Validation study on SFR core bowing codes using Joyo ex-core experiment data; Single duct bowing benchmark

Ohgama, Kazuya; Doda, Norihiro; Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Futagami, Satoshi; Tanaka, Masaaki; Yamano, Hidemasa; Ota, Hirokazu*; Ogata, Takanari*; Wozniak, N.*; Shemon, E.*; et al.

Proceedings of International Conference on Nuclear Fuel Cycle (GLOBAL2024) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2024/10

To enhance the accuracy of the safety evaluations in sodium-cooled fast reactors, it is necessary to develop a method to realistically evaluate the reactivity caused by core deformation. In this regard, Japan and the United States jointly conducted a benchmark analysis of thermal bowing experiments of a single duct of Joyo-type fuel assembly. The aim was to confirm the validity of the core bowing analysis codes. Comparisons of analysis and test results revealed that the core bowing analysis codes used by both countries were able to reasonably predict the axial distribution of horizontal duct displacement of a single duct due to thermal bowing and the contact load on the duct pad.

Study on safety analyses for metal-fueled sodium-cooled fast reactors; Project overview

Yamano, Hidemasa; Futagami, Satoshi; Doda, Norihiro; Tagami, Hirotaka; Uchibori, Akihiro; Ogata, Takanari*; Ota, Hirokazu*

Nihon Kikai Gakkai 2024-Nendo Nenji Taikai Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 5 Pages, 2024/09

Measurement of density and viscosity for molten salts

Sato, Rika*; Nishi, Tsuyoshi*; Ota, Hiromichi*; Hayashi, Hirokazu; Sugawara, Takanori; Nishihara, Kenji

Dai-43-Kai Nihon Netsu Bussei Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (CD-ROM), 3 Pages, 2022/10

no abstracts in English

Thermally altered subsurface material of asteroid (162173) Ryugu

Kitazato, Kohei*; Milliken, R. E.*; Iwata, Takahiro*; Abe, Masanao*; Otake, Makiko*; Matsuura, Shuji*; Takagi, Yasuhiko*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Hiroi, Takahiro*; Matsuoka, Moe*; et al.

Nature Astronomy (Internet), 5(3), p.246 - 250, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-01271-2

Here we report observations of Ryugu's subsurface material by the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. Reflectance spectra of excavated material exhibit a hydroxyl (OH) absorption feature that is slightly stronger and peak-shifted compared with that observed for the surface, indicating that space weathering and/or radiative heating have caused subtle spectral changes in the uppermost surface. However, the strength and shape of the OH feature still suggests that the subsurface material experienced heating above 300 C, similar to the surface. In contrast, thermophysical modeling indicates that radiative heating does not increase the temperature above 200 C at the estimated excavation depth of 1 m, even if the semimajor axis is reduced to 0.344 au. This supports the hypothesis that primary thermal alteration occurred due to radiogenic and/or impact heating on Ryugu's parent body.

Verification of detailed core-bowing analysis code ARKAS_cellule with IAEA benchmark problems

Ota, Hirokazu*; Ohgama, Kazuya; Yamano, Hidemasa

Proceedings of International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference / Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference (Global/Top Fuel 2019) (USB Flash Drive), p.30 - 39, 2019/09

Design study of a 750 MWe Japan sodium-cooled fast reactor with metal fuel

Ohgama, Kazuya; Ota, Hirokazu*; Ikusawa, Yoshihisa; Oki, Shigeo; Ogata, Takanari*

Proceedings of 2017 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2017) (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2017/04

Development of accident tolerant control rod for light water reactors

Ota, Hirokazu*; Nakamura, Kinya*; Ogata, Takanari*; Nagase, Fumihisa

Proceedings of Annual Topical Meeting on LWR Fuels with Enhanced Safety and Performance (TopFuel 2016) (USB Flash Drive), p.159 - 168, 2016/09

Control rods can be disintegrated and neutron absorber would be removed from the core region before most of the fuel pins are still not damaged seriously in severe accidents of LWRs. The present study investigates a concept of accident tolerant control rod (ATCR) with the following characteristics; (1) sufficiently-high melting and eutectic temperatures, (2) high miscibility with molten and solidified fuel materials, and (3) enough control rod worth. It has been shown that rare-earth sesqui-oxides are expected to be compatible with iron up to higher temperatures than the melting points of structure materials of control rods, and that SmO, EuO, GdO, DyO or their mixtures with HfO are available as alternative neutron absorbers to conventional Ag-In-Cd alloy.

Fuel and core design studies on metal fuel sodium-cooled fast reactor (4), (5) and (6); Joint research report for JFY2009 - 2012

Uematsu, Mari Mariannu; Sugino, Kazuteru; Kawashima, Katsuyuki; Okano, Yasushi; Yamaji, Akifumi; Naganuma, Masayuki; Oki, Shigeo; Okubo, Tsutomu; Ota, Hirokazu*; Ogata, Takanari*; et al.

JAEA-Research 2012-041, 126 Pages, 2013/02

JAEA-Research-2012-041.pdf:16.49MB

The characteristics of sodium-cooled metal fuel core compared to MOX fuel core are given by its higher heavy metal density and superior neutron economy. By taking advantage of these characteristics and allowing flexibility in metal fuel specification and core design conditions as sodium void reactivity and bundle pressure drop, core design with high burnup, high breeding ratio and low fuel inventory features will be achievable. On ground of the major achievements in metal fuels utilization as driver fuels in sodium fast reactors in U.S., the metal fuel core concept is selected as a possible alternative of MOX fuel core concept in FaCT project. This report describes the following items as a result of the joint study on "Reactor core and fuel design of metal fuel core of sodium-cooled fast reactor" conducted by JAEA and CRIEPI during 4 years from fiscal year 2009 to 2012.

Actinide-handling experience for training and education of future expert under J-ACTINET

Osaka, Masahiko; Konashi, Kenji*; Hayashi, Hirokazu; Li, D.*; Homma, Yoshiya*; Yamamura, Tomoo*; Sato, Isamu; Miwa, Shuhei; Sekimoto, Shun*; Kubota, Takumi*; et al.

Proceedings of International Conference on Toward and Over the Fukushima Daiichi Accident (GLOBAL 2011) (CD-ROM), 5 Pages, 2011/12

Summer schools for future experts have successfully been completed under Japan Actinide Network (J-ACTINET) for the purpose of development of human resources who are expected to be engaged in every areas of actinide-research/engineering. The first summer school was held in Ibaraki-area in August 2009, followed by the second one in Kansai-area in August 2010. Two summer schools have focused on actual experiences of actinides in actinide-research fields for university students and young researchers/engineers as an introductory course of actinide-researches. Several quasi actinide-handling experiences at the actinide-research fields have attracted attentions of participants at the first school in Ibaraki-area. The actual experiments using actinides-containing solutions have been carried out at the second school in Kansai-area. Future summer schools will be held every year for the sustainable human resource development in various actinide-research fields.

Trouble report for J-PARC DTL and SDTL

Ito, Takashi; Asano, Hiroyuki; Tanaka, Hirokazu*; Kubota, Chikashi*; Nammo, Kesao*; Naito, Fujio*

Proceedings of 6th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (CD-ROM), p.690 - 692, 2010/03

http://www.pasj.jp/web_publish/pasj6/papers/tpopa04.pdf

The J-PARC DTL and SDTL have been operated since 2006. These linacs accelerate an H ion beam stably now. But we have ever suffered from some troubles. These are the vacuum, the cooling water and the RF trouble mainly. In this paper, these troubles that happened to the DTL and SDTL are reported.