Technical note for the cavitation damage inspection for interior surface of the mercury target vessel, 1; Development of specimen cutting machine for remote handling

Naoe, Takashi; Kinoshita, Hidetaka; Wakui, Takashi; Kogawa, Hiroyuki; Haga, Katsuhiro

JAEA-Technology 2022-018, 43 Pages, 2022/08

JAEA-Technology-2022-018.pdf:7.84MB

In the liquid mercury target system for the pulsed spallation neutron source of Materials and Life science experimental Facility (MLF) at the Japan in the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), cavitation that is generated by the high-energy proton beam-induced pressure waves, resulting severe erosion damage on the interior surface of the mercury target vessel. The erosion damage is increased with increasing the proton beam power, and has the possibility to cause the leakage of mercury by the penetrated damage and/or the fatigue failure originated from erosion pits during operation. To achieve the long term stable operation under high-power proton beam, the mitigation technologies for cavitation erosion consisting of surface modification on the vessel interior surface, helium gas microbubble injection, double-walled beam window structure has been applied. The damage on interior surface of the vessel is never observed during the beam operation. Therefore, after the target operation term ends, we have cut out specimen from the target nose of the target vessel to inspect damaged surface in detail for verification of the cavitation damage mitigation technologies and lifetime estimation. We have developed the techniques of specimen cutting out by remote handling under high-radiation environment. Cutting method was gradually updated based on experience in actual cutting for the used target vessel. In this report, techniques of specimen cutting out for the beam entrance portion of the target vessel in high-radiation environment and overview of the results of specimen cutting from actual target vessels are described.

Investigation of irradiated properties of extended burnup TRISO fuel

Shaimerdenov, A.*; Gizatulin, S.*; Kenzhin, Y.*; Dyussambayev, D.*; Ueta, Shohei; Aihara, Jun; Shibata, Taiju

Proceedings of 9th International Topical Meeting on High Temperature Reactor Technology (HTR 2018) (USB Flash Drive), 6 Pages, 2018/10

The Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Republic of Kazakhstan (INP) conducts an irradiation test and post-irradiation examinations (PIEs) of the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel and materials to develop the extend burnup fuel up to 100 GWd/t-U collaboratively with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) under projects in a frame of the International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC). Cylindrical fuel compact specimens consisting of newly-designed TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) coated fuel particles and a matrix made of graphite material were manufactured in Japan. An irradiation test of the fuel specimens using a helium-gas swept capsule designed and constructed in the INP has been performed up to 100 GWd/t-U in the WWR-K research reactor by April 2015. In the next stage, PIEs with the irradiated fuel specimens have been started in February 2017 as a new ISTC project. Several PIE technologies by non-destructive and destructive techniques with irradiated fuel compacts were developed by the INP. This report presents the developed technologies and interim results of the PIE for high burning TRISO fuel.

Irradiation test and post irradiation examination of the high burnup HTGR fuel

Ueta, Shohei; Aihara, Jun; Shaimerdenov, A.*; Dyussambayev, D.*; Gizatulin, S.*; Chakrov, P.*; Sakaba, Nariaki

Proceedings of 8th International Topical Meeting on High Temperature Reactor Technology (HTR 2016) (CD-ROM), p.246 - 252, 2016/11

In order to examine irradiation performance of the new Tri-structural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel for the High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) at the burnup around 100 GWd/t, a capsule irradiation test was conducted by WWR-K research reactor in the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) of Kazakhstan. The irradiated TRISO fuel was designed by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and fabricated in basis of the HTTR fuel technology in Japan. The fractional release of fission gas from the fuel during the irradiation shows good agreement with the predicted one released from as-fabricated failed TRISO fuel. It was suggested that unexpected additional fuel failure would not occur during the irradiation up to 100 GWd/t. In addition, the post-irradiation examination (PIE) with the irradiated fuel is planned to qualify TRISO fuel integrity and upgrade HTGR fuel design for further burnup extension.

Effect of neutron induced reactions of neodymium-147 and 148 on burnup evaluation

Suyama, Kenya; Mochizuki, Hiroki*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 42(7), p.661 - 669, 2005/07

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.42.661

Burnup is important value for criticality safety evaluation of spent nuclear fuel. Nd-148 method is one of most important method to evaluate the burnup of post irradiation examination (PIE) samples, and well known that it has good accuracy. However, the evaluated burnup values could be perturbed by the neutron capture reaction of Nd-147 and Nd-148. And in the analysis of PIE data from PWR, the calculation results of Nd-148 have approximately more than 1% deviation from experiment. In this study, the contribution of neutron capture reaction of Nd-147 and Nd-148 to Nd-148 amount are discussed. Especially for Nd-147 contribution, it is shown that the current evaluated cross section of Nd-147 is not supported and the new evaluation is consistent with the analysis of PIE data. Possible perturbed amount of Nd-148 by both reactions is less than 0.7% for normal reactor operation condition, and it is approximately 0.1% for 30 GWd/t (BWR) and 40 GWd/t (PWR). Finally, we confirm again that Nd-148 method is good evaluation method.

