Numerical investigations on the coolability and the re-criticality of a debris bed with the density-stratified configuration

Li, C.-Y.; Uchibori, Akihiro; Takata, Takashi; Pellegrini, M.*; Erkan, N.*; Okamoto, Koji*

Dai-25-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2021/07

The capability of stable cooling and avoiding re-criticality on the debris bed are the main issues for achieving IVR (In-Vessel Retention). In the actual situation, the debris bed is composed of mixed-density debris particles. Hence, when these mixed-density debris particles were launched to re-distribute, the debris bed would possibly form a density-stratified distribution. For the proper evaluation of this scenario, the multi-physics model of CFD-DEM-Monte-Carlo based neutronics is established to investigate the coolability and re-criticality on the heterogeneous density-stratified debris bed with considering the particle relocation. The CFD-DEM model has been verified by utilizing water injection experiments on the mixed-density particle bed in the first portion of this research. In the second portion, the coupled system of the CFD-DEM-Monte-Carlo based neutronics model is applied to reactor cases. Afterward, the debris particles' movement, debris particles' and coolant's temperature, and the k-eff eigenvalue are successfully tracked. Ultimately, the relocation and stratification effects on debris bed's coolability and re-criticality had been quantitatively confirmed.

Numerical simulation on self-leveling behavior of mixed particle beds using multi-fluid model coupled with DEM

Phan, L. H. S.*; Ohara, Yohei*; Kawata, Ryo*; Liu, X.*; Liu, W.*; Morita, Koji*; Guo, L.*; Kamiyama, Kenji; Tagami, Hirotaka

Proceedings of 12th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics, Operation and Safety (NUTHOS-12) (USB Flash Drive), 12 Pages, 2018/10

Self-leveling behavior of core fuel debris beds is one of the key phenomena for the safety assessment of core disruptive accidents (CDAs) in sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). The SIMMER code has been developed for CDA analysis of SFRs, and the code has been successfully applied to numerical simulations for key thermal-hydraulic phenomena involved in CDAs as well as reactor safety assessment. However, in SIMMER's fluid-dynamics model, it is always difficult to represent the strong interactions between solid particles as well as the discrete particle characteristics. To solve this problem, a new method has been developed by combining the multi-fluid model of the SIMMER code with the discrete element method (DEM) for the solid phase to reasonably simulate the particle behaviors as well as the fluid-particle interactions in multi-phase flows. In this study, in order to validate the multi-fluid model of the SIMMER code coupled with DEM, numerical simulations were performed on a series of self-leveling experiments using a gas injection method in cylindrical particle beds. The effects of friction coefficient on the simulation results were investigated by sensitivity analysis. Though more extensive validations are needed, the reasonable agreement between simulation results and corresponding experimental data preliminarily demonstrates the potential ability of the present method in simulating the self-leveling behaviors of debris bed. It is expected that the SIMMER code coupled with DEM is a prospective computational tool for analysis of safety issues related to solid particle debris bed in SFRs.

Thermal-hydraulic analyses of the High-Temperature engineering Test Reactor for loss of forced cooling at 30% reactor power

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 106, p.71 - 83, 2017/08

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2017.03.032

The HTTR, which is the only HTGR having inherent safety features in Japan, conducted a safety demonstration test involving a loss of both reactor reactivity control and core cooling. The paper shows thermal-hydraulics during the LOFC test at an initial power of 30% reactor power (9 MW), when the insertion of all control rods was disabled and all gas circulators were tripped to reduce the coolant flow rate to zero. The analytical results could show that the downstream of forced convection caused by the HPS pushes down the upstream by natural convection in the fuel assemblies; however, the forced convection has little influence on the core thermal-hydraulics without the reactor outlet coolant temperature. As a result, the three-dimensional thermal-phenomena inside the RPV during the LOFC test could be understood qualitatively.

Investigation of countermeasure against local temperature rise in vessel cooling system in loss of core cooling test without nuclear heating

Ono, Masato; Shimizu, Atsushi; Kondo, Makoto; Shimazaki, Yosuke; Shinohara, Masanori; Tochio, Daisuke; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Takada, Shoji; Sawa, Kazuhiro

Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science, 2(4), p.044502_1 - 044502_4, 2016/10

https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032478

In the loss of forced core cooling test using High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR), the forced cooling of reactor core is stopped without inserting control rods into the core and cooling by Vessel Cooling System (VCS) to verify safety evaluation codes to investigate the inherent safety of HTGR be secured by natural phenomena to make it possible to design a severe accident free reactor. The VCS passively removes the retained residual heat and the decay heat from the core via the reactor pressure vessel by natural convection and thermal radiation. In the test, the local temperature was supposed to exceed the limit from the viewpoint of long-term use at the uncovered water cooling tube by thermal reflectors in the VCS, although the safety of reactor is kept. Through a cold test, which was carried out by non-nuclear heat input from gas circulators with stopping water flow in the VCS, the local higher temperature position was specified although the temperature was sufficiently lower than the maximum allowable working temperature, and natural circulation of water had insufficient cooling effect on the temperature of water cooling tube below 1C. Then, a new safe and secured procedure for the loss of forced core cooling test was established, which will be carried out soon after the restart of HTTR.

