Research for thermal-hydraulic performance in tight-lattice fuel assembly, 1; Outline of research program

Akimoto, Hajime; Tamai, Hidesada; Onuki, Akira; Takase, Kazuyuki

Nihon Konsoryu Gakkai Nenkai Koenkai 2005 Koen Rombunshu, p.229 - 230, 2005/08

A thermal-hydraulic research program for Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) has been performed since 2002. The RMWR has a tight-lattice core to attain the breeding of nuclear fuel for the effective use of Plutonium in a light-water reactor system. In this R&D program, large-scale thermal-hydraulic tests, several model experiments and development of advanced numerical analysis codes are being carried out to confirm the cooling performance in tight-lattice fuel assembly of the RMWR. In this paper, outline of the research program is described as well as the latest results of critical power measurement in the large-scale thermal-hydraulic tests and model experiments, which simulates the tight-lattice core of the RMWR.

Proving test and analyze for critical power performance in the RMWR tight lattice rod bundles under transient condition

Liu, W.; Tamai, Hidesada; Onuki, Akira; Kureta, Masatoshi*; Sato, Takashi; Akimoto, Hajime

Proceedings of 2005 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP '05) (CD-ROM), 10 Pages, 2005/05

A major concern in the design of RMWR is that sufficient cooling capability be provided to keep fuel cladding temperature below specified values, even for a postulated abnormal transient process. In this research, centered the postulated transient cases that may be possibly met in the RMWR running, transient BT tests are performed in 7-rod and 37-rod double-humped tight lattice bundles, under the RMWR nominal operating condition (P = 7.2 MPa, Tin =556 K) for mass velocity G = 300 - 800 kg / (ms). Experiments are analyzed with TRAC code, in which JAERI critical power correlation is implemented for BT judgment. The traditional quasi-steady-state prediction of BT in transient process is confirmed being applicable for the postulated nominal transients in the RMWR cores.

The Possible role of reduced-moderation water reactors and its sensitivity to fuel recycling conditions

Tatematsu, Kenji; Sato, Osamu

JAERI-Research 2004-024, 35 Pages, 2005/01

JAERI-Research-2004-024.pdf:9.97MB

Many scenarios were defined for future development of nuclear power generation and fuel cycle systems in Japan. These scenarios were quantitatively analyzed from the viewpoint of plutonium recycling, natural uranium consumption, stock of spent fuel, etc. Following findings were obtained from the analysis. RMWRs will contribute to control the uranium consumption at certain finite levels if net conversion ratio (CR) is kept higher than 1.0. However, since RMWRs do not have an excellent breeding performance in comparison with FBRs, their effect is very sensitive to the conditions on fuel recycling processes. Judging from the results of analysis using a RMWR design with gross CR 1.06, it would be necessary for RMWRs to have net CR 1.04 in order to replace enriched uranium fuelled LWRs by around the year 2200, and thereby to keep ultimate natural uranium consumption at rather low levels. This can be achieved by controlling fuel duration time outside reactors to shorter than 4 years or 6 years, when total loss of plutonium during the processes of recycling is 1.0% or 0.2%, respectively.

Characteristics of severe accidents of Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR)

Yonomoto, Taisuke; Akie, Hiroshi; Kobayashi, Noboru; Okubo, Tsutomu; Uchikawa, Sadao; Iwamura, Takamichi

Proceedings of 6th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics, Operations and Safety (NUTHOS-6) (CD-ROM), 11 Pages, 2004/10

Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) is a light-water cooled high-conversion reactor that is being developed by JAERI with collaboration from the Japanese industries. Since RMWR utilizes the highly enriched plutonium, the safety concern for RMWR includes the possibility of recriticality during severe accidents as is the case with the liquid metal cooled fast breeder reactor. In order to clarify this concern, characteristics of severe accidents of RMWR are analyzed in this study. The results obtained so far indicate that (1) the mechanical impact of recriticality in the core, if occurs, is supposed to be insignificant due to the absence of water, (2) the mixture of the fuel and cladding debris in the lower plenum does not cause recriticality when they are well mixed and distributed flatly, and (3) if requires, the installation of neutron-absorption material with realistic geometry can effectively prevent recriticality in the lower plenum even for the conservatively-assumed spherical accumulation of core debris.

("3D"+"2D+Time") visualization of vapor/water in the reactor observed by neutron beam

Kureta, Masatoshi

VizJournal, (11), 5 Pages, 2004/06

This paper explains the neutron radiography thermal-hydraulic measurement technique, especialy visualization technique, which was developed at Japan Atomic Energry Research Institute. Observation of large and fine-mesh data obtained by the new measurement technology is important from a research point of view. We developed the advanced visualization software which puts into practice effective observation by using new visualization methods, and we made the vizualization of phenomena possible by using VR and/or animation displays etc. by this system. Especially in this paper, the visualization techniques which were used in a prize-winning work of the "Visual Sience Festa 2003" by NIKKEI SCIENCE as easy to read for a general reader as possible by using many figures and movies.

Analysis of MOX fuel behavior in reduced-moderation water reactor by fuel performance code FEMAXI-RM

Suzuki, Motoe; Saito, Hiroaki*; Iwamura, Takamichi

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 227(1), p.19 - 27, 2004/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2003.08.001

To assess the feasibility of the 31percentPu-MOX fuel rod design of reduced-moderation boiling water reactor in terms of thermal and mechanical behaviors, a single rod which is assumed to be irradiated in the core of RMWR up to 106 GWd/tHM has been analyzed by a fuel performance code FEMAXI-RM which is an extended version of FEMAXI-6 code. In the analysis, design specifications of fuel rod and irradiation conditions have been input, and available models of both MOX fuel and UO fuel have been used complementally. The results are: FGR is several tens of percent, rod internal pressure does not exceed the coolant pressure, and the highest fuel center temperature is 2400K, while cladding diameter increase caused by pellet swelling is within 1percent strain. These predictions suggest that the MOX fuel rod integrity will be held during irradiation in RMWR, though actual behavior of MOX pellet swelling requires to be investigated in detail.

Nuclear Energy System Department annual report; April 1, 2002 - March 31, 2003

Department of Nuclear Energy System

JAERI-Review 2003-023, 232 Pages, 2003/09

JAERI-Review-2003-023.pdf:16.58MB

The Department has carried out researches and developments (R&Ds) of innovative nuclear energy system and their related fundamental technologies to ensure the long-term energy supply in Japan. The report deals with the R&Ds of an innovative water reactor, called Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR), which has the capability of multiple recycling and breeding of plutonium using light water reactor technologies. In addition, as basic studies and fundamental researches of nuclear energy system in general, described are intensive researches in the fields of reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, nuclear data, nuclear fuels, and materials. These activities are essential not only for the R&Ds of innovative nuclear energy systems but also for the improvement of safety and reliability of current nuclear energy systems. The maintenance and operation of reactor engineering facilities belonging to the Department support experimental activities.

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.