Nuclear criticality benchmark analyses on TRIGA-type reactor systems by using continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP with JENDL-5

Yanagisawa, Hiroshi; Umeda, Miki; Motome, Yuiko; Murao, Hiroyuki

JAEA-Technology 2022-030, 80 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Technology-2022-030.pdf:2.57MB
JAEA-Technology-2022-030(errata).pdf:0.11MB

Nuclear criticality benchmark analyses were carried out for TRIGA-type reactor systems in which uranium-zirconium hydride fuel rods are loaded by using the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP with the evaluated nuclear data library JENDL-5. The analyses cover two sorts of benchmark data, the IEU-COMP-THERM-003 and IEU-COMP-THERM-013 in the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) Handbook, and effective neutron multiplication factors, reactivity worths for control rods etc. were calculated by JENDL-5 in comparison with those by the previous version of JENDL. As the results, it was confirmed that the effective neutron multiplication factors obtained by JENDL-5 were 0.4 to 0.6% greater than those by JENDL-4.0, and that there were no significant differences in the calculated reactivity worths by between JENDL-5 and JENDL-4.0. Those results are considered to be helpful for the confirmation of calculation accuracy in the analyses on NSRR control rod worths, which are planned in the future.

Study on the discharge behavior of the molten-core materials through the control rod guide tube; Investigations of the effect of an internal structure in the control rod guide tube on the discharge behavior

Kato, Shinya; Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Akaev, A.*; Vurim, A.*; Baklanov, V.*

Proceedings of 13th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics, Operation and Safety (NUTHOS-13) (Internet), 12 Pages, 2022/09

The In-Vessel Retention (IVR) of molten-core in Core Disruptive Accidents (CDAs) is of prime importance in enhancing the safety of sodium-cooled fast reactors. One of the main subjects in ensuring IVR is to design the Control Rod Guide Tube (CRGT) which allows effective discharge of molten core materials from the core region. The effectiveness of the CRGT design is assessed through CDA analyses, and it is reasonable for these analyses to develop a computer code collaborated with experimental researches. Thus, experiments addressing the discharge behavior of the molten-core materials through the CRGT have proceeded as one of the subjects in the collaboration research named the EAGLE-3 project, and the obtained experimental results are reflected in the development of the SIMMER code. In this project, a series of out-of-pile tests using molten-alumina as the fuel simulant was conducted to understand the discharge behavior of molten-core materials through the CRGT. In this study, in order to investigate the effect of an internal structure in the CRGT on the discharge behavior of the molten-core materials, the data of an out-of-pile test in which the molten-alumina penetrated to a duct with the internal structure were analyzed. In addition, the post-test analysis using the SIMMER code was conducted and the results were compared with the test results.

Release behaviors of elements from an Ag-In-Cd control rod alloy at temperatures up to 1673 K

Nagase, Fumihisa; Otomo, Takashi; Uetsuka, Hiroshi*

Nuclear Technology, 208(3), p.484 - 493, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2021.1905472

An Ag-In-Cd control rod alloy was heated in argon or oxygen at 1073-1673 K for 60-3600 s and the release behavior of the elements was examined. Complete liquefaction of the alloy occurred between 1123 and 1173 K, and elemental release was quite limited below the liquefaction temperature. In argon, almost all of the Cd content was released within 3600 s at 1173 K and within 60 s at 1573 K, while the released fractions of Ag and In were 3% and 8%, respectively. In oxygen, the release of Cd, which was quite small at temperatures up to 1573 K, drastically increased to 30-50% at 1673 K for short periods. Releases of Ag and In were also small in oxygen under the examined conditions. Comparison with the experimental data suggests that conventional empirical release models may underestimate the Cd release at lower temperatures just after control rod failure in severe accidents.

Preparation for restarting the high temperature engineering test reactor; Development of utility tool for auto seeking critical control rod position

Ho, H. Q.; Fujimoto, Nozomu*; Hamamoto, Shimpei; Nagasumi, Satoru; Goto, Minoru; Ishitsuka, Etsuo

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 377, p.111161_1 - 111161_9, 2021/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2021.111161

Study on control rod model in HTTR core analysis

Nagasumi, Satoru; Matsunaka, Kazuaki*; Fujimoto, Nozomu*; Ishii, Toshiaki; Ishitsuka, Etsuo

JAEA-Technology 2020-003, 13 Pages, 2020/05

JAEA-Technology-2020-003.pdf:1.5MB

The influence of the control rod model on the nuclear characteristics of the HTTR has been evaluated, by creating detailed control rod model, in which geometric shape was close to that of the actual control rod structure, in MVP code. According to refinement of the control rod model, the critical control rod position was 11 mm lower than that of the conventional model, and this was close to the measured value of 1775 mm. The reactivity absorbed by the shock absorber located at the tip of the control rod was 0.2%k/k, and this was 14 mm difference at the critical control rod position. Considering the effect of refinement of the control rod and the effect of the shock absorber, the correction amount for the analysis value in SRAC code due to the shape effect of the control rod, is -0.05%k/k in reactivity, and -3 mm in the critical control rod position at low temperature criticality.

