Advancing materials studies for high-power proton accelerators in J-PARC

Makimura, Shunsuke*; Matoba, Shiro*; Sunagawa, Hikaru*; Naoe, Takashi; Wakui, Takashi; Ishida, Taku*; Matsubara, Tsurayuki*; Fukao, Yoshinori*; Takahashi, Hitoshi*; Watanabe, Hiroaki*; et al.

Proceedings of 71st ICFA Advanced Beam Dynamics workshop on High-Intensity and High-Brightness Hadron Beams (HB2025) (Internet), p.359 - 363, 2025/10

https://meow.elettra.eu/83/pdf/FRIAA01.pdf

In modern proton accelerators, the survivability of beam-intercepting devices, such as targets, beam windows and beam dumps, under intense beam irradiation is a key factor limiting the achievement of higher beam power. This article introduces the challenges faced by the secondary particle production targets and beam windows at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), and the developments undertaken to overcome these challenges.

A Plan of materials irradiation facility at J-PARC for development of ADS and high-power accelerator facilities

Maekawa, Fujio

JPS Conference Proceedings (Internet), 33, p.011042_1 - 011042_6, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSCP.33.011042

Development of beam window (BW) materials is one of crucial issues in development of accelerator driven nuclear transmutation systems (ADS). The BW is exposed to high energy protons and spallation neutrons, and also to corrosive lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) alloy at high temperature of about 500C. Recently, not only high-power accelerators but also high-power targets are the rate-limiting factor for increasing the power of accelerator facilities in terms of radiation damage and heat removal. To study radiation damage on BW and target materials for high-power accelerator facilities including ADS, we are planning a materials irradiation facility by utilizing the proton beam of 400 MeV and 250 kW provided by the J-PARC's Linac. The target is flowing LBE alloy which is a candidate target and coolant material of ADS. When a steel sample is irradiated in the target for one year, the sample receives radiation damage of about 10 dpa at maximum which is equivalent to the yearly radiation damage of ADS's BW. In the current facility concept, the facility is equipped with a hot-laboratory for efficient post-irradiation examination. The facility will be outlined in this presentation.

Experimental evaluation of wall shear stress in a double contraction nozzle using a water mock-up of a liquid Li target for an intense fusion neutron source

Kondo, Hiroo*; Kanemura, Takuji*; Park, C. H.*; Oyaizu, Makoto*; Hirakawa, Yasushi; Furukawa, Tomohiro

Fusion Engineering and Design, 146(Part A), p.285 - 288, 2019/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2018.12.047

Herein, the wall shear stress in a double contraction nozzle has been evaluated experimentally to produce a liquid lithium (Li) target as a beam target for intense fusion neutron sources such as the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF), the Advanced Fusion Neutron Source (A-FNS), and the DEMO Oriented Neutron Source (DONES). The boundary layer thickness and wall shear stress are essential physical parameters to understand erosion-corrosion by the high-speed liquid Li flow in the nozzle, which is the key component in producing a stable Li target. Therefore, these parameters were experimentally evaluated using an acrylic mock-up of the target assembly. The velocity distribution in the nozzle was measured by a laser-doppler velocimeter and the momentum thickness along the nozzle wall was calculated using an empirical prediction method. The resulting momentum thickness was used to estimate the variation of the wall shear stress along the nozzle wall. Consequently, the wall shear stress was at the maximum in the second convergent section in front of the nozzle exit.

Development of a gas-sheet target for a non-destructive profile monitor

Ogiwara, Norio; Hikichi, Yusuke*; Kamiya, Junichiro; Yamamoto, Kazami; Kinsho, Michikazu

Proceedings of 14th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (Internet), p.563 - 567, 2017/12

Technical design report on J-PARC Transmutation Experimental Facility; ADS Target Test Facility (TEF-T)

Nuclear Transmutation Division, J-PARC Center

JAEA-Technology 2017-003, 539 Pages, 2017/03

JAEA-Technology-2017-003.pdf:59.1MB

JAEA is pursuing R&D on volume reduction and mitigation of degree of harmfulness of high-level radioactive waste based on the "Strategic Energy Plan" issued in April 2014. Construction of Transmutation Experimental Facility is under planning as one of the second phase facilities in the 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 lead-bismuth eutectic target. Whereas in TEF-P, by introducing a proton beam to minor actinide loaded subcritical cores, physical properties of the cores are to be studied, and operation experiences are to be acquired. This report summarizes results of technical design for construction of one of two TEF facilities, TEF-T.

J-PARC transmutation experimental facility programme

Sasa, Toshinobu; Takei, Hayanori; Saito, Shigeru; Obayashi, Hironari; Nishihara, Kenji; Sugawara, Takanori; Iwamoto, Hiroki; Yamaguchi, Kazushi; Tsujimoto, Kazufumi; Oigawa, Hiroyuki

NEA/CSNI/R(2015)2 (Internet), p.85 - 91, 2015/06

https://www.oecd-nea.org/science/docs/2015/nsc-r2015-2.pdf

Nuclear transmutation got much interested as an effective option of nuclear waste management. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) proposes the transmutation of minor actinides (MA) by accelerator-driven system (ADS) using lead-bismuth alloy (Pb-Bi). To obtain the data for ADS design, JAEA plans to build a Transmutation Experimental Facility (TEF) in the J-PARC project. TEF consists of two buildings, an ADS target test facility (TEF-T) with 400MeV-250kW Pb-Bi target, and a Transmutation Physics Experimental Facility (TEF-P), which set up a fast critical assembly driven by low power proton beam with MA fuel. In TEF-T, irradiation test for materials, and engineering tests for Pb-Bi target operation will be performed. Various research plans such as nuclear data measurements have been proposed and layout of the experimental hall are underway. In the presentation, roadmap to establish the ADS transmutor and latest design activities for TEF construction will be summarized.

