Measurement of prompt neutron decay constant with spallation neutrons at Kyoto University Critical Assembly using linear combination method

Katano, Ryota; Yamanaka, Masao*; Pyeon, C. H.*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(2), p.169 - 176, 2020/02

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1671911

We proposed the linear combination method as a subcriticality measurement method which estimates the prompt neutron decay constant () correlated with the subcriticality using measurement results obtained at multiple detector positions. In the previous study, we confirmed applicability of the linear combination method through the pulsed neutron experiment with DT neutron source at Kyoto University Critical Assembly (KUCA). In this study, we conduct the pulsed neutron source experiment with spallation neutrons at KUCA and confirm the robustness of the linear combination to neutron sources.

Improvement of accumulator in cryogenic hydrogen system used for 1-MW pulsed spallation neutron source

Aso, Tomokazu; Tatsumoto, Hideki*; Otsu, Kiichi*; Kawakami, Yoshihiko*; Komori, Shinji*; Muto, Hideki*; Takada, Hiroshi

JAEA-Technology 2019-013, 77 Pages, 2019/09

JAEA-Technology-2019-013.pdf:5.59MB

At Materials and Life Science experimental Facility (MLF) of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), a 1-MW pulsed spallation neutron source is equipped with a cryogenic hydrogen system which circulates liquid hydrogen (20 K and 1.5 MPa) to convert high energy neutrons generated at a mercury target to cold neutrons at three moderators with removing nuclear heat of 3.8 kW deposited there. The cryogenic system includes an accumulator with a bellows structure in order to absorb pressure fluctuations generated by the nuclear heat deposition in the system. Welded inner bellows of the first accumulator was failured during operation, forcing us to improve the accumulator to have sufficient pressure resistance and longer life-time. We have developed elemental technologies for manufacturing welded bellows of the accumulator by a thick plate with high pressure resistance, succeeding to find optimum welding conditions. We fabricated a prototype bellows block and carried out an endurance test by adding a pressure change of 2 MPa repeatedly. As a result, the prototype bellows was successfully in use exceeding the design life of 10,000 times. Since distortions given during welding and assembling affect functionality and lifetime of the bellows, we set the levelness of each element of the bellows as within 0.1. The improved accumulator has already been in operation for about 25,000 hours as of January 2019, resulting that the number of strokes reached to 16,000. In July 2018, we demonstrated that the accumulator could suppress the pressure fluctuation generated by the 932 kW beam injection as designed. As current operational beam power is 500 kW, the current cryogenic hydrogen system could be applicable for stable operation at higher power in the future.

Fundamental aspects of neutron moderators and neutron beam optics for designing high intensity laser-driven neutron source

Ikeda, Yujiro; Shimizu, Hirohiko*

Reza Kenkyu, 46(11), p.641 - 646, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.2184/lsj.46.11_641

In viewing significant progresses in technical achievement toward a high-intensity neutron source driven by a high-power laser came up with the high power laser development, we have reviewed the currently most advanced moderator system and neutron optics, which are the key elements for the neutron beam applications. Regarding the moderators, concepts adopted in J-PARC pulsed neutron source, which is one of most advanced system, were described to give a baseline design. Also a new direction of moderator concept is shown, which could be a high brightness candidate for the high-intensity laser driven system. On the neutron optics, the most fundamental consideration is primarily reviewed along with recent progress in new devises for enrichment of neutron-beam characteristics.

Implementation of a low-activation Au-In-Cd decoupler into the J-PARC 1 MW short pulsed spallation neutron source

Teshigawara, Makoto; Ikeda, Yujiro; Oi, Motoki; Harada, Masahide; Takada, Hiroshi; Kakishiro, Masanori*; Noguchi, Gaku*; Shimada, Tsubasa*; Seita, Kyoichi*; Murashima, Daisuke*; et al.

Nuclear Materials and Energy (Internet), 14, p.14 - 21, 2018/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2018.02.001

We developed an Au-In-Cd (AuIC) decoupler material to reduce induced radioactivity instead of Ag-In-Cd one, which has a cut off energy of 1eV. In order to implement it into an actual moderator-reflector assembly, a number of critical engineering issues need to be resolved with regard to large-sized bonding between AuIC and A5083 alloys by the hot isostatic pressing process. We investigated this process in terms of the surface conditions, sizes, and heat capacities of large AuIC alloys. We also show a successful implementation of an AuIC decoupler into a reflector assembly, resulting in a remarkable reduction of radioactivity by AuIC compared to AIC without sacrificing neutronic performance.

