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Kurisaka, Kenichi
Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2023/05
This study aims to understand a time trend of the occurrence rate of steam generator (SG) tube leak in the existing sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) based on the observed data. The target on SFRs in the present paper is Phenix in France and BN600 in Russia. From the open literature review, we investigated the number of tube-to-tube plate weld, the number of tube-to-tube weld, heat transfer area of tube base metal, operating time of SGs, dates when SG tube leak occurred, leaked location, corrective action after tube leak such as replacement of leaked module. Based on these observed data, time to leak is estimated and then time trend of the occurrence rate of SG tube leak for each of the above-mentioned parts was quantitatively analyzed by the hazard plotting method. As a result, the rate of leak at tube-to-tube weld in Phenix shows increase with time due to probable cause of cyclic thermal stress in a short term. As for a long-term trend, the rate of tube leak in both Phenix and BN600 SGs indicated decrease with time probably thanks to improvement in welding and in SG operating condition and to removal of initial failure.
-treated column study of Hanford 300 area sediment using a simple ion exchange and immobile domain modelSaito, Tatsuo; Sato, Kazuhiko; Yamazawa, Hiromi*
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 237, p.106708_1 - 106708_9, 2021/10
Times Cited Count：2 Percentile：13.39(Environmental Sciences)We succeeded at numerical reproduction of dissolved U concentrations from column experiments with PO-treated Hanford 300 Area sediment. The time-series curves of dissolved U concentrations under various Darcy flow rate conditions were reproduced by the numerical model in the present study through optimization of the following parameters:(i) the mass of U in mobile domain (on surface soil connected to the stream) and the rest of the total U left as precipitation in immobile domain (isolated in deep soil);(ii) the mixing ratio between immobile and mobile domains, to fit the final recovering curve of concentration; and (iii) the cation exchange capacity (CEC
) and equilibrium constant (k) of the exchange reaction of UO
and H
on simulated soil surface (
), to fit the transient equilibrium concentration, forming the bed of the bathtub curve.
Watanabe, Tadashi*; Katsuyama, Jinya; Mano, Akihiro
International Journal of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering (Internet), 13(11), p.516 - 519, 2019/10
The estimation of leak flow rates through narrow cracks in structures is of importance for nuclear reactor safety, since the leak flow could be detected before occurrence of loss-of-coolant accidents. The two-phase critical leak flow rates are calculated using the system analysis code, and two representative non-homogeneous critical flow models, Henry-Fauske model and Ransom-Trapp model, are compared. The pressure decrease and vapor generation in the crack, and the leak flow rates are found to be larger for the Henry-Fauske model. It is shown that the leak flow rates are not affected by the structural temperature, but affected largely by the roughness of crack surface.
Kawaguchi, Munemichi; Miyahara, Shinya; Uno, Masayoshi*
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 55(8), p.874 - 884, 2018/08
Times Cited Count：4 Percentile：38.58(Nuclear Science & Technology)As parts of severe accident studies in sodium-cooled fast reactor, experiments were performed to investigate the termination mechanism of sodium-concrete reaction (SCR). In the experiment, the reaction time was controlled to investigate the distribution change of sodium (Na) and the reaction products in the pool and around the reaction front. In the results, the Na around the reaction front decreased from the enough amount with the reaction time. The concentrations were 18-24 wt.% for Na, and 22-18 wt.% for Si after the termination. From the thermodynamics calculations, the stable materials around the reaction front comprised more than 90 wt.% solid products such as NaSiO
, and no Na. Further, the distribution of Na and reaction products could be explained by a steady-state sedimentation-diffusion model. At the early stage of SCR, the reaction products were suspended as particles in the Na pool because of the high H-generation rate. As the concrete ablation proceeds, they start settling down due to the decreased H-generation rate, thereby allowing SCR termination. It was concluded that SCR termination was caused by the sediment of the reaction products and the lack of Na around the reaction front.
Haga, Katsuhiro; Kogawa, Hiroyuki; Wakui, Takashi; Naoe, Takashi; Takada, Hiroshi
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 55(2), p.160 - 168, 2018/02
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：46.12(Nuclear Science & Technology)The mercury target vessel used for the spallation neutron source in J-PARC has multi-walled structure made of stainless steel type 316L, which comprises a mercury vessel and a water shroud. In 2015, water leak incidents from the water shroud occurred while the mercury target was operated with a proton beam power of 500 kW. Several investigations were conducted to identify the cause of failure. The results of the visual inspections, mockup tests, and analytical evaluations suggested that the water leak was caused by the combination of two factors. One was the diffusion bonding failure due to the large thermal stress induced by welding of the bolt head, which fixes the mercury vessel and the water shroud, during the fabrication process. The other was the thermal fatigue failure of the seal weld due to the repetitive beam trip during the operating period. These target failures point to the importance of eliminating initial defects from welding lines and to secure the rigidity and reliability of welded structures. The next mercury target was fabricated with an improved design which adopted parts of monolithic structure machined by wire EDM to reduce welding lines, and intensified inspections to eliminate the initial defects. The operation with the improved target is planned to be started in October 2017.
Kawaguchi, Munemichi; Miyahara, Shinya; Uno, Masayoshi*
Netsu Sokutei, 45(1), p.2 - 8, 2018/01
Liquid sodium (Na) has been used as the coolant of fast reactors for the various merits, such as the high thermal conductivity. On the other hand, it is postulated that a steel liner may fail and lead to a sodium-concrete reaction (SCR) during the Na-leak accident. Because of concrete ablation and release of hydrogen gas due to the chemical reactions between Na and concrete components, the SCR is one of the important phenomena in the Na-leak accident. In the study, fundamental experiments related to the SCR were performed using Na and concrete powder. Here, the used concrete powder is milled siliceous concrete which is usually used as the structural concrete in Japanese nuclear power plants. The obvious temperature changes at 3 temperature regions were observed for the reaction process such as Na-melt, NaOH-SiO and Na-HO-SiO reaction, which occurred around 100, 300 and 500
C, respectively. Especially, the violent reaction around 500C caused the temperature peak to 
C, and the reaction heat of 
kW/g was estimated under the Na-concrete mixing ratio such as 
. The main components of the reaction products was identified as NaSiO with X-ray diffraction technique. Moreover, the measured thermophysical properties such as melting point, density, specific heat, thermal conductivity and viscosity were similar to those of 
NaO-
SiO (
).
Yamada, Fumiaki; Imaizumi, Yuya; Nishimura, Masahiro; Fukano, Yoshitaka; Arikawa, Mitsuhiro*
Proceedings of 25th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-25) (CD-ROM), 10 Pages, 2017/07
The loss-of-reactor-level (LORL) is one of the loss-of-heat-removal-system (LOHRS) of beyond-DBA (BDBA) severe accident. An evaluation method for the LORL which is caused by the coolant leakage in two positions of the primary heat transport system (PHTS) was developed for prototype JSFR which is loop-type sodium-cooled fast reactor. The secondary leakage in cold standby which occurred in different loop from that of the first leakage in rated power operation can lead LORL by excessive declining of the sodium level. Therefore, the sodium level behavior in RV was studied in a representative accident sequence by considering the sodium pumping up into RV, siphon-breaking to stop pumping out from RV and maintain the sodium level, and calculation programs for the transient sodium level in RV. The representative sequence with lowest sodium level was selected by considering combinations of possible leakage positions. As a result of the evaluation considering the countermeasures above, it was revealed that the LOHRS can be prevented by maintaining the sodium level for the operation of decay heat removal system, even in the leakages in two positions of PHTS which corresponds to BDBA.
Ichikawa, Shoichi; Chiba, Yusuke; Ono, Fumiyasu; Hatori, Masakazu; Kobayashi, Takanori; Uekura, Ryoichi; Hashiri, Nobuo*; Inuzuka, Taisuke*; Kitano, Hiroshi*; Abe, Hisashi*
JAEA-Research 2017-001, 40 Pages, 2017/03
JAEA-Research-2017-001.pdf:5.19MB
In order to reduce the influence on a plant schedule of the MONJU by the maintenance of dew point hygrometers, The JAEA examined a capacitance type dew point hygrometer as an alternative dew point hygrometer for a lithium-chloride type dew point hygrometer which had been used at the CV-LRT in the MONJU. As a result of comparing a capacitance type dew point hygrometer with a lithium-chloride type dew point hygrometer at the CV-LRT (Atmosphere: nitrogen, Testing time: 24 hours), there weren't significant difference between a capacitance type dew point hygrometer and a lithium-chloride type dew point hygrometer. As a result of comparing a capacitance dew point hygrometer with a high-mirror-surface type dew point hygrometer for long term verification (Atmosphere: air, Testing time: 24 months), the JAEA confirmed that a capacitance type dew point hygrometer satisfied the instrument specification (
2.04C) required by the JEAC4203-2008.
Kojima, Kensuke; Okumura, Keisuke; Kosako, Kazuaki*; Torii, Kazutaka*
JAEA-Research 2015-019, 90 Pages, 2016/01
JAEA-Research-2015-019.pdf:1.95MB
At the decommissioning of light water reactors (LWRs), it is important to evaluate an amount of radioactivity in the ex-core structures such as a reactor containment vessel, radiation shieldings, and so on. It is thought that the leakage neutron spectra in these radioactivation regions, which strongly affect the induced radioactivity, would be changed by different reactor core configurations such as fuel assembly loading pattern and fuel burnups. This study was intended to evaluate these effects. For the purpose, firstly, partial neutron currents on the core surfaces were calculated for some core configurations. Then, the leakage neutron flux spectra in major radioactivation regions were calculated based on the provided currents. Finally, influence of the core configurations upon the neutron flux spectra was evaluated. As a result, it has been found that the influence is small on the spectrum shapes of neutron fluxes. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the facts that intensities of the leakage neutron fluxes are changed by the configurations and that intensities and spectrum shapes of the leakage neutron fluxes are changed depending on the angular direction around the core.
Takeda, Takeshi; Otsu, Iwao
Journal of Energy and Power Sources, 2(7), p.274 - 290, 2015/07
Yoshida, Hajime; Kosaku, Yasuo*; Enoeda, Mikio; Abe, Tetsuya; Akiba, Masato
JAERI-Research 2005-003, 13 Pages, 2005/03
JAERI-Research-2005-003.pdf:3.33MB
Hydrogen permeation fluxes of the reduced activation ferritic steel F82H were quantitatively measured by a newly proposed method, vacuum thermo-balance method, for a precise estimation of tritium leakage in a fusion reactor. We prepared sample capsules made of F82H, which enclosed hydrogen gas. The hydrogen in the capsules permeated through the capsule wall, and subsequently desorbed from the capsule surface during isothermal heating. The vacuum thermo-balance method allows simultaneous measurement of the hydrogen permeation flux by two independent methods, namely, the net weight reduction of the sample capsule and exhaust gas analysis. Thus the simultaneous measurements by two independent methods increase the reliability of the permeability measurement. The ratio of the hydrogen permeation fluxes obtained by the net weight reduction to that measured by the exhaust gas analysis was in the range from 1/4 to 1/1 in this experiment. It has been demonstrated that the vacuum thermo-balance method is effective for the measurement of hydrogen permeation rate of F82H.
Sakaba, Nariaki; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; Kondo, Masaaki; Emori, Koichi
Nuclear Engineering and Design, 233(1-3), p.135 - 145, 2004/10
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：35.25(Nuclear Science & Technology)The containment structures of the HTTR consist of the reactor containment vessel, the service area, and the emergency air purification system, which minimise the release of fission products in postulated accidents which lead to fission product release from the reactor facilities. The reactor containment vessel is designed to withstand the temperature and pressure transients and to be leak-tight in the case of a rupture of the primary concentric hot gas duct, etc. The pressure inside the service area is maintained at a negative pressure by the emergency air purification system. The emergency air purification system will also remove airborne radio-activity and will maintain a correct pressure in the service area. The leak-tightness characteristics of the containment structures are described in this paper. The measured leakage rates of the reactor containment vessel were enough less than the specified leakage limit of 0.1%/d confirmed during the commissioning tests and annual inspections. The service area was kept the design pressure well below its allowable limitation by the emergency air purification system which filter efficiency of particle removal and iodine removal were well over the limited values. The obtained data demonstrates that the reactor containment structures were fabricated to minimise the release of fission products in the postulated accidents with fission product release from the reactor facilities.
Nakahira, Masataka; Shibui, Masanao*
Nihon Kikai Gakkai Dai-9-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu, No.04-2, p.267 - 272, 2004/06
A small water leak can cause a plasma disruption in a tokamak-type fusion machine. This plasma disruption will induce electromagnetic (EM) force acting in the vacuum vessel that is a physical barrier of tritium and activated dust. If the VV can sustain an unstable fracture by the EM force, the structural safety will be assured and the inherent safety will be demonstrated. Therefore, a new analytical model to evaluate the through crack and leak rate of cooling water is proposed, with verification by experimental leak measurements. Based on the analysis, the critical crack length to terminate plasma in ITER is evaluated as about 2 mm. On the other hand, the critical crack length for unstable fracture is obtained as about 400 mm. It is concluded that EM forces induced by the small leak to terminate plasma will not cause unstable fracture of the VV; thus the inherent safety is demonstrated.
Isono, Takaaki; Hamada, Kazuya; Kawano, Katsumi; Abe, Kanako*; Nunoya, Yoshihiko; Sugimoto, Makoto; Ando, Toshinari*; Okuno, Kiyoshi; Bono, Takaaki*; Tomioka, Akira*; et al.
Teion Kogaku, 39(3), p.122 - 129, 2004/03
JAERI has been developing a large-capacity high-temperature superconductor (HTS) current lead for fusion application, and succeeded in fabricating and testing a 60kA HTS current lead satisfying ITER requirements. Targets of performance are 1/10 heat leak and 1/3 electric power consumption of cryogenic system compared with a conventional lead. To achieve the target, selection of sheath material of HTS, optimizing the Cu part, reduction of joule heat at joint between HTS and Cu parts, improve of heat transfer between HTS and stainless steel tube. Developed 60kA HTS current lead satisfied the design condition and almost achieved the targets. Adoption of the HTS current lead can reduce 13% electric power consumption of cryogenic system for ITER.
Nakahira, Masataka
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 41(2), p.226 - 234, 2004/02
Times Cited Count：1 Percentile：10.03(Nuclear Science & Technology)A tokamak-type fusion machine is said to have inherent safety associated with plasma shutdown. A small leak of water can terminate the plasma safely and can cause a plasma disruption which will induce electromagnetic(EM) forces in the vacuum vessel (VV). From a radiological safety view point, the VV forms the physical barrier that encloses tritium and activated dust. If the VV can sustain an unstable fracture by EM forces from a through crack to cause the leak, the structural safety will be assured and the inherent safety will be demonstrated. Therefore, a systematic approach to assure the structural safety is developed. A new analytical model to evaluate the through crack and leak is proposed, with verification by experiment. Based on the analyses, the critical crack length to terminate plasma is evaluated as about 2 mm, and the critical crack length for unstable fracture is obtained as about 400 mm. It is therefore concluded that EM forces induced by small leak to terminate plasma will not cause the unstable fracture of VV, and then the inherent safety is demonstrated.
Nakahira, Masataka
JAERI-Tech 2003-087, 28 Pages, 2003/12
JAERI-Tech-2003-087.pdf:1.74MB
A tokamak-type fusion machine has been characterized as having inherent plasma shutdown safety. An extremely small leakage of cooling water will cause a plasma disruption. This plasma disruption will induce electromagnetic forces (EM forces) acting in the vacuum vessel (VV) which forms the physical barrier enclosing tritium and activated dust. If the VV has the possibility of sustaining an unstable fracture from a penetrating crack caused by EM forces, the structural safety will be assured and the inherent safety will be demonstrated. This paper analytically assures the Leak-Before-Break (LBB) concept as applied to the VV and is based on experimental leak rate data of a through crack having a very small opening. Based on the analysis, the critical crack length to terminate plasma is evaluated as about 2 mm. On the other hand, the critical crack length for unstable fracture is obtained as about 400 mm. It is therefore concluded that EM forces induced by small leak to terminate plasma will not cause the unstable fracture of VV, and then the inherent safety is demonstrated.
Ito, Haruhiko; Homma, Kenzo; Itabashi, Yukio; Tabata, Toshio; Akashi, Kazutomo; Inaba, Yukio; Kumahara, Hajime; Takahashi, Kunihiro; Kitajima, Toshio; Yokouchi, Iichiro
JAERI-Review 2003-024, 76 Pages, 2003/10
JAERI-Review-2003-024.pdf:8.35MB
no abstracts in English
Isono, Takaaki; Kawano, Katsumi; Hamada, Kazuya; Matsui, Kunihiro; Nunoya, Yoshihiko; Hara, Eiji*; Kato, Takashi; Ando, Toshinari*; Okuno, Kiyoshi; Bono, Takaaki*; et al.
Physica C, 392-396(Part2), p.1219 - 1224, 2003/10
A 60-kA high-temperature-superconductor (HTS) current lead has been fabricated and tested for aiming at the application to a fusion magnet system, providing a low heat leak current lead. The design of HTS current leads is optimized not only to reduce the heat leak but also to perform safe operation even in fault conditions. The HTS current lead consists of a forced flow cooled copper part and a conduction cooled HTS part. The HTS part is composed of 288 Ag-10at.%Au sheathed Bi-2223 tapes and they are cylindrically arrayed on a stainless steel tube. The diameter and the length of the HTS part are 146 mm and 300 mm, respectively. Operation of a 60 kA current, which is the world record, was successfully achieved at coolant of 20 K, 3.2 g/s for the copper part, and a low heat leak of 5.5 W at 4.2 K was demonstrated. This result shows that the electric power of a refrigerator to cool the current lead can be reduced by 1/3 of that in a conventional current lead. In conclusion, technology of a large HTS current lead for fusion application is established.
Hanawa, Satoshi; Tachibana, Yukio; Iyoku, Tatsuo; Ishihara, Masahiro; Ito, Haruhiko
JAERI-Tech 2003-064, 25 Pages, 2003/07
JAERI-Tech-2003-064.pdf:2.84MB
On the 147cycle operation, the water leakage was found at the pressure instrumentation pipe which is attached to the exit pipe of No.1 charge pump of the purification system of primary cooling system at JMTR in the Oarai establishment, JAERI. Then JMTR was shutted down manually on December 10th. It was predicted that the crack on the pressure instrumentation pipe was initiated and propagated by the cyclic load which was caused by the charge pump. Therefore, vibration and stress analyses of pressure instrumentation pipe were performed. From the vibration analysis, the natural frequency of the pressure instrumentation pipe of No.1 charge pump is between 53
58Hz, which is close to the resonance frequency of 50Hz. From the stress analysis results, total stress generated on the pressure instrumentation pipe is 112.2MPa at the natural frequency of 53Hz and 74.2Mpa at 58Hz. It was found that the stress of 112.2MPa is close to the fatigue limit of used materials.
Working Group for Investigation of Cause of Crack Initiation
JAERI-Tech 2003-060, 183 Pages, 2003/07
JAERI-Tech-2003-060.pdf:55.37MB
On December 10, 2002, the water leakage was found at the pressure instrumentation pipe attached to the exit pipe of No.1 charging pump of the purification system of a primary cooling system at JMTR, and the cracks were detected on the pressure instrumentation pipe by the visual observation. The Investigation Committee for Water Leakage from Instrumentation Pipe in JMTR was established and organized by specialists from inside and outside JAERI on December 16. In order to investigate the cause of crack initiation at the pressure instrumentation pipe, the Working Group was organized in the Department of JMTR. Visual inspection, fractgraphy test, metallographic observation and hardness test for the pressure instrumentation pipe and its weldment were carried out in the JMTR Hot Laboratory. This report summarized above data obtained by investigation on the cause of the crack initiation.