Measurement of LBE flow velocity profile by UDVP

Kikuchi, Kenji; Takeda, Yasushi*; Obayashi, Hiroo*; Tezuka, Masao*; Sato, Hiroshi

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 356(1-3), p.273 - 279, 2006/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2006.05.028

Measurements of LBE flow velocity profile were realized in the spallation target model by the ultrasonic Doppler velocity profile technique. Hitherto, it has not yet been done well because both of poor wetting property of LBE with stainless steels and poor performance of supersonic probes at high temperatures. Measurement was made for a return flow in the target model, which has coaxially arranged annular and tube channels. The electromagnetic pump generates LBE flow and the flow rate was measured by the electromagnetic flow meter. Measurement results show that re-circulation occurred near the surface of beam window, which might affect a heat transfer of target container.

Design study around beam window of ADS

Oigawa, Hiroyuki; Tsujimoto, Kazufumi; Kikuchi, Kenji; Kurata, Yuji; Sasa, Toshinobu; Umeno, Makoto*; Nishihara, Kenji; Saito, Shigeru; Mizumoto, Motoharu; Takano, Hideki*; et al.

Proceedings of 4th International Workshop on the Utilisation and Reliability of High Power Proton Accelerators, p.325 - 334, 2005/11

The Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) is conducting the research and development (R&D) on the Accelerator-Driven Subcritical System (ADS) for the effective transmutation of minor actinides (MAs). The ADS proposed by JAERI is the 800 MWth, Pb-Bi cooled, tank-type subcritical reactor loaded with (MA+Pu) nitride fuel. The Pb-Bi is also used as the spallation target. In this study, the feasibility of the ADS was discussed with putting the focus on the design around the beam window. The partition wall was placed between the target region and the ductless-type fuel assemblies to keep the good cooling performance for the hot-spot fuel pin. The flow control nozzle was installed to cool the beam window effectively. The thermal-hydraulic analysis showed that the maximum temperature at the outer surface of the beam window could be repressed below 500 C even in the case of the maximum beam power of 30 MW. The stress caused by the external pressure and the temperature distribution of the beam window was also below the allowable limit.

Effect of proton beam profile on stress in JSNS target vessel

Kogawa, Hiroyuki; Ishikura, Shuichi*; Sato, Hiroshi; Harada, Masahide; Takatama, Shunichi*; Futakawa, Masatoshi; Haga, Katsuhiro; Hino, Ryutaro; Meigo, Shinichiro; Maekawa, Fujio; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 343(1-3), p.178 - 183, 2005/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.08.032

A cross-flow type (CFT) mercury target with flow guide blades, which has been developed for JSNS, can suppress the generation of stagnant flow region especially near the beam window where the peak heat density is generated due to spallation reaction. Then, a flat type beam window has been applied to the CFT target from the viewpoint of suppressing dynamic stress caused by a pressure wave, which has been estimated with a mercury model of the linear equation of state. The recent experimental results obtained by using a proton beam incidents to mercury led that a cutoff pressure model in the equation of state of mercury caused a suitable dynamic stress with experimental results. Dynamic stress analyses were carried out with the cutoff pressure model, in which the negative pressure less than 0.15 MPa was not generated. The generated dynamic stress in the flat beam window became much larger than that in a semi-cylindrical type window. However, the generated stress in the semi-cylindrical type beam window was over the allowable stress of SS316L under the peak heat density of 668 W/cc. In order to decrease the dynamic stress in the semi-cylindrical beam window, the incident proton beam was defocused to decrease the peak heat density down to 218 W/cm. As a result, the dynamic stress could be suppressed less than the allowable stress. On the other hand, due to defocus of the proton beam, high heat density was generated on the end of the flow guide blades, which caused high thermal stress exceeding the allowable stress. To decrease the thermal stress, several shapes of the blade ends were studied analytically, which were selected so as not to affect the mercury flow distribution. A simple thin-end blade showed low thermal stress below the allowable stress.

R&D activities on accelerator-driven transmutation system in JAERI

Oigawa, Hiroyuki; Tsujimoto, Kazufumi; Kikuchi, Kenji; Kurata, Yuji; Sasa, Toshinobu; Umeno, Makoto*; Saito, Shigeru; Nishihara, Kenji; Mizumoto, Motoharu; Takano, Hideki*; et al.

EUR-21227 (CD-ROM), p.483 - 493, 2005/00

JAERI is conducting the study on the dedicated transmutation system using the accelerator driven subcritical system (ADS). A subcritical reactor with the thermal power of 800 MW has been proposed. Many research and development activities including the conceptual design study are under way and planned at JAERI to examine the feasibility of the ADS. In the field of the proton accelerator, a superconducting LINAC is being developed. In the field of the spallation target using lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE), material corrosion, thermal-hydraulics, polonium behavior, and irradiation effect on materials are being studied. Moreover, in the framework of the J-PARC project, JAERI plans to construct the Transmutation Experimental Facility (TEF) to study the feasibility of the ADS using a high-energy proton beam and nuclear fuel and to establish the technology for the LBE spallation target and relevant materials.