

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is developing the evaluation method for a two-phase flow in the reactor core using simulation codes based on the Volume Of Fluid (VOF) method. JAEA started developing a Simplified Boiling Model (SBM) for the large-scale two-phase flow in the fuel assemblies. In the SBM, the motion and growth equations of the bubble are solved to obtain their diameter and time length at the detachment, of which size scale is within/around the calculation grid size of the numerical simulation. JUPITER calculates the bubble behavior with a scale of more than several m. In this study, the convection boiling on a vertical heating surface is simulated using the developed SBM. The comparison between the simulation and experimental results showed good reproducibility of the heat flux and velocity dependency on the passage period of the bubble.

Prediction of critical heat flux for the forced convective boiling based on the mechanism

Ono, Ayako; Sakashita, Hiroto*; Yamashita, Susumu; Suzuki, Takayuki*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki

Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2022/10

The new prediction method of critical heat flux (CHF) of the fuel assemblies based on the mechanism is proposed in this study. The prediction method of CHF based on the mechanism has been needed for a long time to enhance the safety analysis and reduce the design cost. From several experimental findings of the liquid-vapor behavior near the heating surface from the nucleate boiling to the CHF, the authors consider that the macrolayer dryout model will be appropriate to predict the CHF under the reactor condition. The prediction method of the macrolayer thickness and the passage period of vapor mass in the fuel assemblies are needed to predict CHF from the macrolayer dryout model. In this study, the CHF under the forced convection is evaluated by combining the prediction methods for the macrolayer thickness and passage period of vapor mass, which are proposed by authors. The prediction of the CHF under the forced convection is examined and compared with the experimental data.

Development of the simplified boiling model applied for the large scale simulation by the detailed two-phase flow analysis based on the surface tracking

Ono, Ayako; Yamashita, Susumu; Sakashita, Hiroto*; Suzuki, Takayuki*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki

Dai-26-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.1299/jsmepes.2022.26.B211

JAEA is implementing a simulation of a two-phase flow in the reactor core by TPFIT and JUPITER which are developed by JAEA based on the surface tracking method. However, it is impossible to simulate a boiling on the heating surface in the large-scale domain by this type of simulation method since the simulation of boiling based on the surface tracking method needs the fine mesh which sufficiently resolves the initiation of boiling. Therefore, JAEA started to develop the simplified boiling model applied for the two-phase flow in the fuel assemblies. In this study, the simulation results of the convection boiling on a vertical heating surface and the comparison between the simulation results and experimental results are shown.

Stabilization treatment of nuclear fuel material contained with organic matter

Senzaki, Tatsuya; Arai, Yoichi; Yano, Kimihiko; Sato, Daisuke; Tada, Kohei; Ogi, Hiromichi*; Kawanobe, Takayuki*; Ono, Shimpei; Nakamura, Masahiro; Kitawaki, Shinichi; et al.

JAEA-Testing 2022-001, 28 Pages, 2022/05

JAEA-Testing-2022-001.pdf:2.33MB

In preparation for the decommissioning of Laboratory B of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratory, the nuclear fuel material that had been stored in the glove box for a long time was moved to the Chemical Processing Facility (CPF). This nuclear fuel material was stored with sealed by a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bag in the storage. Since it was confirmed that the PVC bag swelled during storage, it seems that any gas was generated by radiolysis of the some components contained in the nuclear fuel material. In order to avoid breakage of the PVC bag and keep it safety for long time, we began the study on the stabilization treatment of the nuclear fuel material. First, in order to clarify the properties of nuclear fuel material, radioactivity analysis, component analysis, and thermal analysis were carried out. From the results of thermal analysis, the existence of organic matter was clarified. Then, ion exchange resin with similar thermal characteristics was selected and the thermal decomposition conditions were investigated. From the results of these analyzes and examinations, the conditions for thermal decomposition of the nuclear fuel material contained with organic matter was established. Performing a heat treatment of a small amount of nuclear fuel material in order to confirm the safety, after which the treatment amount was scaled up. It was confirmed by the weight change after the heat treatment that the nuclear fuel material contained with organic matter was completely decomposed.