Study on the discharge behavior of molten-core through the control rod guide tube in the core disruptive accident of SFR

Kato, Shinya; Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Ganovichev, D. A.*; Baklanov, V. V.*

Proceedings of 2019 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2019) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2019/05

In order to ensure In-Vessel Retention (IVR) of molten-core in Core Disruptive Accident (CDA), we are investigating the possibility of the molten-core discharge through the control rod guide tube (CRGT) to prevent energetics due to exceeding the prompt criticality. Internal structures of the CRGT, such as a sodium-flow regulator when the CRGT is connected to the high-pressure plenum, may disturb the discharge of molten-core from the core region. Based on above background, an experimental program to clarify characteristics of molten-core discharge through the CRGT has been commenced as one of subjects under a joint study with National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NNC-RK) named EAGLE-3 project. An experiment using molten-alumina as fuel simulant and sodium was conducted at the out-of-pile test facility owned by NNC-RK to investigate sodium cooling effect around the sodium flow regulator on its destruction. The experimental result represented that void development at the initiation of molten-alumina discharge eliminated liquid-phase sodium from the discharge path and this also eliminated sodium cooling effect around the sodium flow regulator. As a result, early destruction of the sodium flow regulator and massive discharge of molten alumina occurred in turn.

Development of temperature measurement technology for control rod using melt wire in High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR)

Hamamoto, Shimpei; Sawahata, Hiroaki; Suzuki, Hisashi; Ishii, Toshiaki; Yanagida, Yoshinori

JAEA-Technology 2017-012, 20 Pages, 2017/06

JAEA-Technology-2017-012.pdf:7.9MB

A melt wire was installed at the tip of the control rod in order to measure the temperature of High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR). After experience with reactor scram from the state of reactor power 100%, the melt wire was taken out from the control rod and appearance has been observed visually. In this study, an exclusive device for taking out the melt wire was prepared. The take-out device functions as expected, and the melt wire was safely and reliably taken out using a remote manipulator. And because the visual observation of the melt wire was clearly carried out, we were successful in developing the control rod temperature measurement technology. It was confirmed that the melt wires with a melting point of 505C or less were melted, and the melt wires with a melting point of 651C or more were not melted. Therefore, it was found that the highest arrival temperature of tip of the control rods where the melt wires are installed reaches within the range of 505 to 651C. And it was found that the control rod temperature at the time of reactor scram does not exceed the using temperature criteria (900C) of Alloy 800H of the control rod sleeve.

Preventive measures for the recurrence of control rod insertion failure in Japan Research Reactor No.4 (JRR-4)

JRR-4 Operation Division; Research Reactor Utilization Division

JAERI-Tech 2005-042, 58 Pages, 2005/07

JAERI-Tech-2005-042.pdf:5.4MB

Japan Research Reactor No.4 (JRR-4) was shut down manually, due to the control rod insertion failure occurred during the rated power (3,500kW) operation on June 10, 2005. It became evident by the investigation that a screw bolt at the control rod support got loose and blocked the control rod insertion. The failure was recovered through replacement with the new screw bolt. Considering the importance of this event, we decided to inspect all screw bolts over the core that may cause a control rod insertion failure. Furthermore, we decided to carry out periodical inspection about these screw bolts whether they were tightened enough or not. This report describes the result of inspection carried out as the preventive measures.

Study on control characteristics for HTTR hydrogen production system with mock-up test facility; System controllability test for fluctuation of chemical reaction

Inaba, Yoshitomo; Ohashi, Hirofumi; Nishihara, Tetsuo; Sato, Hiroyuki; Inagaki, Yoshiyuki; Takeda, Tetsuaki; Hayashi, Koji; Takada, Shoji

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 235(1), p.111 - 121, 2005/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2004.08.034

Prior to the connection of a hydrogen production plant to the HTTR, the fluctuation tests of the chemical reaction in the steam reformer with the mock-up test facility of the HTTR hydrogen production system were carried out for the establishment and demonstration of the control technology. As a result, it was shown that the HTTR hydrogen production system with the same control system as the mock-up test facility can provide stable controllability for any disturbance at the steam reformer without the influence to the reactor. In addition, a dynamic simulation code for the HTTR hydrogen production system was verified with the obtained test data.

Characteristic test of initial HTTR core

Nojiri, Naoki; Shimakawa, Satoshi; Fujimoto, Nozomu; Goto, Minoru

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 233(1-3), p.283 - 290, 2004/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2004.08.015

This paper describes the results of core physics test in start-up and power-up of the HTTR. The tests were conducted in order to ensure performance and safety of the high temperature gas cooled reactor, and was carried out to measure the critical approach, the excess reactivity, the shutdown margin, the control rod worth, the reactivity coefficient, the neutron flux distribution and the power distribution. The expected core performance and the required reactor safety characteristics were verified from the results of measurements and calculations.