Study on heat transfer behavior of a cylindrical particle bed with volumetric heating

Wen, J.*; Kamada, Yuto*; Yokoyama, Kosei*; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Liu, W.*; Morita, Koji*; Imaizumi, Yuya; Tagami, Hirotaka; Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji

Proceedings of 13th Korea-Japan Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS13) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2024/11

Development of the versatile reactor analysis code system, MARBLE3

Yokoyama, Kenji; Hazama, Taira; Taninaka, Hiroshi; Oki, Shigeo

JAEA-Data/Code 2024-007, 41 Pages, 2024/10

JAEA-Data-Code-2024-007.pdf:1.1MB

The third version of the versatile reactor analysis code system, MARBLE3, has been developed. In the development of the former version of MARBLE, object-oriented scripting language Python (Python2) had been used and then the latest version of Python (Python3) was released. However, due to its backward incompatibility, MARBLE no longer worked with Python3. For this reason, MARBLE3 has been fully modified and maintained to work with Python3. In MARBLE3, newly developed analysis codes and newly proposed calculation methods were incorporated, and the user interface was extended and solvers were reimplemented for maintainability, extensibility, and flexibility. In MARBLE3, the three-dimensional hexagonal/triangular transport code MINISTRI Ver.7 (MINISTRI7) and the three-dimensional hexagonal/triangular diffusion code D-MINISTRI are available as the new analysis codes. These codes can be used in the neutronics analysis system SCHEME and the fast reactor burnup analysis system OPRHEUS, which are the subsystems of MARBLE. In addition, the user interface of CBG, a core analysis system embedded in MARBLE, was extended so that the diffusion and transport calculation solvers for the 2-dimensional RZ system of CBG can be used on SCHEME. On the other hand, MARBLE3 has extended the functionality of the burnup calculation solver so that it can use the numerical methods proposed in the papers on the improvement of the Chebyshev rational function approximation method and the minimax polynomial approximation method. From the viewpoint of maintainability, the point reactor kinetics solver POINTKINETICS, which was introduced in MARBLE2, has been newly reworked as the KINETICS solver in MARBLE3.

Differential pressure rise event for filters of HTTR primary helium gas circulators, 2; Investigation of filter deposits and recurrence prevention measures

Nemoto, Takahiro; Fujiwara, Yusuke; Arakawa, Ryoki; Choyama, Yuya; Nagasumi, Satoru; Hasegawa, Toshinari; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Watanabe, Masashi; Onishi, Takashi; Kawamoto, Taiki; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2024-003, 17 Pages, 2024/06

JAEA-Technology-2024-003.pdf:1.91MB

In order to investigate the cause of the increase in differential pressure in the primary helium circulator filter that occurred during the RS-14 cycle, a clogged filter was investigated. As a result of the investigation, deposits caused by silicone oil were confirmed on the surface of the filter element. These results revealed that the cause of filter clogging was silicone oil mixed into the primary system due to performance deterioration of the charcoal filter in the gas circulator of primary helium purification system. As a measure to prevent the recurrence of this event, in addition to the conventional management based on operating hours for replacing of charcoal filter in the gas circulator of primary helium purification system, we have established a new replacement plan for every three years.

Development of core design optimization process by integrated analysis with neutronics and plant dynamics

Hamase, Erina; Kuwagaki, Kazuki; Doda, Norihiro; Yokoyama, Kenji; Tanaka, Masaaki

Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 11(2), p.23-00440_1 - 23-00440_14, 2024/04

https://doi.org/10.1299/mej.23-00440

The core design optimization process is being developed as part of the design optimization support tool named ARKADIA-Design. The process performs the integrated analysis with neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, fuel integrity, and plant dynamics using the Bayesian optimization (BO) algorithm, and obtains the optimal design parameters efficiently. In this study, the representative problem was defined based on core design experiences, and the process was specified. To confirm the appropriateness of the definition of representative problem, as a minimum requirement, the single-objective optimization problem was solved by the integrated analysis with neutronics and plant dynamics using the BO. We found the existence of the optimal solution and the agreement between this solution and the reference one. There was the prospect that the process was applicable to the representative problem.

JENDL-5 benchmarking for fission reactor applications

Tada, Kenichi; Nagaya, Yasunobu; Taninaka, Hiroshi; Yokoyama, Kenji; Okita, Shoichiro; Oizumi, Akito; Fukushima, Masahiro; Nakayama, Shinsuke

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 61(1), p.2 - 22, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2197439

The new version of the Japanese evaluated nuclear data library, JENDL-5, was released in December 2021. This paper demonstrates the validation of JENDL-5 for fission reactor applications. Benchmark calculations are performed with the continuous-energy Monte Carlo codes MVP and MCNP and the deterministic code system MARBLE. The benchmark calculation results indicate that the performance of JENDL-5 for fission reactor applications is better than that of the former library JENDL-4.0.