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.

Internal strain distribution of laser lap joints in steel under loading studied by high-energy synchrotron radiation X-rays

Shobu, Takahisa; Shiro, Ayumi*; Kono, Fumiaki*; Muramatsu, Toshiharu; Yamada, Tomonori; Naganuma, Masayuki; Ozawa, Takayuki

Quantum Beam Science (Internet), 5(2), p.17_1 - 17_9, 2021/06

AA2021-0187.pdf:1.36MB

https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5020017

The automotive industries employ laser beam welding because it realizes a high energy density without generating irradiation marks on the opposite side of the irradiated surface. Typical measurement techniques such as strain gauges and tube X-rays cannot assess the localized strain at a joint weld. Herein high-energy synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction was used to study the internal strain distribution of laser lap joint PNC-FMS steels (2- and 5-mm thick) under loading at a high temperature. As the tensile load increased, the local tensile and compressive strains increased near the interface. These changes agreed well with the finite element analysis results. However, it is essential to complementarily utilize internal defect observations by X-ray transmission imaging because the results depend on the defects generated by laser processing.

Numerical simulation of two-phase flow in 44 simulated bundle

Ono, Ayako; Yamashita, Susumu; Suzuki, Takayuki*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki

Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 7(3), p.19-00583_1 - 19-00583_12, 2020/06

https://doi.org/10.1299/mej.19-00583

JAEA is implementing the 3D detailed nuclear-thermal-coupled analysis code to analyze the transition state of the core and to reduce the likelihood of the design. In the development plan, the computational fluid dynamics code based on the VOF method, JUPITER, is applied for TH part of the 3D detailed nuclear-thermal-coupled analysis code.

Element-specific density of states of CoMnGe revealed by resonant photoelectron spectroscopy

Kono, Takashi*; Kakoki, Masaaki*; Yoshikawa, Tomoki*; Wang, X.*; Sumida, Kazuki*; Miyamoto, Koji*; Muro, Takayuki*; Takeda, Yukiharu; Saito, Yuji; Goto, Kazuki*; et al.

Physical Review B, 100(16), p.165120_1 - 165120_6, 2019/10

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.100.165120

Study on the two-phase flow in simulated LWR fuel bundle by CFD code

Ono, Ayako; Yamashita, Susumu; Suzuki, Takayuki*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki

Proceedings of 18th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-18) (USB Flash Drive), p.666 - 677, 2019/08

An evaluation methodology of critical heat fluxes (CHFs) based on a mechanism for fuel assemblies in light water reactors (LWRs) is needed in order to design and evaluate the safety for the fuel assemblies in LWRs. In our study, the numerical simulation with surface-tracking will be applied for the two-phase flow in fuel assemblies in order to obtain the detail data relating to the size and velocity of bubbles in the subchannel, which is needed to predict the CHF based on the mechanism. In this study, the numerical simulation of two-phase flow in 44 bundle was implemented by using JUPITER in order to establish the evaluation method of the size and velocity of bubbles by the numerical simulation, which is the multi-physics simulation code and enable to track the gas-liquid surface. The simulation results are validated by the curve of flow regime for air-water under the adiabatic condition. The bubble and velocity of bubbles obtained by simulation results are analyzed.

Investigation of simulated waste glass samples prepared from borosilicate glass frit including vanadium

Nagai, Takayuki; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Shiwaku, Hideaki; Inose, Takehiko*; Sato, Seiichi*; Hatakeyama, Kiyoshi*; Hirono, Kazuya*; Homma, Masanobu*; Kobayashi, Hiromi*; Takahashi, Tomoe*; et al.

JAEA-Research 2018-007, 87 Pages, 2018/11

JAEA-Research-2018-007.pdf:61.21MB

To select the chemical composition of a glass frit which can increase the waste content, the simulated waste glass samples prepared from a borosilicate glass frit including vanadium (V) were investigated by using Laser Ablation (LA) ICP-AES analysis, Raman spectrometry, and synchrotron XAFS measurement in this study on foundation business of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy.