Development of safety design criteria and safety design guidelines for Generation IV sodium-cooled fast reactors

Futagami, Satoshi; Kubo, Shigenobu; Sofu, T.*; Ammirabile, L.*; Gauthe, P.*

Proceedings of International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Installation Safety; Strengthening Safety of Evolutionary and Innovative Reactor Designs (TIC 2022) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2022/10

A Conceptual design study of pool-type sodium-cooled fast reactor with enhanced anti-seismic capability

Kubo, Shigenobu; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Uchita, Masato*; Miyagawa, Takayuki*; Eto, Masao*; Suzuno, Tetsuji*; Matoba, Ichiyo*; Endo, Junji*; Watanabe, Osamu*; et al.

Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 7(3), p.19-00489_1 - 19-00489_16, 2020/06

https://doi.org/10.1299/mej.19-00489

The authors are developing the design concept of pool-type sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) that addresses Japan's specific siting conditions such as earthquakes and meets safety design criteria (SDC) and safety design guidelines (SDGs) for Generation IV SFRs. The development of this concept will broaden not only options for reactor types in Japan but also the range and depth of international cooperation. A design concept of 1,500 MWt (650 MWe) class pool-type SFR was thought up by applying design technology obtained from the design of advanced loop-type SFR, named JSFR, equipped with safety measures that reflect results from the feasibility study on commercialized fast reactor cycle systems and fast reactor cycle technology development, improved maintainability and repairability, and lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants accident.

Safety design report on J-PARC Transmutation Physics Experimental Facility (TEF-P)

Partitioning and Transmutation Technology Division, Nuclear Science and Engineering Center

JAEA-Technology 2017-033, 383 Pages, 2018/02

JAEA-Technology-2017-033.pdf:28.16MB

JAEA is pursuing research and development (R&D) on volume reduction and mitigation of degree of harmfulness of high-level radioactive waste. Construction of Transmutation Experimental Facility (TEF) is under planning as one of the second phase facilities in the Japan Proton Accelerator Complex (J-PARC) program to promote R&D on the transmutation technology with using accelerator driven systems (ADS). The TEF consists of two facilities: ADS Target Test Facility (TEF-T) and Transmutation Physics Experimental Facility (TEF-P). Development of spallation target technology and study on target materials are to be conducted in TEF-T with impinging a high intensity proton beam on a liquid lead-bismuth eutectic target. Whereas in TEF-P, by introducing a proton beam to minor actinide loaded cores, reactor physical properties of the cores are to be studied, and operation experiences of ADS are to be acquired. This report summarizes results of safety design for establishment permit of one of two TEF facilities, TEF-P.

The Safety design guideline development for Generation-IV SFR systems

Nakai, Ryodai

Proceedings of International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles; Next Generation Nuclear Systems for Sustainable Development (FR-17) (USB Flash Drive), 10 Pages, 2017/06

The GIF Safety Design Criteria Task Force (SDC TF) has been developing a set of safety design guidelines (SDG) to support practical application of SDC since the completion of the "SDC Phase I Report" that clarifies safety design requirements for Gen-IV SFR systems. The main objective of the SDG development is to assist SFR developers and vendors to utilize the SDC in their design process for improving the safety in specific topical areas including the use of inherent/passive safety features and the design measures for prevention and mitigation of severe accidents. The first report on "Safety Approach SDGs" aims to provide guidance on safety approaches covering specific safety issues on fast reactor core reactivity and on loss of heat removal. The second report on "SDGs on key Structures, Systems and Components (SSCs)" focuses on the functional requirements for SSCs important to safety; reactor core system, reactor coolant system, and containment system.

Applicability study of nuclear graphite material IG-430 to VHTR

Osaki, Hirotaka; Shimazaki, Yosuke; Sumita, Junya; Shibata, Taiju; Konishi, Takashi; Ishihara, Masahiro

Proceedings of 23rd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-23) (DVD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2015/05

For the design on the VHTR graphite components, it is desirable to employ graphite material with higher strength. IG-430 graphite has been developed as an advanced candidate for VHTR. However, the new developed IG-430 does not have enough databases for the design of HTGR. In this paper, the compressive strength (Cs) of IG-430, one of important strengths for design data, is statistically evaluated. The component reliability is evaluated based on the safety factors defined by the graphite design code, and the applicability as the VHTR graphite material is discussed. It was found that IG-430 has higher strength (about 11%) and lower standard deviation (about 27%) than IG-110 which is one of traditional graphites used for HTGR, because the crack in IG-430 would not easy to propagate rather than IG-110. Since fracture probability for IG-430 is low, the higher reliability of core-component will be achieved using IG-430. It is expected that IG-430 is applicable for VHTR graphite material.

