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Aoki, Takeshi; Shimizu, Atsushi; Ishii, Katsunori; Morita, Keisuke; Mizuta, Naoki; Kurahayashi, Kaoru; Yasuda, Takanori; Noguchi, Hiroki; Nomoto, Yasunobu; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; et al.
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 220, p.111503_1 - 111503_7, 2025/09
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.00(Nuclear Science & Technology)Aiming to establish coupling technologies between a high temperature gas cooled reactor and a hydrogen production plant, JAEA has initiated the HTTR Heat Application Test Project and is conducting the safety design and the safety analysis for the licensing of the HTTR Heat Application Test Facility. The present study proposed a relative evaluation methodology for the demarcation of applicable laws and design standards for the nuclear hydrogen production system and applied it to the HTTR Heat Application Test Facility. The evaluation results showed that a candidate applying the High Pressure Gas Safety Act to the Heat Application Test Facility (hydrogen production plant) and design standards established under the High Pressure Gas Safety Act to the steam reformer did not show the lowest category in any of the metrics, and was proposed as the most superior demarcation option for the HTTR Heat Application Test Facility.
Tasaki, Yudai; Udagawa, Yutaka
JAEA-Data/Code 2024-012, 76 Pages, 2024/12
JAEA-Data-Code-2024-012.pdf:9.25MB
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been developing a fuel performance code, FEMAXI, to evaluate the behavior of LWR fuels under normal operation and transient conditions. In March 2019, FEMAXI-8, the first systematically validated and performance evaluated code, was released. Since then, the code has undergone various improvements. In parallel, since the 2000s, JAEA has been developing the RANNS module as a branch for design basis accident (DBA) analysis, with a particular emphasis on computational stability, so that fuel behavior can be tracked even for very steep transients, in this case mainly reactivity-initiated accidents (RIAs). The specific models include boiling heat transfer, fission gas release by grain boundary failure, and cladding failure determination based on fracture mechanics parameters, which are essential for predicting such transient behavior. In this report, prior to the release of RANNS, we present a description of the models for accident behavior analysis, the relationship with FEMAXI-8 in terms of the design and structure of the program, and the results of a large-scale validation using the extensive database of RIA experiments conducted and accumulated by JAEA, to evaluate the overall RIA analysis performance. The code will be made available to users as a packaged FEMAXI/RANNS, enabling them to analyze fuel behavior under various conditions. The model parameter sets determined through the above validation analyses are also presented in this report, and by referring to them, the analysis can be easily performed with almost no change in usability from the previously released FEMAXI-8.
Gunji, Satoshi; Araki, Shohei; Izawa, Kazuhiko; Suyama, Kenya
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 209, p.110783_1 - 110783_7, 2024/12
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.00(Nuclear Science & Technology)Since the compositions and properties of the fuel debris are uncertain, critical experiments are required to validate calculation codes and nuclear data used for the safety evaluation. For this purpose, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been modifying a critical assembly called "STACY." The first criticality of the modified STACY is scheduled for spring 2024. This paper reports the consideration results of the specifications of the basic core configurations of the modified STACY at the first criticality. We prepared two types of gird plates with different neutron moderation conditions (their intervals are 1.50 cm and 1.27 cm). However, there is a limitation on the number of available UO
fuel rods. The core configurations for the first criticality satisfying these experimental constraints were designed by computational analysis. A cylindrical core configuration with a 1.50 cm grid plate close to the optimum moderation condition needs 253 fuel rods to reach criticality. As to the 1.27 cm grid plate, we considered core configurations with 2.54 cm intervals by using doubled pitches of the grid plate. It will need 213 fuel rods for the criticality. In addition, we considered the experimental core configuration with steel/concrete simulant rods to simulate fuel debris conditions. This paper shows these core configurations and their evaluated specifications.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Funatani, Shumpei*
Proceedings of 13th Korea-Japan Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS13) (Internet), 11 Pages, 2024/11
Our research objectives are to develop a VCS that utilizes radiative cooling to passively remove decay heat and residual heat from the RPV during expected and unexpected natural phenomena and accidents. To solve the back pressure problem around the inlet and outlet, it is necessary to minimize reliance on fluid actuation, such as water, air, etc., and to avoid using natural circulation or natural convection as much as possible to improve safety against external hazards. In this presentation, we present the structural concept of the proposed VCS integrated with the reactor building and report the results of the cooling performance evaluation based on the results of experimental and analytical studies conducted to date.