Investigation of characteristics of natural circulation of water in vessel cooling system in loss of core cooling test without nuclear heating

Takada, Shoji; Shimizu, Atsushi; Kondo, Makoto; Shimazaki, Yosuke; Shinohara, Masanori; Seki, Tomokazu; Tochio, Daisuke; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Sawa, Kazuhiro

Proceedings of 23rd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-23) (DVD-ROM), 5 Pages, 2015/05

In the loss of forced core cooling test using High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR), the forced cooling of reactor core is stopped without inserting control rods into the core and cooling by Vessel Cooling System (VCS) to demonstrate the inherent safety of HTGR be secured by natural phenomena to make it possible to design a severe accident free reactor. In the test, the local temperature was supposed to exceed the limit from the viewpoint of long-term use at the uncovered water cooling tube by thermal reflectors in the VCS, although the safety of reactor is kept. The local higher temperature position was specified although the temperature was sufficiently lower than the maximum allowable working temperature, and natural circulation of water had insufficient cooling effect on the temperature of water cooling tube below 1C. Then, a new safe and secured procedure for the loss of forced core cooling test was established, which will be carried out soon after the restart of HTTR.

Annual report of Department of Research Reactor and Tandem Accelerator, JFY2013; Operation, utilization and technical development of JRR-3, JRR-4, NSRR, Tandem Accelerator and RI Production Facility

Department of Research Reactor and Tandem Accelerator

JAEA-Review 2014-047, 153 Pages, 2015/02

JAEA-Review-2014-047.pdf:23.43MB

The Department of Research Reactor and Tandem Accelerator is in charge of the operation, utilization and technical development of JRR-3, JRR-4, NSRR, Tandem Accelerator and RI Production Facility. This annual report describes a summary of activities of services and technical developments carried out in the period between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014.

Present status of linear plasma devices and issues on DEMO divertor design

Sakamoto, Mizuki*; Ono, Noriyasu*; Asakura, Nobuyuki; Hoshino, Kazuo

Purazuma, Kaku Yugo Gakkai-Shi, 90(8), p.473 - 479, 2014/08

https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1570291227933220224

no abstracts in English

Design study of superconducting coils for the fusion DEMO plant at JAERI

Isono, Takaaki; Koizumi, Norikiyo; Okuno, Kiyoshi; Kurihara, Ryoichi; Nishio, Satoshi; Tobita, Kenji

Fusion Engineering and Design, 81(8-14), p.1257 - 1261, 2006/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2005.08.078

In order to realize an economically competitive power generation system, generation of a higher field is required. Toroidal Field (TF) coils of fusion DEMO plant at JAERI are required to generate magnetic field of 16 to 20 T. To realize this high field, advanced superconducting materials, such as NbAl and high temperature superconductor (HTS), are considered. HTS has enough performance in a 20-T field at 4 K, and a forced-cooled type HTS conductor using a silver alloy sheathed Bi-2212 round wire has been proposed. Required areas of superconductor, structure, stabilizer, coolant and insulator in the cross section of coil winding have been calculated. However, there are many technical issues to be solved, such as accurate temperature control during heat treatment in an atmosphere of oxygen. On the other hand, a large coil using NbAl has been developed by JAERI, and major technology to fabricate a 16-T NbAl coil was developed. Validity and issues of grading the winding area are discussed, and there is a possibility to increase a field up to around 17 T using the method.

Design study of a neutral beam injector for fusion DEMO plant at JAERI

Inoue, Takashi; Hanada, Masaya; Kashiwagi, Mieko; Nishio, Satoshi; Sakamoto, Keishi; Sato, Masayasu; Taniguchi, Masaki; Tobita, Kenji; Watanabe, Kazuhiro; DEMO Plant Design Team

Fusion Engineering and Design, 81(8-14), p.1291 - 1297, 2006/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2005.08.074

Requirement and technical issues of the neutral beam inejctor (NBI) is discussed for fusion DEMO plant. The NBI for the fusion DEMO plant should be high efficiency, high energy and high reliability with long life. From the view point of high efficiency, use of conventional electrostatic accelerator is realistic. Due to operation under radiation environment, vacuum insulation is essential in the accelerator. According to the insulation design guideline, it was clarified that the beam energy of 1.52 MeV is possible in the accelerator. Development of filamentless, and cesium free ion source is required, based on the existing high current/high current density negative ion production technology. The gas neutralization is not applicable due to its low efficiency (60%). R&D on an advanced neutralization scheme such as plasma neutralization (efficiency: 80%) is required. Recently, development of cw high power semiconductor laser is in progress. The paper shows a conceptual design of a high efficiency laser neutralizer utilizing the new semiconductor laser array.

Experimental study on spatial uniformity of H ion beam in a large negative ion source

Hanada, Masaya; Seki, Takayoshi*; Takado, Naoyuki*; Inoue, Takashi; Morishita, Takatoshi; Mizuno, Takatoshi*; Hatayama, Akiyoshi*; Imai, Tsuyoshi*; Kashiwagi, Mieko; Sakamoto, Keishi; et al.

Fusion Engineering and Design, 74(1-4), p.311 - 317, 2005/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2005.06.259

no abstracts in English