Core dynamics analysis of control rod withdrawal test in HTTR (Contract Research)

Takada, Eiji*; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Shimakawa, Satoshi; Nojiri, Naoki; Fujimoto, Nozomu

JAERI-Tech 2004-048, 60 Pages, 2004/06

JAERI-Tech-2004-048.pdf:4.18MB

The HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor), which has thermal output of 30MW, coolant inlet temperature of 395C and coolant outlet temperature of 850C/950C, is a first high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) in Japan. The HTGR has a high inherent safety potential to accident condition. Safety demonstration tests using the HTTR are underway in order to demonstrate such excellent inherent safety features of the HTGR. The reactivity insertion test demonstrates that rapid increase of reactor power by withdrawing the control rod is restrained by only the negative reactivity feedback effect without operating the reactor power control system, and the temperature transient of the reactor is slow. The best estimated analyses have been conducted to simulate reactor transients during the reactivity insertion test. A one-point core dynamics approximation with one fuel channel model is applied to this analysis. It was found that the analytical model for core dynamics could simulate the reactor power behavior.

Safety demonstration test (SR-2/S2C-2/SF-1) plan using the HTTR (Contract research)

Sakaba, Nariaki; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Takada, Eiji*; Saito, Kenji; Furusawa, Takayuki; Tochio, Daisuke; Tachibana, Yukio; Iyoku, Tatsuo

JAERI-Tech 2004-014, 24 Pages, 2004/02

JAERI-Tech-2004-014.pdf:1.06MB

Safety demonstration tests using the HTTR are in progress to verify the inherent safety features and to improve the safety design and evaluation technologies for HTGRs, as well as to contribute to not only the commercial HTGRs but also the research and development for the VHTR one of the Generation IV reactors. This paper describes the reactivity insertion test and coolant flow reduction test by trip of gas circulator and partial flow loss of coolant planned in 2004 with detailed test method, procedure and results of pre-test analysis. From the analytical results, it was found that the negative reactivity feedback effect of the core brings the reactor power safely to a stable level without a reactor scram.

The High temperature gas cooled reactor fuel

Sawa, Kazuhiro; Ueta, Shohei; Iyoku, Tatsuo

Proceedings of International Conference on Global Environment and Advanced Nuclear Power Plants (GENES4/ANP 2003) (CD-ROM), 10 Pages, 2003/09

This paper provides present status of research and development for the coated fuel particle (CFPs) including the advanced ZrC-CFP. Current HTGR employs so-called TRISO-CFPs with SiC layer. In safety design of the HTGR fuels, it is important to retain fission products within CFPs so that their release to primary coolant does not exceed an acceptable level. The behavior of TRISO-CFPs has been investigated through experiments and reactor operation. These data show excellent performance of the TRISO-CFPs when they are correctly fabricated. On the other hand, the crystalline material comprising the SiC layer has a tendency to decompose at high temperature. The transition temperatures of beta-SiC (as-deposited) to alpha-SiC vary from 1600 to 2200C. ZrC is one of the transition metal carbides which are characterized by the high melting point and the thermodynamic stability etc. The CFPs with CVD-ZrC coatings have been investigated including the fabrication processes and characterization techniques developments.

Safety demonstration test (SR-1/S1C-1) plan of HTTR (Contract research)

Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Sakaba, Nariaki; Takada, Eiji*; Tachibana, Yukio; Saito, Kenji; Furusawa, Takayuki; Sawa, Kazuhiro

JAERI-Tech 2003-049, 22 Pages, 2003/03

JAERI-Tech-2003-049.pdf:1.17MB

Safety demonstration tests in the HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor) will be carried out in order to verify inherent safety features of the HTGR (High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor). The first phase of the safety demonstration tests includes the reactivity insertion test by the control rod withdrawal and the coolant flow reduction test by the gas circulator trip. In the second phase, accident simulation tests will be conducted. By comparison of their experimental and analytical results, the prediction capability of the safety evaluation codes such as the core and the plant dynamics codes will be improved and verified, which will contribute to establish the safety design and the safety evaluation technologies of the HTGRs. The results obtained through its safety demonstration tests will be also utilised for the establishment of the safety design guideline, the safety evaluation guideline, etc. This paper describes the test program of the overall safety demonstration tests and the test method, the test conditions and the results of the pre-test analysis of the reactivity insertion test and the partial gas circulator trip test planned in March 2003.

Safety demonstration test plan of HTTR; Overall program and result of coolant flow reduction test

Sakaba, Nariaki; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Tachibana, Yukio

Proceedings of GLOBAL2003 Atoms for Prosperity; Updating Eisenhower's Global Vision for Nuclear Energy (CD-ROM), p.293 - 299, 2003/00

Safety demonstration tests using the HTTR are now underway in order to verify the inherent safety features and to improve the safety design and evaluation technologies for HTGRs, as well as to contribute to research and development for the VHTR, which is one of the Generation IV reactors. The first phase of the safety demonstration tests includes the reactivity insertion test by means of control-rod withdrawal and the coolant flow reduction test by tripping the gas circulators. The coolant flow reduction tests are simulation tests of anticipated transients without scram (ATWS). In the second phase of the safety demonstration tests, accident simulation tests will be conducted. This paper describes the plan of the overall safety demonstration tests and coolant flow reduction tests with test method, test conditions, and analytical and experimental results. From the results, it was found that the negative reactivity feedback of the core brings the reactor power safely to a stable level without a reactor scram in the case of a rapid decrease of the coolant flow rate after tripping of gas circulators.