Aoki, Takeshi; Hasegawa, Takeshi; Kurahayashi, Kaoru; Nomoto, Yasunobu; Shimizu, Atsushi; Sato, Hiroyuki; Sakaba, Nariaki
Proceedings of 11th International Topical Meeting on High Temperature Reactor Technology (HTR 2024), 6 Pages, 2024/10
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is planning to perform a test named HTTR heat application test coupling HTTR (High temperature engineering test reactor) and a hydrogen production plant. The present study reports results of the safety design and safety analysis for HTTR heat application test facility. As a safety design, safety classification of structures, systems, and components was defined in the test facility based on their safety functions. As a preliminary safety analysis, a thermal-hydraulic analysis was performed with RELAP5 code. The safety analysis revealed that newly identified events for HTTR heat application test facility except for the rupture of heat transfer tube of steam generator was enveloped by the licensing basis events in conventional HTTR. The preliminary analysis proved that the safety criteria is satisfied in the candidate of licensing basis event.
Yamano, Hidemasa; Futagami, Satoshi; Doda, Norihiro; Tagami, Hirotaka; Uchibori, Akihiro; Ogata, Takanari*; Ota, Hirokazu*
Nihon Kikai Gakkai 2024-Nendo Nenji Taikai Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 5 Pages, 2024/09
Yokochi, Masaru; Sasaki, Shunichi; Yanagibashi, Futoshi; Asada, Naoki; Komori, Tsuyoshi; Fujieda, Sadao; Suzuki, Hisanori; Takeuchi, Kenji; Uchida, Naoki
Nihon Hozen Gakkai Dai-20-Kai Gakujutsu Koenkai Yoshishu, p.1 - 4, 2024/08
Tokai Reprocessing Plant, which is shifted to decommissioning stage, stores large amount of high-level radioactive liquid waste (HLLW) generated by reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels in High-level Active Waste facility (HAW). Radioactive risk related to HLLW has been concentrated in HAW until the completion of vitrification. Natural disasters such as earthquake may damage cooling function of HAW. Therefore, HAW must improve earthquake resistance, as exchanging the ground around HAW facility and pipe trench by concrete. This earthquake resistance construction starts from July of 2020 and completed in March 2024. This report summarizes the construction work and describes the inspection results after the construction.
Yamano, Hidemasa; Takano, Kazuya; Kurisaka, Kenichi; Kikuchi, Shin; Kondo, Toshiki; Umeda, Ryota; Sato, Rika; Shirakura, Shota*
Dai-28-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 5 Pages, 2024/06
This project studies investigation on safety design guideline and risk assessment technology for sodium-cooled fast reactor with the molten-salt heat storage system, development of evaluation method for heat transferring performance between sodium and molten-salt and improvement of the performance, and evaluation of chemical reaction characteristic between sodium and molten-salt and improvement of its safety. This paper describes the effect of sodium-molten salt heat transfer tube failure in addition to the project overview and progress.
Uchibori, Akihiro; Okano, Yasushi
Isotope News, (793), p.32 - 35, 2024/06
The design of a containment vessel in a sodium-cooled fast reactor was optimized from simulation on the hypothetical severe accident including sodium leakage and combustion. The simulation method is one of the base technologies of the design optimization system, ARKADIA. The simulation was performed on the different design conditions including volume of the containment vessel and the safety equipment as optimization parameters. The iterative simulation successfully found that the safety under this accident was kept even in the downsized containment vessel by selecting an effective safety equipment. This study demonstrated that the developed method has basic capability for design optimization in ARKADIA.
Inaba, Yoshitomo; Sato, Hiroyuki; Sumita, Junya; Ohashi, Hirofumi; Nishihara, Tetsuo; Sakaba, Nariaki
Nihon Kikai Gakkai-Shi, 127(1267), p.25 - 28, 2024/06
Aiming to contribute to net-zero emissions through early social implementation of HTGRs, JAEA promote five projects: HTTR-Heat Application Test, HTGR Domestic Demonstration Reactor, UK HTGR Demonstration Program, UK HTGR Fuel Development Program, and Poland HTGR Research Reactor Basic Design. In addition to these five projects, this article provides an overview of the safety demonstration tests using HTTR.
