A Rapid evaluation method of the heat removed by a VCS before rise-to-power tests

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi

Journal of Thermal Science, 24(3), p.295 - 301, 2015/06

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-015-0787-x

Before rise-to-power tests, the actual measured value of heat released from the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) or removed by the Vessel Cooling System (VCS) cannot be obtained. It is difficult for operators to evaluate the reactor outlet coolant temperature supplied from the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) before rise-to-power tests. Therefore, when the actual measured value of heat released from the RPV or removed by the VCS are changed during rise-to-power tests, operators need to evaluate quickly, within a few minutes, the heat removed by the VCS and the reactor outlet coolant temperature of 30 (MW), at the 100% of the reactor power, before the temperature achieves to 967 (C) which is the maximum temperature limit generating the reactor scram. In this paper, a rapid evaluation method for use by operators is presented.

Proposal for evaluation methods of reactor outlet coolant temperature in HTGRs

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Nakagawa, Shigeaki

JAERI-Tech 2005-030, 21 Pages, 2005/05

JAERI-Tech-2005-030.pdf:1.06MB

The High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) is a graphite moderated and gas cooled reactor with the thermal power of 30MW and the reactor outlet coolant temperature of 850C/950C. Rise-to-power test in the HTTR was performed from March 31th to May 1st in 2004 as phase 5 test up to 30MW in the high temperature test operation mode. It was confirmed that the thermal reactor power and the reactor outlet coolant temperature reached to 30MW and 950C respectively on April 19th. Achievement of the reactor outlet coolant temperature of 950C is the first time in Japan as well as the world. This report describes proposal for evaluation methods of reactor outlet coolant temperature in the HTGRs through the HTTR operation experiments. The equation is derived from relationships among PRM reading values, reactor outlet coolant temperature, reactor thermal power and heat removal by VCS. The deliberation processes in this study will be applicable to the research and developments of HTGRs in the future.

Rise-to-power test result of core outlet coolant tamperature of 950 C in HTTR

Iyoku, Tatsuo; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi

UTNL-R-0446, p.14_1 - 14_9, 2005/03

no abstracts in English

Coolant chemistry of the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor 'HTTR'

Sakaba, Nariaki; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Furusawa, Takayuki*; Emori, Koichi; Tachibana, Yukio

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 3(4), p.388 - 395, 2004/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj2002.3.388

Chemistry control is important for the helium coolant of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) because impurities cause oxidation of the graphite used in the core and corrosion of high temperature materials used in the heat exchanger. In the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) which is the first HTGR in Japan, the chemical impurity concentration is restricted and its behaviour is monitored during reactor operations. The impurity is reduced by the helium purification system and the concentration is measured by the helium sampling system installed to the primary and secondary helium system, continuously. This paper describes the impurity behaviour during the rise-to-power test which is the initial power-up of the HTTR. Also, the amount of the emitted impurity to the primary circuit from the graphite component and insulator used at the concentric hot gas duct are evaluated. During the power up, any abnormal impurity increases were not obtained and the chemical composition of the primary circuit is sufficiently in the stability area to avoid carbon deposition.

Performance test of HTTR

Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Tachibana, Yukio; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Ueta, Shohei; Hanawa, Satoshi

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 233(1-3), p.291 - 300, 2004/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2004.08.027

The High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) is particularly attractive due to its capability of producing high temperature helium gas and due to its inherent safety characteristics. The High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR), which is the first HTGR in Japan, was successfully constructed at the Oarai Research Establishment of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. The HTTR achieved full power of 30MW at a reactor outlet coolant temperature of about 850C on December 7, 2001 during the "rise-to-power tests". Two kinds of tests were carried out during the "rise-to-power tests". One is commissioning test to get operation permit by the government and another is test to confirm a performance of the reactor, heat exchanger, control system. From the test results of the "rise-to-power tests" up to 30MW, the functionality of the reactor and the cooling system were confirmed, and it was also confirmed that an operation of reactor facility can be performed safely.

Test results of the reactor inlet coolant temperature control system of HTTR

Saito, Kenji; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Hirato, Yoji; Kondo, Makoto; Sawahata, Hiroaki; Tsuchiyama, Masaru*; Ando, Toshio*; Motegi, Toshihiro; Mizushima, Toshihiko; Nakazawa, Toshio

JAERI-Tech 2004-042, 26 Pages, 2004/04

JAERI-Tech-2004-042.pdf:1.16MB

The reactor control system of HTTR is composed of the reactor power control system, the reactor inlet coolant temperature control system, the primary coolant flow rate control system and so on. The reactor control system of HTTR achieves reactor power 30MW, reactor outlet coolant temperature 850C, reactor inlet coolant temperature 395C under the condition that primary coolant flow rate is fixed. In the Rise-to-Power Test, the performance test of the reactor inlet coolant temperature control system was carried out in order to confirm the control capability of this control system. This report shows the test results of performance test. As a result, the control parameters, which can control the reactor inlet coolant temperature stably during the reactor operation, were successfully selected. And it was confirmed that the reactor inlet coolant temperature control system has the capability of controlling the reactor inlet coolant temperature stably against any disturbances on the basis of operational condition of HTTR.

