MAAP code analysis focusing on the fuel debris conditions in the lower head of the pressure vessel in Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 3

佐藤 一憲; 吉川 信治; 山下 拓哉; 下村 健太; Cibula, M.*; 溝上 伸也*

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 414, p.112574_1 - 112574_20, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2023.112574

Based on the updated knowledge from plant-internal investigations, experiments and computer-model simulations until now, the in-vessel phase of Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 3 was analyzed using the MAAP code. In Unit 3, it is considered that ca. 40 percent of UO fuel was molten when core materials relocated to the lower plenum of the reactor pressure vessel. Initially relocated molten materials would have been fragmented by mixing with liquid water, while solid materials would have relocated later on. With this two-step relocation, debris in the lower plenum seems to have been permeable for coolant, thus debris seems to have been once cooled down effectively. Although the present MAAP analysis seems to slightly underestimate core-material oxidation during the relocation period, this probable underestimation was compensated for by an existing study that was considered more reliable, so that more realistic debris conditions in the lower plenum could be obtained. Probable debris reheat-up behavior was evaluated based on interpretation of the pressure data. This evaluation predicted that the fuel debris in the lower plenum was basically in solid-phase at the time when it relocated to the pedestal. With this study, basic validity of the former prediction of the Unit 3 accident progression behavior was confirmed, and detailed boundary conditions for future studies addressing the later phases were provided.

Improvement of model for cesium chemisorption onto stainless steel in severe accident analysis code SAMPSON (Joint research)

三輪 周平; 唐澤 英年; 中島 邦久; 木野 千晶*; 鈴木 恵理子; 井元 純平

JAEA-Data/Code 2021-022, 32 Pages, 2023/01

JAEA-Data-Code-2021-022.pdf:1.41MB
JAEA-Data-Code-2021-022(errata).pdf:0.17MB

東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の原子炉内におけるセシウム分布のより正確な予測に向けて、核分裂生成物の化学挙動データベースECUMEに格納されているステンレス鋼へのセシウム化学吸着モデルをシビアアクシデント解析コードSAMPSONに組み込んだ。改良モデルを組み込んだSAMPSONにより、当該モデルを構築した実験の結果を再現し、コードに誤りが無いことを確認した。また、SAMPSONに組み込まれた改良モデルのセシウム化学着挙動解析への有効性を確認するため、温度勾配管を有する装置を用いた実験の解析を実施した。改良モデルを組み込んだSAMPSONにより、実験の結果を再現し、SAMPSONにおけるノードジャンクションの設定方法、エアロゾル生成モデル、CsOH蒸気の飽和蒸気圧等の計算方法等の解析方法、そして改良モデルがセシウム化学吸着挙動解析に適用可能であることを確認した。また、セシウムがシビアアクシデント後に水相を介して移行したことから、原子炉内におけるセシウム分布を予測するためには、セシウム沈着物の水への溶解性の評価が前提となる。このため、ステンレス鋼へのセシウム化学吸着生成物の水への溶解性を調べた。ステンレス鋼304へのセシウム化学吸着生成物は、873Kから973Kで水溶性の高いCsFeO、973Kから1273Kで水溶性の低いCsFeSiO、1073Kから1273Kで水溶性の低いCsSiOであることが分かった。これらの結果から、セシウム化学吸着量に影響を与える原子炉内温度やCsOH蒸気種濃度のようなシビアアクシデント解析条件に応じて、セシウム化学吸着生成物の水への溶解性を予測できる可能性を得た。

The OECD/NEA Working Group on the Analysis and Management of Accidents (WGAMA); Advances in codes and analyses to support safety demonstration of nuclear technology innovations

中村 秀夫; Bentaib, A.*; Herranz, L. E.*; Ruyer, P.*; Mascari, F.*; Jacquemain, D.*; Adorni, M.*

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

The WGAMA activity achievements have been published as technical reports, becoming reference materials to discuss innovative methods, materials and technologies in the fields of thermal-hydraulics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and severe accidents (SAs). The International Standard Problems (ISPs) and Benchmarks of computer codes have been supported by a huge amount of the databases for the code validation necessary for the reactor safety assessment with accuracy. The paper aims to review and summarize the recent WGAMA outcomes with focus on new advanced reactor applications including small modular reactors (SMRs). Particularly, discussed are applicability of major outcomes in the relevant subjects of passive system, modelling innovation in CFD, severe accident management (SAM) countermeasures, advanced measurement methods and instrumentation, and modelling robustness of safety analysis codes. Although large portions of the outcomes are considered applicable, design-specific subjects may need careful considerations when applied. The WGAMA efforts, experiences and achievements for the safety assessment of operating nuclear power plants including SA will be of great help for the continuous safety improvements required for the advanced reactors including SMRs.