Gunji, Satoshi; Araki, Shohei; Izawa, Kazuhiko; Suyama, Kenya
Proceedings of International Conference on Physics of Reactors (PHYSOR 2024) (Internet), p.227 - 236, 2024/04
It is considered that a large amount of fuel debris was generated in the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident. In particular, the criticality characteristics of the fuel debris, including concrete components, which are products of molten core-concrete interaction (MCCI), have not been well investigated. In this study, to plan physical simulation in critical experiments at the critical assembly using pseudo fuel debris samples including concrete, we evaluated the sensitivity to the effective multiplication factor of the Si and Ca cross sections in the concrete-simulant sample based on the results of elemental analysis of the prototype. These sensitivity calculations were carried out for each sample loading method and composition. We focused on the energy profile of the sensitivity of the 
Ca capture reaction and confirmed that the shape of the sensitivity energy profile changed depending on the sample compositions and neutron moderation conditions. We could know the characteristics of each experimental method by clarifying the trends of sensitivity obtained in different experimental cases. It was found that increasing the amount of concrete in the samples and changing the neutron moderation conditions in the experimental core configurations produced similar changes in the shape of the sensitivity energy profile. This result shows the possibility of reproducing the characteristics of MCCI products through practical critical experiments using concrete materials that do not contain fissile materials.
Nakano, Hiroko; Fujinami, Kyoko; Yamaura, Takayuki; Kawakami, Jun; Hanakawa, Hiroki
JAEA-Review 2023-036, 33 Pages, 2024/03
JAEA-Review-2023-036.pdf:2.47MB
A practical training course using the JMTR (Japan Materials Testing Reactor) and other research infrastructures was held from November 29 to December 2 in 2021 for Asian young researchers and engineers. This course was adopted as International Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA SCIENCE Exchange Program) which is the project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and this course aims to enlarge the number of high-level nuclear researchers/engineers in Asian countries which are planning to introduce a nuclear power plant, and to promote the use of facilities in future. In this year, from the viewpoint of preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection, it was decided to hold the event online. 53 young researchers and engineers joined the course from 6 countries. In FY2022, training programs with invitations were held due to the easing of restrictions on entry into Japan from overseas. 7 young researchers and engineers from4 Asian countries participated in the training from February 1 to 10, 2023. The common curriculum in the training course of FY2021 and FY2022 included lectures on nuclear energy, irradiation testing, safety management, JMTR decommissioning plan, etc. In the online session, conducted in FY2021, information exchange on the energy situation in each country was conducted. On-site training conducted in FY2022, included practical training on operation using simulations, environmental monitoring, etc. and facility tours of the JMTR, etc. Many participants could join the online training course, they created a diversity of expertise and made lively discussions during the information exchange. On-site training, while limited in number of participants, provided a good opportunity for personnel exchange through practical training and face-face communication. It is desirable to hold on-site training as long as circumstances permit. This report summarizes the training conducted in FY2021 and FY2022.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Funatani, Shumpei*
Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 56(3), p.832 - 845, 2024/03
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.00(Nuclear Science & Technology)The objectives of this study are as follows: to understand the characteristics, degree of passive safety features for heat removal were compared for RCCSs based on atmospheric radiation and based on atmospheric natural circulation under the same conditions. Therefore, the authors concluded that the proposed RCCS based on atmospheric radiation has the advantage that the temperature of the RPV can be stably maintained against disturbances in the outside air (ambient air). Moreover, methodology to utilize all the heat emitted from the RPV surface for increasing the degree of waste-heat utilization was discussed.
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.
Kobayashi, Naoki
Enerugi Rebyu, 43(11), p.18 - 21, 2023/10
no abstracts in English
Tachi, Yukio
Kagaku To Kyoiku, 71(10), p.420 - 423, 2023/10
no abstracts in English
Gunji, Satoshi; Araki, Shohei; Arakaki, Yu; Izawa, Kazuhiko; Suyama, Kenya
Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Nuclear Criticality Safety (ICNC2023) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2023/10
JAEA has been modifying a critical assembly called STACY from a solution system to a light-water moderated heterogeneous system to validate computation results of criticality characteristics of fuel debris generated in the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. To experimentally simulate the composition and characteristics of fuel debris, we will prepare several grid plates which make particular neutron moderation conditions and a number of rod-shaped concrete and stainless-steel materials. Experiments to evaluate fuel debris's criticality characteristics are scheduled using these devices and materials. This series of STACY experiments are planned to measure the reactivity of fuel debris-simulated samples, measure the critical mass of core configurations containing structural materials such as concrete and stainless steels, and the change in critical mass when their arrangement becomes non-uniform. Furthermore, two divided cores experiments are scheduled that statically simulate fuel debris falling, and also scheduled that subcriticality measurement experiments with partially different neutron moderation conditions. The experimental plans have been considered taking into account some experimental constraints. This paper shows the schedule of these experiments, as well as the computation results of the optimized core configurations and expected results for each experiment.
