Neutronics-thermal-hydraulics-coupled transient analysis for reactor power change in an inclined offshore floating boiling water reactor

Fukuda, Kodai; Obara, Toru*; Suyama, Kenya

Nuclear Technology, 11 Pages, 2024/00

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2368966

Calculation of transient parameters of the integral kinetic model with delayed neutrons for space-dependent kinetic analysis of coupled reactors

Takezawa, Hiroki*; Tuya, D.; Obara, Toru*

Nuclear Science and Engineering, 195(11), p.1236 - 1246, 2021/11

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2021.1920797

This study introduces new methodologies for integrating fission reactions induced by delayed neutrons into the Multi-Region Integral Kinetic (MIK) code by using a Monte Carlo neutron transport calculation. First, it was confirmed that it is feasible to solve the Integral Kinetic Model (IKM) with delayed neutrons by the forward Euler discretization method in terms of the number of time steps. This can be done with the help of the law of radioactive decay to reflect the delay in the emission of delayed neutrons in the discretized IKM. Second, a new Monte Carlo-based methodology was introduced for calculating the cumulative distribution functions of secondary fission induced by prompt and delayed neutrons. These functions are necessary for the discretized IKM. The results of preliminary verification using the Godiva reactor confirmed the applicability of the new Monte Carlo-based methodology.

Incorporation of U, Pb and rare earth elements in calcite through crystallisation from amorphous calcium carbonate; Simple preparation of reference materials for microanalysis

Miyajima, Yusuke*; Saito, Ayaka*; Kagi, Hiroyuki*; Yokoyama, Tatsunori; Takahashi, Yoshio*; Hirata, Takafumi*

Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 45(1), p.189 - 205, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1111/ggr.12367

Uncertainty for elemental and isotopic analyses of calcite by LA-ICP-MS is largely controlled by the homogeneity of the reference materials (RMs) used for normalization and validation. In order to produce calcite RMs with homogeneous elemental and isotopic compositions, we incorporated elements including U, Pb, and rare earth elements into calcite through heat- and pressure-induced crystallization from amorphous calcium carbonate that was precipitated from element-doped reagent solution. X-ray absorption spectra showed that U was present as U(VI) in the synthesized calcite, probably with a different local structure from that of aqueous uranyl ions. The uptake rate of U by our calcite was higher in comparison to synthetic calcite of previous studies. Variations of element mass fractions in the calcite were better than 12% 2RSD, mostly within 7%. The Pb/Pb ratio in the calcite showed 1% variations, while the U/Pb ratio showed 3-24% variations depending on element mass fractions. Using the synthetic calcite as primary RMs, we could date a natural calcite RM, WC-1, with analytical uncertainty as low as 3%. The method presented can be useful to produce calcite with controlled and homogeneous element mass fractions, and is a promising alternative to natural calcite RMs for U-Pb geochronology.

Study on effects of coupled phenomenon on long-term behavior for crystalline rock (Joint research)

Kimoto, Kazushi*; Ichikawa, Yasuaki*; Matsui, Hiroya

JAEA-Research 2017-009, 18 Pages, 2017/11

JAEA-Research-2017-009.pdf:6.5MB

JAEA has started this study as joint research with Okayama University from 2016. In fiscal year 2016, several kinds of elastic wave velocity were measured using ultra sonic sensors and laser Doppler vibrometer to evaluate the anisotropy of different elastic wave in granite. The velocity measurements were carried out focused on transmitted wave and surface wave. The results showed that strong anisotropy was observed in transmitted P- wave velocity while weak anisotropy was observed in transmitted S-wave and group velocity estimated by surface velocity measurement. In addition, data obtained from surface velocity measurement was partitioned into transmitted and reflected waves and analyzed them in detail. It resulted that elastic wave due to mineral particles consist of granite was dispersed; however, significant dispersion was only observed at specific location.