Post-test analyses of the CMMR-4 test

山下 拓哉; 間所 寛; 佐藤 一憲

Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science, 8(2), p.021701_1 - 021701_13, 2022/04

https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4051443

Understanding the final distribution of core materials and their characteristics is important for decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F). Such characteristics depend on the accident progression in each unit. However, boiling water reactor accident progression involves great uncertainty. This uncertainty, which was clarified by MAAP-MELCOR Crosswalk, cannot be resolved with existing knowledge and was thus addressed in this work through core material melting and relocation (CMMR) tests. For the test bundle, ZrO pellets were installed instead of UO pellets. A plasma heating system was used for the tests. In the CMMR-4 test, useful information was obtained on the core state just before slumping. The presence of macroscopic gas permeability of the core approaching ceramic fuel melting was confirmed, and the fuel columns remained standing, suggesting that the collapse of fuel columns, which is likely in the reactor condition, would not allow effective relocation of the hottest fuel away from the bottom of the core. This information will help us comprehend core degradation in boiling water reactors, similar to those in 1F. In addition, useful information on abrasive water suspension jet (AWSJ) cutting for debris-containing boride was obtained in the process of dismantling the test bundle. When the mixing debris that contains oxide, metal, and boride material is cut, AWSJ may be repelled by the boride in the debris, which may cut unexpected parts, thus generating a large amount of waste in cutting the boride part in the targeted debris. This information will help the decommissioning of 1F.

Cesium chemistry in the LWR severe accident and towards the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

逢坂 正彦; Goullo, M.*; 中島 邦久

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(3), p.292 - 305, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2021.1997664

事故時及び長期間の2つの期間のソースタームにおけるセシウム化学について、福島第一原子力発電所(1F)事故後に行われたFP化学研究のレビューを行った。事故時についてはCsのMo, B, Siとの化学反応について、また1F固有の水相を介した長期についてはCsのコンクリートへの浸透及び燃料デブリの浸出挙動について、関連する熱力学データ整備状況とともに調べた。これらのCs化学挙動は近い将来取出し予定の燃料デブリ等1Fサンプルの分析及び評価を通して検証されるべきである。

Revaporization behavior of cesium and iodine compounds from their deposits in the steam-boron atmosphere

Rizaal, M.; 三輪 周平; 鈴木 恵理子; 井元 純平; 逢坂 正彦; Goullo, M.*

ACS Omega (Internet), 6(48), p.32695 - 32708, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c04441

This paper presents our investigation on cesium and iodine compounds revaporization from cesium iodide (CsI) deposits on the surface of stainless steel type 304L, which were initiated by boron and/or steam flow. A dedicated basic experimental facility with a thermal gradient tube (TGT) was used for simulating the phenomena. The number of deposits, the formed chemical compounds, and elemental distribution were analyzed from samples located at temperature range 1000-400 K. In the absence of boron in the gas flow, it was found that the initial deposited CsI at 850 K could be directly re-vaporized as CsI vapor/aerosol or reacted with the carrier gas and stainless steel (CrO layer) to form CsCrO on the former deposited surface. The latter mechanism consequently gave a release of gaseous iodine that was accumulated downstream. After introducing boron to the steam flow, a severe revaporization of iodine deposit at 850 K occurred (more than 70% initial deposit). This was found as a result of the formation of two kinds of cesium borates (CsBO5HO and CsBO4HO) which contributed to a large release of gaseous iodine that was capable of reaching outlet of TGT ( 400 K). In the case of nuclear severe accident, our study have demonstrated that gaseous iodine could be expected to increase in the colder region of a reactor after late release of boron or a subsequent steam flow after refloods of the reactor, thus posing its near-term risk once leaked to the environment.