Gunji, Satoshi; Yoshikawa, Tomoki; Araki, Shohei; Izawa, Kazuhiko; Suyama, Kenya
Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Nuclear Criticality Safety (ICNC2023) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2023/10
Since the compositions and properties of the fuel debris are uncertain, critical experiments are required to validate calculation codes and nuclear data used for the safety evaluation. For this purpose, JAEA has been modifying a critical assembly called "STACY". The first criticality of the new STACY is scheduled for spring 2024. This paper reports the consideration results of the core configurations of the new STACY at the first criticality. We prepared two sets of gird plates with different neutron moderation conditions (their intervals are 1.50 cm and 1.27 cm). However, there is a limitation on the number of available UO fuel rods. In addition, we would like to set the critical water heights for the first criticality at around 95 cm. This is to avoid the reactive effect of the aluminum alloy middle grid plates (Approx. 98 cm high). The core configurations for the first criticality satisfying these conditions were constructed by computational analysis. A square core configuration with the 1.50 cm grid plate that is close to the optimum moderation condition needs 261 fuel rods to reach criticality. As to the 1.27 cm grid plate, we considered two core configurations with 1.80 cm intervals by using a checkerboard arrangement. One of them has two regions core configuration with 1.27 and 1.80 cm intervals, and the other has only 1.80 cm intervals. They need 341 and 201 fuel rods for the criticality, respectively. This paper shows these three core configurations and their calculation models.
Suyama, Kenya; Ueki, Taro; Gunji, Satoshi; Watanabe, Tomoaki; Araki, Shohei; Fukuda, Kodai; Yamane, Yuichi; Izawa, Kazuhiko; Nagaya, Yasunobu; Kikuchi, Takeo; et al.
Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Nuclear Criticality Safety (ICNC2023) (Internet), 6 Pages, 2023/10
To remove and store safely the fuel debris generated by the severe accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011 is one of the most important and challenging topics for decommissioning of the damaged reactors in Fukushima. To validate the adopted method for the evaluation of criticality safety control of the fuel debris through comparison with the experimental data obtained by the criticality experiments, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan funds a research and development project which was entrusted to the Nuclear Safety Research Center (NSRC) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) from 2014. In this project, JAEA has been conducting such activities as i) comprehensive computation of the criticality characteristics of the fuel debris and making database (criticality map of the fuel debris), ii) development of new continuous energy Monte Carlo code, iii) evaluation of criticality accident and iv) modification of the critical assembly STACY for the experiments for validation of criticality safety control methodology. After the last ICNC2019, the project has the substantial progress in the modification of STACY which will start officially operation from May 2024 and the development of the Monte Carlo Code "Solomon" suitable for the criticality calculation for materials having spatially random distribution complies with the power spectrum. We present the whole picture of this research and development project and status of each technical topics in the session.
Gunji, Satoshi; Araki, Shohei; Watanabe, Tomoaki; Fernex, F.*; Leclaire, N.*; Bardelay, A.*; Suyama, Kenya
Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Nuclear Criticality Safety (ICNC2023) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2023/10
Institut de radioprotection et de s
ret
nuclaire (IRSN) and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) have a long-standing partnership in the field of criticality safety. In this collaboration, IRSN and JAEA are planning a joint experiment using the new STACY critical assembly, modified by JAEA. In order to compare the codes (MVP3, MORET6, etc.) and nuclear data (JENDL and JEFF) used by both institutes in the planning of the STACY experiment, benchmark calculations of the Apparatus B and TCA, which are critical assemblies once owned by both institutes, benchmarks from the ICSBEP handbook and the computational model of the new STACY were performed. Including the new STACY calculation model, the calculations include several different neutron moderation conditions and critical water heights. There were slight systematic differences in the calculation results, which may have originated from the processing and/or format of the nuclear data libraries. However, it was found that the calculated results, including the new codes and the new nuclear data, are in good agreement with the experimental values. Therefore, there are no issues to use them for the design of experiments for the new STACY. Furthermore, the impact of the new TSL data included in JENDL-5 on the effective multiplication factor was investigated. Experimental validation for them will be completed by critical experiments of the new STACY by both institutes.
