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Journal Articles

Investigation on Innovative Water Reactor for Flexible Fuel Cycle (FLWR), 1; Conceptual design

Uchikawa, Sadao; Okubo, Tsutomu; Kugo, Teruhiko; Akie, Hiroshi; Nakano, Yoshihiro; Onuki, Akira; Iwamura, Takamichi

Proceedings of International Conference on Nuclear Energy System for Future Generation and Global Sustainability (GLOBAL 2005) (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2005/10

no abstracts in English

Journal Articles

Concept of Innovative Water Reactor for Flexible Fuel Cycle (FLWR)

Iwamura, Takamichi; Uchikawa, Sadao; Okubo, Tsutomu; Kugo, Teruhiko; Akie, Hiroshi; Nakatsuka, Toru

Proceedings of 13th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-13) (CD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2005/05

In order to ensure sustainable energy supply in the future based on the matured Light Water Reactor (LWR) and coming LWR-Mixed Oxide (MOX) technologies, a concept of Innovative Water Reactor for Flexible Fuel Cycle (FLWR) has been investigated in Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI). The concept consists of two parts in the chronological sequence. The first part realizes a high conversion type core concept, which is basically intended to keep the smooth technical continuity from current LWR without significant gaps in technical point of view. The second part represents the Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) core concept, which realizes a high conversion ratio over 1.0 being useful for the long-term sustainable energy supply through plutonium multiple recycling based on the well-experienced LWR technologies. The key point is that the two core concepts utilize the compatible and the same size fuel assemblies, and hence, the former concept can proceed to the latter in the same reactor system, based flexibly on the fuel cycle circumstances.

Journal Articles

Designing of reduced-moderation water reactor and related development issues

Okubo, Tsutomu

Konsoryu, 17(3), p.228 - 235, 2003/09

The Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor is supposed to realize plutonium multiple recycling, and furthermore, plutonium breeding cycle, based on the well-established Light Water Reactor technologies. In the present paper, the overview of the design study is presented and the related R&D issues are introduced, especially focusing on the thermal hydraulic activities.

Journal Articles

Research and development of Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR)

Iwamura, Takamichi; Okubo, Tsutomu

Proceedings of 2nd Asian Specialist Meeting on Future Small-Sized LWR Development, p.7_1 - 7_5, 2003/00

An innovative water-cooled reactor concept named Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) is under development at JAERI, aiming at effective fuel utilization through plutonium (Pu) multiple recycling based on the well-experienced water-cooled reactor technology. The reactor is able to achieve a high conversion ratio more than 1.0 with MOX fuel, to establish the sustainable Pu recycling. Such a high conversion ratio can be attained by reducing the moderation of neutrons, i.e. reducing the water fraction in the core. Detailed research and development activities have been performed on the core design, in conjunction with the other related studies such as on the thermal hydraulics in the tight-lattice core, the reactor physics and the fuel irradiation behavior, including the experimental activities. Also, for the total feasibility demonstration of the RMWR technologies, a design investigation for Reduced-Moderation Demonstration Reactor (RMDR) of 180MWt is being performed.

Journal Articles

Development of Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) for sustainable energy supply

Iwamura, Takamichi; Okubo, Tsutomu; Kureta, Masatoshi; Nakatsuka, Toru; Takeda, Renzo*; Yamamoto, Kazuhiko*

Proceedings of 13th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference (PBNC 2002) (CD-ROM), 7 Pages, 2002/10

In order to ensure sustainable energy supply in Japan, the reduced-moderation water reactor (RMWR) has been developed by JAERI since 1998. MOX fuel assemblies with tight lattice arrangement are used to increase the conversion ratio. In order to establish negative void reactivity coefficient, the core should be short and flat to increase neutron leakage from the core. The core designs were accomplished to a large core with 1,356MWe and a small core with 330MWe. For both cores, negative void coefficient and natural circulation cooling of the core were realized. To confirm thermal-hydraulic feasibility, critical heat flux experiments were performed using 7-rod bundles with the gap width of 1mm and 1.3mm. The results indicated that enough cooling was assured for the tight lattice core. Further R&D studies, including large scale thermal-hydraulic experiments, reactor physics experiments, development of high burn-up fuel cladding material and simplified reprocessing technology, are necessary to realize commercial introduction of RMWR by 2020's for the replacement of current generation LWRs.

Journal Articles

Advanced concept of Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) for plutonium multiple recycling

Okubo, Tsutomu; Takeda, Renzo*; Iwamura, Takamichi; Yamamoto, Kazuhiko*; Okada, Hiroyuki*

Proceedings of International Conference on Back-End of the Fuel Cycle: From Research to Solutions (GLOBAL 2001) (CD-ROM), 7 Pages, 2001/09

An advanced water-cooled reactor concept named the Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) has been proposed to attain a high conversion ratio more than 1.0 and to achieve the negative void reactivity coefficient. At present, several types of design concepts satisfying both the design targets have been proposed based on the evaluation for the fuel without fission products and minor actinides. In this paper, the feasibility of the RMWR core is investigated and confirmed for the plutonium multiple recycling under advanced reprocessing schemes with low decontamination factors as proposed for the FBR fuel cycle.

Journal Articles