Multi-phase flow topology and interfacial area model for SIMMER-III and SIMMER-IV

Tobita, Yoshiharu*; Kondo, Satoru; Morita, Koji*

JAEA-Research 2024-010, 77 Pages, 2024/10

JAEA-Research-2024-010.pdf:1.6MB

The multi-component, multi-phase flow topology and interfacial area model has been developed for the SIMMER-III and SIMMER-IV computer codes, which have been extensively used in liquid-metal fast reactor core-disruptive accident analyses. To systematically simulate complex flow topology, flow regime maps are modeled, for both the pool flow and channel flow regimes, with smooth transition between flow regimes. The interfacial area convection model was formulated to enhance the applicability and flexibility of the codes, by tracing the transport and history of interfaces, and thereby better representing transient physical phenomena. The changes of interfacial areas resulting from such as breakup, coalescence, and production of droplets or bubbles were treated as source terms in the interfacial area convection equation. In a multi-component system of SIMMER-III and SIMMER-IV, all the possible contacts between components are taken into account, and the fluid-to-fluid and fluid-to-structure binary contact areas are prepared for the calculations of heat and mass transfer processes and momentum-exchange functions. The multi-phase flow topology and interfacial area model developed in this study was the first of a kind as a fast reactor safety analysis code. The model has been extensively tested through the code assessment (verification and validation) program, which has demonstrated that many of the problems associated with simplistic modeling in the previous codes were resolved.

SIMMER-III and SIMMER-IV; Computer codes for LMFR core disruptive accident analysis

Kondo, Satoru; Tobita, Yoshiharu*; Morita, Koji*; Kamiyama, Kenji; Yamano, Hidemasa; Suzuki, Toru*; Tagami, Hirotaka; Sogabe, Joji; Ishida, Shinya

JAEA-Research 2024-008, 235 Pages, 2024/10

JAEA-Research-2024-008.pdf:4.77MB

The SIMMER-III and SIMMER-IV computer codes, developed at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency are the codes with two- and three-dimensional, multi-field, multi-component fluid-dynamics models, coupled with a space- and time-dependent neutron kinetics model. The codes have been used widely for simulating complex phenomena during core-disruptive accidents in liquid-metal fast reactors. Advanced features of the codes in comparison with the former codes include: stable and robust fluid-dynamics algorithm with up to 8 velocity fields, improved representation of structures and multi-phase flow topology, comprehensive treatment of complex heat and mass transfer processes, accurate analytic equations of state, a stable and efficient neutron flux shape solution method and decay heat model. This report describes the models and methods of SIMMER-III and SIMMER-IV. For those individual models, the details of which have been reported elsewhere, only the outlines of the models are presented. The reports of code verification and validation have been already published.

Development of severe accident simulation code for sodium-cooled fast reactors: SIMMER-V, 2; Development and verification of detailed fuel pin model

Ishida, Shinya; Tagami, Hirotaka; Okano, Yasushi; Yamano, Hidemasa; Kubo, Shigenobu; Tobita, Yoshiharu

Proceedings of 11th European Review Meeting on Severe Accident Research Conference (ERMSAR 2024) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2024/05

Development of new treatment of fuel isotope vector in the core disruptive accident analysis of fast reactors

Tagami, Hirotaka; Ishida, Shinya; Tobita, Yoshiharu

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(12), p.1548 - 1562, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2224333

In a design of future Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor, there is a demand for evaluation of sequences and consequences of core disruptive accidents. Future SFRs include a unique core design with axially or horizontally heterogeneous core arrangement having complex fuel isotope distribution. A new model to flexibly represent fuel isotope distribution, called the Pu-vector model, has been developed in this study for inclusion in the SIMMER-III and SIMMER-IV codes (simply called as SIMMER). The model calculates movement of individual fuel isotopes, assuming they always accompany the convecting fuel in the fluid-dynamics model. The accuracy of the Pu-vector model was confirmed by comparing with the standard Monte Carlo static neutronics calculation. The new model can improve some of the limitations in the current SIMMER code, in which the fuel isotopes are represented only by two groups, fertile and fissile fuels. Assignment of a number of fuel isotopes to the two groups requires a detailed examination of different combinations of fuel isotopes to determine an optimized combination. The Pu-vector model can eliminate this complicated procedure to be performed prior to a SIMMER analysis, and more importantly provides accurate spatial distribution of fuel isotopes and thus will improve the applicability of SIMMER to the analyses of future large heterogeneous reactors.