Novel neutron scattering techniques using neutron transmission spectra

Oba, Yojiro*; Morooka, Satoshi; Sato, Hirotaka*; Sato, Nobuhiro*; Inoue, Rintaro*; Sugiyama, Masaaki*

Hamon, 26(4), p.170 - 173, 2016/11

https://doi.org/10.5611/hamon.26.4_170

Improved cavitation resistance of structural materials in pulsed liquid metal targets by surface hardening

Koppitz, T.*; Jung, P.*; Mller, G.*; Weisenburger, A.*; Futakawa, Masatoshi; Ikeda, Yujiro

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 343(1-3), p.92 - 100, 2005/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.08.034

Cavitation damage of structural materials due to pressure waves is expected to be one of the majior life-time limiting factors in high power liquid metal spallation targets under pulsed operation. Two methods are developed for the European Spallation Source (ESS) to mitigate this damage: Introduction of gas bubbles to surpress the pressure pulse and surface-hardening of structural materials. Surface-hardening of four 8-13%Cr martenstic steels was examined by thermal treatment with pulsed or scanned electron- and laser-beams as well as by nitriding in plasma. A specimens of the 12%Cr steel were tested in liquid mercury under pulsed proton irradiation, and under mechanical pulsed-loading. Surface damage was analysed by optical, confocal-laser, or scanning-electron microscopy, showing in both tests much better resistance of the hardened material compared to standard condition.

High efficiency indirect geometory crystal analyzer TOF spectrometer; DYANA dedicated to biology, planning in JSNS

Shibata, Kaoru; Tamura, Itaru; Soyama, Kazuhiko; Arai, Masatoshi; Middendorf, H. D.*; Niimura, Nobuo

Proceedings of ICANS-XVI, Volume 1, p.351 - 354, 2003/07

In this research report we describe the design of DYANA, a new neutron spectrometer dedicated for biology, biomaterials, and related soft-matter studies, which will be installed in the material and life science experimental facility project at the JAERI Tokai establishment. The DYANA spectrometer is an indirect-geometry crystal-analyzer instrument and its energy and momentum transfer range are from several 10eV to several meV and from 0.1 to several , respectively. These specifications will become possible to do the study of protein dynamics analysis.

Kinetic parameter measurement on low enriched uranyl nitrate solution with single unit cores (600, 280T, 800) of STACY

Tonoike, Kotaro; Miyoshi, Yoshinori; Kikuchi, Tsukasa*; Yamamoto, Toshihiro

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 39(11), p.1227 - 1236, 2002/11

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.39.1227

Kinetic parameter of low enriched uranyl nitrate solution was measured by the pulsed neutron source method in the STACY. This measurement was repeated systematically over several uranium concentrations from 193.7 gU/ to 432.1 gU/. Used core tanks were two cylindrical tanks whose diameters are 600 mm and 800 mm and one slab tank which has 280 mm thickness and 700 mm width. In this report, experimental data such as solution conditions, critical solution level for each solution condition, subcritical solution levels where measurements were conducted, measured decay time constants of prompt neutron and extrapolated values are described as well as basic principle of the pulsed neutron source method. values were evaluated also by computation with the diffusion code CITATION in SRAC and the nuclear data library JENDL 3.2. Both experimental and computational values show good agreement.

Optimization of coupled hydrogen moderator for a short pulse spallation source

Kai, Tetsuya; Teshigawara, Makoto; Watanabe, Noboru; Harada, Masahide; Sakata, Hideaki*; Ikeda, Yujiro

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 39(2), p.120 - 128, 2002/02

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.39.120

no abstracts in English

Premoderator optimization of decoupled hydrogen moderator

Harada, Masahide; Teshigawara, Makoto; Kai, Tetsuya; Sakata, Hideaki*; Watanabe, Noboru; Ikeda, Yujiro

JAERI-Research 2001-016, 32 Pages, 2001/03

JAERI-Research-2001-016.pdf:1.74MB

An optimization study on the premoderator, the reflector material choice and a length of the liner is carried out for the design of high performance decoupled hydrogen moderator. NMTC/JAM and MCNP-4C are used for the neutronics calculation. The result indicates that, assuming premoderator dimensions and decoupling energy is controlled, the decoupled hydrogen moderator with a premoderator can provide better pulse characteristics than that without the premoderator for a Be reflector. On the selection of the reflector material, it is clearly shown that Pb and Hg reflectors give merits in using the premoderator for higher intensity and reduction of energy deposition in moderator. It is also shown that a H2O premoderator provides a short tail while a D2O premoderator provides the high peak intensity. Minimum liner length is evaluated to be 20 cm from the viewpoint of neutronics.