Hydrogenation of silicon-bearing hexagonal close-packed iron and its implications for density deficits in the inner core

Mori, Yuichiro*; Kagi, Hiroyuki*; Aoki, Katsutoshi*; Takano, Masahiro*; Kakizawa, Sho*; Sano, Asami; Funakoshi, Kenichi*

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 634, p.118673_1 - 118673_8, 2024/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2024.118673

To investigate silicon effects on the hydrogen-induced volume expansion of iron, neutron diffraction and X-ray diffraction experiments were conducted to examine hcp-FeSi under high pressures and high temperatures. Neutron diffraction experiments were performed on the deuterated hcp-FeSi at 13.5 GPa and 900 K, and at 12.1 GPa and 300 K. By combining the P-V-T equation of state of hcp-FeSi, present results indicate that the hydrogen-induced volume expansion of hcp-FeSi is 10% greater than that of pure hcp iron. Using the obtained values, we estimated the hydrogen content that would reproduce the density deficit in the inner core, which was 50% less than that without the effect of silicon. Possible hydrogen content, , in the inner core and the outer core was calculated to be 0.07 and 0.12-0.15, respectively, when reproducing the density deficit of the inner core with hcp-FeSiHx.

Technology information on High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR)

HTGR Design Group, HTGR Project Management Office

JAEA-Technology 2023-019, 39 Pages, 2024/01

JAEA-Technology-2023-019.pdf:1.34MB

In order to realize the development of the demonstration reactor of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) with a target of starting operation in the 2030s, as indicated in the "Basic Policy for GX Realization" (Cabinet Decision on February 10, 2023) and the Working Group on Innovative Reactors of METI, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been working on the development of a standard for the development of a HTGR under the Atomic Energy Society of Japan and the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. In addition, JAEA has been commissioned by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to conduct the "Demonstration Project for Mass Hydrogen Production Technology Using Ultra-High Temperatures" and has been promoting a hydrogen production project using the HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor). Furthermore, in collaboration with the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) of the United Kingdom and the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) of Poland, JAEA are aiming to strengthen the international competitiveness of HTGR technology by further upgrading the HTGR technology developed in Japan through the construction and operation of the HTTR. In response to the growing interest in HTGR development in Japan and abroad, we have developed FAQs on HTGR related technologies in order to provide accurate technical information on HTGRs.

Development of an RPV cooling system for HTGRs

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi

Kakushinteki Reikyaku Gijutsu; Mekanizumu Kara Soshi, Shisutemu Kaihatsu Made, p.179 - 183, 2024/01

The HTGR has excellent safety, and even in the event of an accident where the reactor coolant is lost, the decay heat and residual heat in the core can be dissipated from the outer surface of the RPV, so the fuel temperature never exceeds the limit value, and the core stabilizes. On the other hand, regarding the cooling system that transports the heat emitted from the RPV to the final heat sink, an active cooling system using forced circulation of water by a pump, etc., and a passive cooling system using natural circulation of the atmosphere have been proposed. However, there is a problem that the cooling performance is affected by the operation of dynamic equipment and weather conditions. This paper presents an overview of a new cooling system concept using radiative cooling, which has been proposed to solve the above problem, and introduces the results of analysis and experiments aimed at confirming the feasibility of this concept.

Current location of fuel debris chemistry

Sato, Nobuaki*; Kirishima, Akira*; Sasaki, Takayuki*; Takano, Masahide; Kumagai, Yuta; Sato, Soichi; Tanaka, Kosuke

Current Location of Fuel Debris Chemistry, 178 Pages, 2023/11

Considerable efforts have been devoted to the decommissioning of the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F) and now the retrieval of fuel debris is being proceeded on a trial basis. It can be said that the succession of science and technology related to debris, that is, human resource development, is important and indispensable. For that reason, we thought that a specific textbook on decommissioning is necessary. Regarding the 1F fuel debris, we still do not know enough, and it would be difficult to describe the details. However, 12 years have passed since the accident, and we have come to understand the situation of 1F to a certain extent. At this stage, it is essential for future development to organize the current situation by combining examples of past severe accidents. Therefore, we presented in this book the current state of fuel debris chemistry research from the perspectives of solid chemistry, solution chemistry, analytical chemistry, radiochemistry, and radiation chemistry.

Development of coupling technology for high temperature gas-cooled reactors and hydrogen production facility; HTTR heat application test project plan

Ishii, Katsunori; Morita, Keisuke; Noguchi, Hiroki; Aoki, Takeshi; Mizuta, Naoki; Hasegawa, Takeshi; Nagatsuka, Kentaro; Nomoto, Yasunobu; Shimizu, Atsushi; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; et al.