SIMMER application to safety assessment of core disruptive accident

Tagami, Hirotaka; Tobita, Yoshiharu

Proceedings of 2023 International Congress on Advanced in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2023) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2023/04

Recently, the safety analysis for a licensing of small nuclear power fast reactor is performed. It is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of the design measure to prevent the CV failure in the licensing procedure. Because the energy generation in TP of ULOF is one of the main factors to affect the integrity of CV, the ULOF behavior is analyzed using SIMMER developed under international cooperation. Although the characteristic of TP in small reactor is a slow and mild event progression due to the negative void reactivity, several conservative assumptions are applied in the analysis. Because the prompt criticality by fuel compaction is mainly driven by a fuel coolant interaction, its impact on energy generation is also investigated by conservatively assuming uncertainties. The obtained results by the analysis using SIMMER are used for the subsequent phase to analyze the mechanical integrities of reactor vessel and CV.

Phase 1 code assessment of SIMMER-III; A Computer program for LMFR core disruptive accident analysis

Kondo, Satoru; Tobita, Yoshiharu

JAEA-Research 2019-009, 382 Pages, 2020/03

JAEA-Research-2019-009.pdf:22.82MB

The SIMMER-III computer code, developed at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA, the former Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation), is a two-dimensional, multi-velocity-field, multi-component fluid-dynamics code, coupled with a space- and time-dependent neutron kinetics model. The code is being used widely for simulating complex phenomena during core-disruptive accidents (CDAs) in liquid-metal fast reactors (LMFRs). In parallel to the code development, a comprehensive assessment program was performed in two phases: Phase 1 for verifying individual fluid-dynamics models; and Phase 2 for validating its applicability to integral phenomena important to evaluating LMFR CDAs. The SIMMERIII assessment program was participated by European research and development organizations, and the achievement of Phase 1 was compiled and synthesized in 1996. This report has been edited by revising and reproducing the original 1996 informal report, which compiled the achievement of Phase 1 assessment. A total of 34 test problems were studied in the areas: fluid convection, interfacial area and momentum exchange, heat transfer, melting and freezing, and vaporization and condensation. The problems identified have been reflected to the Phase 2 assessment and later model development and improvement. Although the revisions were made in the light of knowledge base obtained later, the original individual contributions by the participants, both positive and negative, are retained except for editorial changes.

Radiation monitoring using manned helicopter around the Nuclear Power Station in the fiscal year 2017 (Contract research)

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

JAEA-Technology 2018-015, 120 Pages, 2019/02

JAEA-Technology-2018-015.pdf:15.01MB

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. The results in the fiscal 2017 were summarized in this report. In addition, we developed and systemized the discrimination technique of the Rn-progenies. The accuracy of aerial radiation monitoring was evaluated by taking into consideration GPS data error.

Improvement of a physical model for blockage formation of solid-liquid mixture flow with freezing for core safety evaluation of SFRs

Aoyagi, Mitsuhiro; Kamiyama, Kenji; Tobita, Yoshiharu

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 55(5), p.530 - 538, 2018/05

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2017.1417172

Background radiation monitoring using manned helicopter for establishment of technique of nuclear emergency response 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 2017-035, 69 Pages, 2018/02

JAEA-Technology-2017-035.pdf:32.92MB

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. We carried out the background monitoring around the nuclear power stations of the whole country to apply a technique of the airborne radiation monitoring that is cultivated in Fukushima as a technology of nuclear emergency response. This result of the aerial radiation monitoring using the manned helicopter around Ooi, Takahama and Ikata Nuclear Power Station and in the fiscal 2016 were summarized in the report. In addition, technical issues were described.

Experimental study on debris bed characteristics for the sedimentation behavior of solid particles used as simulant debris

Shamsuzzaman, M.*; Horie, Tatsuro*; Fuke, Fusata*; Kamiyama, Motoki*; Morioka, Toru*; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Morita, Koji*; Tagami, Hirotaka; Suzuki, Toru*; Tobita, Yoshiharu

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 111, p.474 - 486, 2018/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2017.09.011