The Development status of Generation IV reactor systems, 2; High temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR)

Kunitomi, Kazuhiko; Nishihara, Tetsuo; Yan, X.; Tachibana, Yukio; Shibata, Taiju

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 60(4), p.236 - 240, 2018/04

High temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) is a graphite-moderated and helium-gas-cooled thermal-neutron reactor that has excellent safety features and can produce high temperature heat of 950C. It is expected to use for various heat applications as well as for electricity generation to reduce carbon dioxide emission. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been promoted research and development to demonstrate the HTGR safety features using High temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR) and it's heat application. JAEA are also conducting the action to international deployment of Japanese HTGR technologies in cooperation with industries-government-academia. This paper reports status of the research and development of HTGR and domestic and international collaborations.

Improvement of core dynamics analysis of control rod withdrawal test in HTGR

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Nakagawa, Shigeaki

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 5(1), p.45 - 56, 2006/03

http://doi.org/10.3327/taesj2002.5.45

The HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor), which has thermal output of 30MW, coolant inlet temperature of 395C and coolant outlet temperature of 850C/950C, is a first high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) in Japan. The HTGR has a high inherent safety potential to accident condition. Safety demonstration tests using the HTTR are underway in order to demonstrate such excellent inherent safety features of the HTGR. A one-point core dynamics approximation with one fuel channel model had applied to this analysis. It was found that the analytical model for core dynamics couldn't simulate the reactor power behavior accurately. This report proposes an original method using temperature coefficients of some regions in the core. It is crucial to evaluate this method precisely to simulate a performance of HTGR during the test.

Rationalization and utilization of double-wall vacuum vessel for tokamak fusion facility

Nakahira, Masataka

JAERI-Research 2005-030, 182 Pages, 2005/09

JAERI-Research-2005-030.pdf:12.57MB

It is difficult for Vacuum Vessel (VV) of ITER to apply a non-destructive in-service inspection (ISI) and then new safety concept is needed. Present fabrication standards are not applicable to the VV, because the access is limited to the backside of closure weld of double wall. Fabrication tolerance of VV is 5mm even the structure is huge as high as 10m. This accuracy requires a rational method on the estimation of welding deformation. In this report, an inherent safety feature of the tokamak is proved closing up a special characteristic of termination of fusion reaction due to tiny water leak. A rational concept not to require ISI without sacrificing safety is shown based on this result. A partial penetration T-welded joint is proposed to establish a rational fabrication method of double wall. Strength and susceptibility to crevice corrosion is evaluated for this joint and feasibility is confirmed. A rational method of estimation of welding deformation for large and complex structure is proposed and the efficiency is shown by comparing analysis experimental results of full-scale test.

Achievement of reactor-outlet coolant temperature of 950C in HTTR

Fujikawa, Seigo; Hayashi, Hideyuki; Nakazawa, Toshio; Kawasaki, Kozo; Iyoku, Tatsuo; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Sakaba, Nariaki

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 41(12), p.1245 - 1254, 2004/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.41.1245

A High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) is particularly attractive due to its capability of producing high-temperature helium gas and to its inherent safety characteristics. The High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR), which is the first HTGR in Japan, achieved its rated thermal power of 30MW and reactor-outlet coolant temperature of 950C on 19 April 2004. During the high-temperature test operation which is the final phase of the rise-to-power tests, reactor characteristics and reactor performance were confirmed, and reactor operations were monitored to demonstrate the safety and stability of operation. The reactor-outlet coolant temperature of 950C makes it possible to extend high-temperature gas-cooled reactor use beyond the field of electric power. Also, highly effective power generation with a high-temperature gas turbine becomes possible, as does hydrogen production from water. The achievement of 950C will be a major contribution to the actualization of producing hydrogen from water using the high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. This report describes the results of the high-temperature test operation of the HTTR.

Safety demonstration tests using high temperature engineering test reactor

Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Tachibana, Yukio; Sakaba, Nariaki; Iyoku, Tatsuo

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 233(1-3), p.301 - 308, 2004/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2004.08.016

Safety demonstration tests using the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) are conducted for demonstrating inherent safety features of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) as well as for providing core and plant transient data for validation of HTGR safety analysis codes. The safety demonstration tests are divided to the first phase and second phase tests. In the first phase tests, simulation tests of anticipated operational occurrences and anticipated transients without scram (ATWS) are conducted. The second phase tests will simulate accidents such as a depressurization accident (loss of coolant accident). The first phase tests simulating reactivity insertion events and coolant flow reduction events started in FY 2002. The first phase safety demonstration tests will continue until FY 2005, and the second phase tests will be carried out from FY 2006.