Dai-27-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.1299/jsmepes.2023.27.A242

Structural analysis of a reactor vessel in a sodium-cooled fast reactor under extremely high temperature conditions

Yamano, Hidemasa; Futagami, Satoshi; Ando, Masanori

Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 10(4), p.23-00043_1 - 23-00043_12, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1299/mej.23-00043

This study has conducted a detailed structural analysis of a reactor vessel (RV) in a loop-type sodium-cooled fast reactor using a general-purpose finite element analysis code, FINAS/STAR, to understand its deformation behavior under extremely high temperature conditions and to identify the areas which should be focused to mitigate impacts of failure. The RV was heated from the normal operation condition to the sodium boiling temperature in the upper sodium plenum during 20 hours assuming depressurization. The analysis has revealed less significant stress and strain which were sufficiently lower than failure criteria. The upper body of RV was identified as the important area in terms of mitigation of structural failure. The RV was eventually deformed downward about 16 cm, resulting in no failure. This effect contributes to maintaining RV sodium level in a long term, thereby enhancing the RV resilience.

R&D progress of thermochemical hydrogen production iodine-sulfur process in JAEA

Kubo, Shinji

Nihon Enerugi Gakkai Kikan-Shi Enerumikusu, 102(4), p.428 - 438, 2023/07

https://doi.org/10.20550/jieenermix.102.4_428

no abstracts in English

Thermophysical properties of molten (FeO)-(SiO) measured by aerodynamic levitation

Kondo, Toshiki; Toda, Taro*; Takeuchi, Junichi*; Kikuchi, Shin; Kargl, F.*; Muta, Hiroaki*; Oishi, Yuji*

High Temperatures-High Pressures, 52(3-4), p.307 - 321, 2023/06

https://doi.org/10.32908/hthp.v52.1405

In order to establish an evaluation method/numerical simulation for nuclear reactor safety under severe accidental conditions, it is necessary to obtain the physical properties, especially fluidity of the relevant molten materials at very high temperatures. In this study, thermophysical properties such as density and viscosity were obtained for (FeO)-(SiO), which is a representative composition in the early stage of severe accident. (FeO)-(SiO) is produced by the contact between the molten oxide of steel, which is the main component of the reactor, and SiO, which is the main component of concrete. As a result, the physical properties of the (FeO)-(SiO) mixture were almost the same as those of FeO obtained in previous studies, and it could be concluded that a small amount of SiO (about 5 mol.%) did not significantly affect the fluidity of FeO.

Development of safety design philosophy of HTTR-Heat Application Test Facility

Aoki, Takeshi; Shimizu, Atsushi; Noguchi, Hiroki; Kurahayashi, Kaoru; Yasuda, Takanori; Nomoto, Yasunobu; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; Sato, Hiroyuki; Sakaba, Nariaki

Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2023/05

The safety design philosophy is developed for the HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor) heat application test facility connecting high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) and the hydrogen production plant. The philosophy was proposed to apply proven conventional chemical plant standards to the hydrogen production facility for ensuring public safety against anticipated disasters caused by high pressure and combustible gases. The present study also proposed the safety design philosophy to meet specific safety requirements identified to the nuclear facilities with coupling to the hydrogen production facility such as measures to ensure a capability of normal operation of the nuclear facility against a fire and/or explosion of leaked combustible material, and fluctuation of amount of heat removal occurred in the hydrogen production plant. The safety design philosophy will be utilized to establish its basic and detailed designs of the HTTR-heat application test facility.

Hydrogen occupation and hydrogen-induced volume expansion in FeNiD at high conditions

Shito, Chikara*; Kagi, Hiroyuki*; Kakizawa, Sho*; Aoki, Katsutoshi*; Komatsu, Kazuki*; Iizuka, Riko*; Abe, Jun*; Saito, Hiroyuki*; Sano, Asami; Hattori, Takanori

American Mineralogist, 108(4), p.659 - 666, 2023/04

https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8348

The phase relation and crystal structure of FeNiH (D) at high pressures and temperatures up to 12 GPa and 1000 K were clarified by in-situ X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements. Under conditions of the present study, no deuterium atoms occupied tetragonal () sites of face-centered cubic (fcc) FeNiD unlike fcc FeH(D). The deuterium-induced volume expansion per deuterium was determined as 2.45(4) and 3.31(6) for fcc and hcp phases, respectively, which were significantly larger than the corresponding values for FeD. The value slightly increased with increasing temperature. This study suggests that only 10% of nickel in iron drastically changes the behaviors of hydrogen in metal. Assuming that is constant regardless of pressure, the maximum hydrogen content in the Earth's inner core is estimated to be one to two times the amount of hydrogen in the oceans.