Evaluation of core material energy change during the in-vessel phase of Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 based on observed pressure data utilizing GOTHIC code analysis

佐藤 一憲; 荒井 雄太*; 吉川 信治

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 58(4), p.434 - 460, 2021/04

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2020.1862718

The vapor formation within the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) is regarded to represent heat removal from core materials to the coolant, while the hydrogen generation within the RPV is regarded to represent heat generation by metal oxidation. Based on this understanding, the history of the vapor/hydrogen generation in the in-vessel phase of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 3 was evaluated based on the comparison of the observed pressure data and the GOTHIC code analysis results. The resultant vapor/hydrogen generation histories were then converted to heat removal by coolant and heat generation by oxidation. The effects of the decay power and the heat transfer to the structures on the core material energy were also evaluated. The core materials are suggested to be significantly cooled by water within the RPV, especially when the core materials are relocated to the lower plenum.

気体状四酸化ルテニウムの化学形変化挙動に与える窒素酸化物の影響

吉田 尚生; 天野 祐希; 大野 卓也; 吉田 涼一朗; 阿部 仁

JAEA-Research 2020-014, 33 Pages, 2020/12

JAEA-Research-2020-014.pdf:3.66MB

使用済核燃料の再処理施設における高レベル濃縮廃液の蒸発乾固事故を考慮した場合、ルテニウムは揮発性の化合物を形成し、廃液中の放射性元素の中で比較的高い放出割合となりうる重要な元素である。本研究では、蒸発乾固事故に対する安全性評価に資することを目的として、気体状四酸化ルテニウム(RuO(g))の化学形変化挙動に与える窒素酸化物(NOx)の影響を実験的に評価した。その結果、RuO(g)の分解速度は一酸化窒素や二酸化窒素を添加しない場合よりも添加した場合の方が遅く、これらのNOxはRuO(g)を安定化することが明らかになった。また、安定化効果は二酸化窒素の方が高かった。

Overview and outcomes of the OECD/NEA benchmark study of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS (BSAF) Phase 2; Results of severe accident analyses for Unit 1

Herranz, L. E.*; Pellegrini, M.*; Lind, T.*; Sonnenkalb, M.*; Godin-Jacqmin, L.*; Lpez, C.*; Dolganov, K.*; Cousin, F.*; 玉置 等史; Kim, T. W.*; et al.

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 369, p.110849_1 - 110849_7, 2020/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110849

OECD/NEAプロジェクト"福島第一原子力発電所事故に関するベンチマーク研究"のフェーズ2は2015年中期に開始された。このプロジェクトの目的は、解析期間を地震発生から3週間に拡張、核分裂生成物(FP)の挙動や環境への放出、そして放射線に関するデータや逆解析によるソースターム推定等の様々なデータとの比較を行うことである。6か国9組織が異なるシビアアクシデント解析コードを用いて1号機の事故解析を行った。本報告では、参加機関の1号機の解析結果やプラントデータとの比較から得られた知見、事故進展の評価及び最終的な原子炉内の状態について述べる。特に原子炉圧力容器の状態、溶融炉心の放出及びFP挙動及び放出について焦点を当てる。また、1号機特有の事柄に焦点を当て、不確かさや必要となるデータも含めコンセンサスを得た点についてまとめる。

Chemical forms of uranium evaluated by thermodynamic calculation associated with distribution of core materials in the damaged reactor pressure vessel

池内 宏知; 矢野 公彦; 鷲谷 忠博

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(6), p.704 - 718, 2020/06

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2020.1720844

福島第一原子力発電所から取り出された燃料デブリへの効果的な処置方策を提案する上では、燃料デブリ中でUがとりうる化学形についての詳細な調査が不可欠である。特に、アクセス性に乏しい圧力容器内に残留する燃料デブリに関する情報が重要である。本研究では、圧力容器内燃料デブリ中、特にマイナー相におけるUの化学形を評価することを目的とし、1F-2号機の事故進展での材料のリロケーション及び環境変化を考慮した熱力学計算を実施した。組成,温度,酸素量といった計算条件は、既存の事故進展解析の結果から設定した。計算の結果、Uの化学形はFeとOの量によって変化し、Feの少ない領域で-(Zr,U)(O)、Feの多い領域でFe(Zr,U) (Laves相)の生成が顕著であった。還元性条件で生成するこれらの金属相中には数パーセントのUが移行しており、燃料デブリの処置において核物質の化学分離を考慮する場合はこれらの相の生成に留意すべきと考えられる。