An Investigation of fuel and fission product behavior in rise-to-power test of HTTR, 2; Results up to 30 MW operation

Ueta, Shohei; Emori, Koichi; Tobita, Tsutomu*; Takahashi, Masashi*; Kuroha, Misao; Ishii, Taro*; Sawa, Kazuhiro

JAERI-Research 2003-025, 59 Pages, 2003/11

JAERI-Research-2003-025.pdf:2.53MB

In the safety design requirements for the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) fuel, it is determined that "the as-fabricated failure fraction shall be less than 0.2%" and "the additional failure fraction shall be small through the full service period". Therefore the failure fraction should be quantitatively evaluated during the HTTR operation. In order to measure the primary coolant activity, primary coolant radioactivity signals the in safety protection system, the fuel failure detection (FFD) system and the primary coolant sampling system are provided in the HTTR. The fuel and fission product behavior was evaluated based on measured data in the rise-to-power tests (1) to (4). The measured fractional releases are constant at 210 up to 60% of the reactor power, and then increase to 710 at full power operation. The prediction shows good agreement with the measured value. These results showed that the release mechanism varied from recoil to diffusion of the generated fission gas from the contaminated uranium in the fuel compact matrix.

Assessment of irradiation temperature stability of the first irradiation testi rig in the HTTR

Shibata, Taiju; Kikuchi, Takayuki; Miyamoto, Satoshi*; Ogura, Kazutomo*

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 223(2), p.133 - 143, 2003/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0029-5493(03)00041-4

The High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) can provide very large spaces at high temperatures for irradiation tests. The I-I type irradiation equipment was developed as the first irradiation rig. It will be served for an in-pile creep test on a stainless steel with large standard size specimens. It uses the ambient high temperature of the core for the irradiation temperature control. The target irradiation temperatures are 550 and 600C with the target temperature deviation of 3C. In this study, the irradiation temperature changes at transient conditions were analyzed by an FEM code and the temperature controllability of the equipment was examined by a mockup test. The controllability was evaluated with the measured temperature transient data at the core graphite components in the Rise-to-Power tests of the HTTR. The result indicates that the temperature control method of the equipment is effective to keep the irradiation temperature stable in the irradiation test.

Findings of the reactor automatic shutdown caused by a signal of a primary coolant flow rate of the PPWC:Low in the HTTR

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Nakazawa, Toshio; Furusawa, Takayuki; Homma, Fumitaka; Saito, Kenji; Kokusen, Shigeru; Kamata, Takashi; Ota, Yukimaru; Ishii, Yoshiki; Emori, Koichi

JAERI-Tech 2003-062, 94 Pages, 2003/06

JAERI-Tech-2003-062.pdf:26.47MB

no abstracts in English

Test plans of the high temperature test operation at HTTR

Sakaba, Nariaki; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Takada, Eiji*; Nojiri, Naoki; Shimakawa, Satoshi; Ueta, Shohei; Sawa, Kazuhiro; Fujimoto, Nozomu; Nakazawa, Toshio; Ashikagaya, Yoshinobu; et al.

JAERI-Tech 2003-043, 59 Pages, 2003/03

JAERI-Tech-2003-043.pdf:2.54MB

HTTR plans a high temperature test operation as the fifth step of the rise-to-power tests to achieve a reactor outlet coolant temperature of 950 degrees centigrade in the 2003 fiscal year. Since HTTR is the first HTGR in Japan which uses coated particle fuel as its fuel and helium gas as its coolant, it is necessary that the plan of the high temperature test operation is based on the previous rise-to-power tests with a thermal power of 30 MW and a reactor outlet coolant temperature at 850 degrees centigrade. During the high temperature test operation, reactor characteristics, reactor performances and reactor operations are confirmed for the safety and stability of operations. This report describes the evaluation result of the safety confirmations of the fuel, the control rods and the intermediate heat exchanger for the high temperature test operation. Also, problems which were identified during the previous operations are shown with their solution methods. Additionally, there is a discussion on the contents of the high temperature test operation. As a result of this study, it is shown that the HTTR can safely achieve a thermal power of 30MW with the reactor outlet coolant temperature at 950 degrees centigrade.