JSME series in thermal and nuclear power generation Vol.3 (Sodium-cooled fast reactor development; R&Ds on thermal-hydraulics and safety assessment towards social implementation)

Tanaka, Masaaki; Uchibori, Akihiro; Okano, Yasushi; Yokoyama, Kenji; Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Enuma, Yasuhiro; Wakai, Takashi; Asayama, Tai

Dai-27-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 5 Pages, 2023/09

The book, JSME Series in Thermal and Nuclear Power Generation Vol.3 Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor, was published as a 30th anniversary memorial project of Power & Energy Systems Division. This paper describes an introduction of the book on a part of key technologies regarding safety assessment, thermal-hydraulics, neutronics, and fuel and material development. This introductory paper also provides an overview of an integrated evaluation system named ARKADIA to offer the best possible solutions for challenges arising during the design process, safety assessment, and operation of a nuclear plant over its life cycle, in active use of the R&D efforts and knowledges on thermal-hydraulics and safety assessment with state-of-the-art numerical analysis technologies.

Differential pressure rise event for filters of HTTR primary helium gas circulators, 1; Investigation of differential pressure rise event

Nemoto, Takahiro; Arakawa, Ryoki; Kawakami, Satoru; Nagasumi, Satoru; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Watanabe, Masashi; Onishi, Takashi; Kawamoto, Taiki; Furusawa, Takayuki; Inoi, Hiroyuki; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2023-005, 33 Pages, 2023/05

JAEA-Technology-2023-005.pdf:5.25MB

During shut down of the HTTR (High Temperature engineering Test Reactor) RS-14 cycle, an increasing trend of filter differential pressure for the helium gas circulator was observed. In order to investigate this phenomenon, the blower of the primary helium purification system was disassembled and inspected. As a result, it is clear that the silicon oil mist entered into the primary coolant due to the deterioration of the charcoal filter performance. The replacement and further investigation of the filter are planning to prevent the reoccurrence of the same phenomenon in the future.

Applicability study of Bayesian optimization to neutronic design of a homogeneous two-region core

Kuwagaki, Kazuki; Yokoyama, Kenji

Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2023/05

At the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), a design support tool for advanced nuclear reactors is currently under development. This tool is called ARKADIA-Design, and is expected to support the integrated design evaluation of reactors from the viewpoints of safety, economy, and sustainability as a carbon-free energy source by utilizing the newest analysis/evaluation technologies such as AI technology, and the accumulated knowledge of fast reactor development. One development task of the ARKADIA-Design is to build a system that automatically identifies optimized design parameters by which an objective function specified by core performance is minimized (or maximized). In the present study, we set up a single objective optimization example problem with multiple constraints for a homogeneous two-region core, and showed that the optimal solution of this example problem can be automatically obtained by the Bayesian optimization method, which is a candidate optimization algorithm for the system. In addition, we also demonstrated how the system would assist the core design procedure in future, by indirectly solving a three-variable optimization problem of the core design. From these results and demonstrations, we confirmed that the system to be developed has the potential to be a useful support tool for the designers, enabling them to obtain optimal core designs efficiently.

Investigation of optimization process for core design with integrated analysis between neutronics and plant dynamics

Hamase, Erina; Kuwagaki, Kazuki; Doda, Norihiro; Yokoyama, Kenji; Tanaka, Masaaki

Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2023/05

To innovate a core design process, an optimization process for the core design has been developed as a part of the design optimization support tool named ARKADIA-Design. The core design optimization process is integrated by the core design analysis of neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, and fuel integrity and plant dynamics analysis with the Bayesian optimization (BO) algorithm. The optimization problem for design parameters with high core performance and inherent safety in ULOF event was solved by the integrated analysis between the neutronics and plant dynamics with the BO in a primary loop system including a core consisting of two-dimensional RZ cylindrical geometry. It was indicated that the optimization process could obtain an optimal solution.

Japanese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library version 5; JENDL-5

Iwamoto, Osamu; Iwamoto, Nobuyuki; Kunieda, Satoshi; Minato, Futoshi; Nakayama, Shinsuke; Abe, Yutaka*; Tsubakihara, Kosuke*; Okumura, Shin*; Ishizuka, Chikako*; Yoshida, Tadashi*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(1), p.1 - 60, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2141903