Characterization of mechanical strain induced by lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) freezing in stainless steel cup

Ohdaira, Naoya*; Saito, Shigeru

Heliyon (Internet), 6(2), p.e03429_1 - e03429_8, 2020/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03429

Lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) is a candidate liquid metal coolant for a fast reactor, especially accelerator driven system (ADS). Freeze sealed valve is a candidate design to be possible to add passive safety to the reactor. On the other hand, since LBE is known that it causes expansion after its solidification, quantitative evaluation of the stress to the pipe produced by the LBE expansion should be considered. Many researchers produced related data for the expansion, however, evaluations of the strain by LBE expansion was barely reported. Therefore, the strain measurement using a stainless steel cup and the stress evaluation was performed together with visual observation using an optical microscopy. The results indicated keeping above room temperature (RT) was a significantly effective way to reduce the strain to the pipe.

Research and development activities for accelerator driven system at JAERI

Tsujimoto, Kazufumi; Sasa, Toshinobu; Nishihara, Kenji; Oigawa, Hiroyuki; Takano, Hideki*

Proceedings of International Conference on Physics of Fuel Cycles and Advanced Nuclear Systems; Global Developments (PHYSOR 2004) (CD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2004/04

The Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) is developing an Accelerator Driven System (ADS) for transmutation of nuclear waste such as minor actinide (MA) and long-lived fission product (LLFP). To study and evaluate the feasibility of ADS by physical and engineering viewpoints, the Transmutation Experimental Facility (TEF) is proposed under a framework of J-PARC (Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex) project. The TEF consists of two facilities named as Transmutation Physics Experimental Facility (TEF-P) and ADS Target Test Facility (TEF-T). The TEF-P consists of a zero-power critical assembly which is operated with a low power proton beam to research the reactor physics and the controllability of ADS. The TEF-T is a facility for material irradiation and partial mockup of beam window which can accept a maximum 600MeV-200kW proton beam into the Pb-Bi eutectic target. The purposes, experimental items and the specifications of the facilities are described.

Conceptual study of transmutation experimental facility, 4; Study on safety analysis of transmutation physics experiment facility

Tsujimoto, Kazufumi; Tazawa, Yujiro; Oigawa, Hiroyuki; Sasa, Toshinobu; Takano, Hideki

JAERI-Tech 2003-085, 158 Pages, 2003/11

JAERI-Tech-2003-085.pdf:7.79MB

A safety analysis was performed for the Transmutation Physics Experiment Facility which was to research and develop the reactor physics aspects of the nuclear transmutation technology using the accelerator driven subcritical system. Design policies were evaluated for design of each equipment and system which had important role from view point of safety. Classification of safety class for reactor building, system, and equipment was also reconsidered. Based on the results of safety design policy, acceptance criteria for safety evaluation were reestablished and preliminary analysis were performed. Public exposure by the accident for site appropriateness assessment was evaluated based on revised guidelines in safety evaluation contained in the 1990 Recommendations of ICRP. A recritical event was analyzed by utilizing the newest knowledge for core disruptive accident and calculation code as the beyond design basis accident. The analytical results showed that the isolation capability of the container buildings was ensured against the recritical accident.

Present status of research & development on accelerator-driven nuclear systems

Mukaiyama, Takehiko

Genshikaku Kenkyu, 44(6), p.23 - 32, 2000/04

no abstracts in English

Review of research activities on partitioning and transmutation in Japan

Tsujimoto, Kazufumi

no journal, , 

The Government of Japan periodically formulates the Basic Energy Plan in accordance with an article in the Basic Act on Energy Policy that entered into force in 2002. The latest version, called the Strategic Energy Plan, was issued in April, 2014. The largest change from the previous versions must be the accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In spite of the accident, the Plan defines the nuclear power as an important base-load power source as a low carbon and quasi-domestic energy source, contributing to stability of energy supply-demand structure, on major premise of ensuring of its safety. The Plan puts emphasis on the importance of activities to resolve the challenge of how to manage and dispose of spent fuel, as well as the Fukushima restoration, safety operation of nuclear plants, and public acceptance. As for the P&T technology, the Government will promote technology development on volume reduction and mitigation of degree of harmfulness of radioactive waste. Specifically, development of technologies for decreasing the radiation dose remaining in radioactive waste over a long period of time and enhancing the safety of processing and disposal of radioactive waste, including nuclear transmutation technology using fast reactors and accelerators, will be promoted by utilizing global networks for cooperation. Based on this new Strategic Energy Plan, research and development (R&D) on P&T are being accelerated in Japan. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been continuously implementing R&D on P&T technology to reduce the burden of the backend of the nuclear fuel cycle. The R&D on P&T in JAEA are basing on two kinds of concepts: one is the homogeneous recycling of minor actinide (MA) in fast reactors and the other is the dedicated MA transmutation, so-called double-strata strategy, using an accelerator-driven system (ADS). In this work, recent R&D activities based on these policies are briefly shown.