Study on the prediction accuracy of nuclide generation and depletion with JENDL

Okumura, Keisuke; Oki, Shigeo*; Yamamoto, Munenari*; Matsumoto, Hideki*; Ando, Yoshihira*; Tsujimoto, Kazufumi; Sasahara, Akihiro*; Katakura, Junichi; Matsumura, Tetsuo*; Aoyama, Takafumi*; et al.

JAERI-Research 2004-025, 154 Pages, 2005/01

JAERI-Research-2004-025.pdf:19.46MB

This report summarizes the activity (FY2000-2003) of Working Group (WG) on Evaluation of Nuclide Generation and Depletion under Subcommittee on Nuclear Fuel Cycle of Japanese Nuclear Data Committee. In the WG, analyses of Post Irradiation Examinations have been carried out for UO and MOX fuels irradiated in PWRs, BWRs and FBRs, and for actinide samples irradiated in fast reactors, by using ORIGEN or more detailed calculation codes with their libraries based on JENDL-3.2, JENDL-3.3 and other foreign nuclear data files. From these results, current prediction accuracy and problems for evaluation of nuclide generation and depletion are discussed. Furthermore, this report covers other products of our activity; development of the ORIGEN libraries for PWR, BWR and FBR based on JENDL-3.3, study on introduction of neutron spectrum index to ORIGEN calculations, and results of questionnaire survey on desirable accuracy of ORIGEN calculations.

Validation of integrated burnup code system SWAT2 by the analyses of isotopic composition of spent nuclear fuel

Suyama, Kenya; Mochizuki, Hiroki*; Okuno, Hiroshi; Miyoshi, Yoshinori

Proceedings of International Conference on Physics of Fuel Cycles and Advanced Nuclear Systems; Global Developments (PHYSOR 2004) (CD-ROM), 10 Pages, 2004/04

This paper provides validation results of SWAT2, the revised version of SWAT, which is a code system combining point burnup code ORIGEN2 and continuous energy Monte Carlo code MVP, by the analysis of post irradiation examinations (PIEs). Some isotopes show differences of calculation results between SWAT and SWAT2. However, generally, the differences are smaller than the error of PIE analysis that was reported in previous SWAT validation activity, and improved results are obtained for several important fission product nuclides. This study also includes comparison between an assembly and a single pin cell geometry models.

Annual report of JMTR, No.17, FY2002; April 1, 2002 - March 31, 2003

Department of JMTR

JAERI-Review 2003-041, 89 Pages, 2004/01

JAERI-Review-2003-041.pdf:6.32MB

During the FY2002 (April 2002 to March 2003), the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) was operated in three operation cycles for studies on the irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) of internal structures of light water reactors, development of the fusion blanket, basic materials research, radioisotope production, and so on. The reactor was twice subjected to unscheduled shutdowns, once due to an error signal of the control-rod drive mechanism and afterwards due to leakage of primary coolant. Recovery and corrective actions were taken properly, such as improvements in related facilities and revision of operation manuals. Besides, the beryllium reflector frames were replaced, which are internal structures of the JMTR. Concerning development on techniques for irradiation utilization, noticeable progress was made in an evaluation method of neutron and -ray heating rates of materials in JMTR irradiation, in development and installation of a monitoring and control system of specimen temperatures for IASCC irradiation examinations, and in successful performance tests by a post-irradiation crack-growth testing device, which brought a prospect of comparative studies between in-situ and post-irradiation examinations. In studies on the fusion blanket, a basic process was established for production of tritium breeder pebbles, and irradiation techniques were developed for in-pile functional tests of a simulated blanket module. In addition, joint seminars were held with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) on techniques for irradiation and post-irradiation examinations. The present report summarizes the JMTR operation and related technical development in the Department of JMTR during the FY2002.

Irradiation test of high burnup coated fuel particles for High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor; 91F-1A Sweap gas capsule irradiation test

Sawa, Kazuhiro; Tobita, Tsutomu*; Takahashi, Masashi; Saito, Takashi; Iimura, Katsumichi; Yokouchi, Iichiro; Serizawa, Hiroyuki; Sekino, Hajime; Ishikawa, Akiyoshi

JAERI-Research 2001-043, 52 Pages, 2001/09

JAERI-Research-2001-043.pdf:14.92MB

no abstracts in English

Revised SWAT; The Integrated burnup calculation code system

Suyama, Kenya; Kiyosumi, Takehide*; Mochizuki, Hiroki*

JAERI-Data/Code 2000-027, 88 Pages, 2000/07

JAERI-Data-Code-2000-027.pdf:4.08MB

no abstracts in English

Annual report of JMTR, No.13; FY1998 (April 1, 1998 - March 31, 1999)

Department of JMTR

JAERI-Review 2000-007, p.94 - 0, 2000/05

JAERI-Review-2000-007.pdf:4.32MB

no abstracts in English