Structural integrity assessment of helium component during safety demonstration test using HTTR, 1 (Contract Research)

Sakaba, Nariaki; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Furusawa, Takayuki; Tachibana, Yukio

JAERI-Tech 2004-045, 67 Pages, 2004/04

JAERI-Tech-2004-045.pdf:4.74MB

Safety demonstration tests using the HTTR are now underway in order to verify the inherent safety features and to improve the safety design and evaluation technologies for HTGRs, as well as to contribute to research and development for the VHTR, which is one of the Generation IV reactors. In the safety demonstration tests, the coolant flow reduction test by tripping one or two out of three gas circulators is being performed between FY2002 and FY 2005 and by tripping all the three gas circulators will be conducted after FY2006. This paper describes the structural integrity assessment of the primary pressurised water cooler after one and two gas circulators run down. Also, the possibility of natural convection in the primary coolant after all the three gas circulator stopped was evaluated by the operation data of the reactor-scram test performed during the rise-to-power tests.

Safety demonstration test (S1C-2/S2C-1) plan using the HTTR (Contract research)

Sakaba, Nariaki; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Takada, Eiji*; Tachibana, Yukio; Saito, Kenji; Furusawa, Takayuki; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Tochio, Daisuke; Iyoku, Tatsuo

JAERI-Tech 2003-074, 37 Pages, 2003/08

JAERI-Tech-2003-074.pdf:1.83MB

Safety demonstration tests using HTTR are now underway in order to verify the inherent safety features and to improve the safety design and evaluation technologies for HTGRs, as well as to contribute to research and development for the VHTR, which is one of the Generation IV reactors. The first phase of the safety demonstration tests includes reactivity insertion tests by means of control-rod withdrawal and coolant flow reduction tests by tripping the gas circulators. In the second phase, accident simulation tests will be conducted. This paper describes the plan of coolant flow reduction tests by tripping of gas circulators planned in August 2003 with detailed test method, procedure and results of pre-test analysis. The analysis results of the steady state and transient behaviours of the reactor and the plant of the HTTR show that in the case of a rapid decrease of the coolant flow rate, the negative reactivity feedback effect of the core brings the reactor power safely to certain stable level without a reactor scram, and that the temperature transient of the reactor core is slow.

Safety demonstration test plan of HTTR; Overall program and result of coolant flow reduction test

Sakaba, Nariaki; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Tachibana, Yukio

Proceedings of GLOBAL2003 Atoms for Prosperity; Updating Eisenhower's Global Vision for Nuclear Energy (CD-ROM), p.293 - 299, 2003/00

Safety demonstration tests using the HTTR are now underway in order to verify the inherent safety features and to improve the safety design and evaluation technologies for HTGRs, as well as to contribute to research and development for the VHTR, which is one of the Generation IV reactors. The first phase of the safety demonstration tests includes the reactivity insertion test by means of control-rod withdrawal and the coolant flow reduction test by tripping the gas circulators. The coolant flow reduction tests are simulation tests of anticipated transients without scram (ATWS). In the second phase of the safety demonstration tests, accident simulation tests will be conducted. This paper describes the plan of the overall safety demonstration tests and coolant flow reduction tests with test method, test conditions, and analytical and experimental results. From the results, it was found that the negative reactivity feedback of the core brings the reactor power safely to a stable level without a reactor scram in the case of a rapid decrease of the coolant flow rate after tripping of gas circulators.

Development of a simulation model and safety evaluation for depressurization accident without reactor scram in an advanced HTGR

Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Saikusa, Akio; Kunitomi, Kazuhiko

Nuclear Technology, 133(2), p.141 - 152, 2001/02

https://doi.org/10.13182/NT01-A3165

no abstracts in English

Passive heat removal by vessel cooling system of HTTR during no forced cooling accidents

Kunitomi, Kazuhiko; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Shinozaki, Masayuki

Nucl. Eng. Des., 166(2), p.179 - 190, 1996/00

https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-5493(96)01268-X

no abstracts in English