Analytical study on the Excavation Damaged Zone in the 350 m gallery at the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory

Aoyagi, Kazuhei; Ishii, Eiichi

Shigen, Sozai Koenshu (Internet), 4(2), 7 Pages, 2017/09

no abstracts in English

Groundwater recovery experiment in Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory; Numerical simulation of H-M coupled behavior of rock and backfill materials to evaluate the influence on the surrounding rock

Takayama, Yusuke; Sato, Toshinori; Onoe, Hironori; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Onuki, Kenji

Dai-43-Kai Gamban Rikigaku Ni Kansuru Shimpojiumu Koenshu (CD-ROM), p.313 - 318, 2015/01

In the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory, groundwater recovery experiment is being conducted to construct the method to understand the transition of geological environment due to groundwater recovery at the -500m access and research gallery-north. As a part of this experiment, backfill test is planned using drilling pits filled with artificial materials (clay and concrete) to evaluate the influence on the surrounding rock mass due to the interaction of rock and artificial materials. In this study, numerical simulation of the backfill test has been carried out to predict the qualitative hydro-mechanical behavior.

Deterioration of pulse characteristics and burn-up effects with an engineering model in Japanese spallation neutron source

Harada, Masahide; Watanabe, Noboru; Teshigawara, Makoto; Kai, Tetsuya; Maekawa, Fujio; Kato, Takashi; Ikeda, Yujiro

LA-UR-06-3904, Vol.2, p.700 - 709, 2006/06

Pulse characteristics data for every neutron beam line are indispensable in designing devices for neutron scattering experiments of JSNS. A detailed model was built and pulse characteristics of each beam line were estimated using the PHITS code and the MCNP-4C code. These results have been disclosed on the J-PARC homepage since September 2004. Due to changes of moderator shapes in a progress of manufacture design, we observed from the calculation that pulse structures of decoupled moderators were deteriorated, especially, those of pulse tail. We found that this deterioration was caused by leakage neutron from gaps between decouplers and absorbing liners of the reflector. For a final stage of the manufacture design, we carefully tried to find other factors which deteriorated the pulse characteristics. Furthermore, pulse structures of poisoned and unpoisoned decoupled moderators were evaluated with the consideration of heterogeneous burn-up and leakage neutron spectra including high-energy region up to GeV were estimated for each neutron beam hole.

Neutronic studies on decoupled hydrogen moderator for a short-pulse spallation source

Harada, Masahide; Watanabe, Noboru; Teshigawara, Makoto; Kai, Tetsuya; Ikeda, Yujiro

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 539(1-2), p.345 - 362, 2005/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2004.10.013

Neutronic studies of decoupled hydrogen moderators were performed by calculations taking into account para hydrogen content, decoupling energy, moderator dimensions/shapes and reflector material. Low-energy parts of calculated spectral intensities with different para hydrogen contents were analyzed by a modified Maxwell function to characterize neutron spectra. The result shows that a 100% para hydrogen moderator gives the highest pulse peak intensity together with the narrowest pulse width and the shortest decay times. Pulse broadening with a reflector was explained by time distributions of source neutrons entering into the moderator through a decoupler. Material dependence of time distribution was studied. A decoupling energy higher than 1 eV does not bring about a large improvement in pulse widths and decay times, even at a large penalty in the peak intensity. The optimal moderator thickness was also discussed for a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a canteen shape moderators.

Physics and numerical methods of OPTMAN; A Coupled-channels method based on soft-rotator model for a description of collective nuclear structure and excitations

Soukhovitskij, E. Sh.*; Morogovskij, G. B.*; Chiba, Satoshi; Iwamoto, Osamu; Fukahori, Tokio

JAERI-Data/Code 2004-002, 32 Pages, 2004/03

JAERI-Data-Code-2004-002.pdf:1.43MB

This report gives a detailed description of the theory and computational algorithms of modernized coupled-channels optical model code OPTMAN based on the soft-rotator model for the collective nuclear structure and excitations. This work was performed under the Project Agreement B-521 with the International Science and Technology Center (Moscow), financing party of which is Japan. As a result of this work, the computational method of OPTMAN was totally updated, and an user-friendly interface was attached.

Coupled-channels analysis of nucleon interaction data of Si up to 200 MeV based on the soft rotator model

Sun, W.*; Watanabe, Yukinobu*; Sukhovitskij, E.*; Iwamoto, Osamu; Chiba, Satoshi

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 40(9), p.635 - 643, 2003/09

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.40.635

A consistent analysis for nuclear level structure and nucleon scattering data up to 200 MeV were performed for sd-shell nuclei, Si, using a unified framework of soft-rotator model and coupled-channels approach. The soft-rotator model parameters and optical model parameters were derived. The calculations showed good agreement with experimental data for both collective level and nucleon interaction data -- neutron total cross sections, proton reaction cross sections, and nucleon scattering angular distributions.