Development of hydrogen behavior integrated analysis system

Terada, Atsuhiko; Thwe Thwe, A.; Hino, Ryutaro*; Harai, Yasutaka*; Sasaki, Gaku*; Shingeya, Hideshi*; Yamashita, Toshiyuki*; Yoneda, Jiro*; Okabayashi, Kazuki*; Sakamoto, Hiroyuki*; et al.

JAEA-Data/Code 2025-012, 151 Pages, 2025/12

JAEA-Data-Code-2025-012.pdf:9.69MB

Based on the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, we have highly paid attention to the advancement of the fundamental technologies which are indispensable in timely response to hydrogen safety measures and assessments especially in both nuclear reactors and decommissioning. Focusing on this attention, we developed an analysis system that predicts the behavior of hydrogen from generation to diffusion, combustion and explosion. The system utilizes the commercial computational fluid dynamics software (FLUENT, AUTODYN), and incorporates new modules and pre/post-processors in order to withstand the general practical use. We also developed a system by utilizing open-source code (OpenFOAM) that can be used in hydrogen disaster prevention plans for nuclear facilities. So far, we have expanded the system to deal with the phenomena that should be considered from the practical point of view for PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) in nuclear power plants. This report summarizes the overview of the integrated analysis system for hydrogen behavior, the handling method, and real scale analysis examples.

Validation study on SFR core bowing codes using Joyo ex-core experiment data; Multiple duct bowing benchmark

Wozniak, N.*; Ohgama, Kazuya; Doda, Norihiro; Ota, Hirokazu*; Shemon, E.*; Feng, B.*; Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Futagami, Satoshi; Tanaka, Masaaki; Yamano, Hidemasa; et al.

Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology (Internet), 8, p.165 - 170, 2025/09

https://doi.org/10.15669/pnst.8.165

To enhance the accuracy of the safety evaluations for sodium-cooled fast reactors, it is necessary to develop a method that can realistically evaluate the reactivity changes induced by core deformation. In this context, Japan and the United States jointly conducted a benchmark analysis of thermal bowing experiments using multiple ducts from a Joyo-type fuel assembly. The aim was to confirm the validity of the core bowing analysis codes. Comparisons of analysis and experimental results demonstrated that the codes used by both countries were able to reasonably predict the thermal bowing of a row of assemblies in multiple duct configuration.

Achievement of safety demonstration tests using HTTR; Loss of forced cooling test at 100% reactor power (30 MW)

Nagasumi, Satoru; Hasegawa, Toshinari; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Kubo, Shinji; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; Shinohara, Masanori; Saikusa, Akio; Nojiri, Naoki; Saito, Kenji; Furusawa, Takayuki; et al.

JAEA-Research 2025-005, 23 Pages, 2025/07

JAEA-Research-2025-005.pdf:2.68MB

A safety demonstration test under abnormal operating conditions using the HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor) was conducted to demonstrate safety features of the HTGRs (High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors). Under a simulation of a control rod shutdown failure, all primary helium gas circulators were intentionally stopped during a steady-state operation at 100% reactor thermal power (30 MW), temporal changes of the reactor power and temperatures around the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) were obtained after the complete loss of forced heat removal from the reactor core. After the event (primary coolant flow stopped), the reactor power quickly decreased due to the negative reactivity feedback associated with the core temperature rise, and then the reactor power spontaneously shifted to a stable state of low power (about 1.2%) even after a recriticality. Heat dissipation from RPV surface to a surrounding vessel cooling system (water-cooled panels) ensured the amount of heat removal required to maintain the reactor temperature constant in the low power state. In this way, the transition from the event occurrence to the stable and safety state, i.e., inherent safety features of HTGRs, were demonstrated in the case of core forced cooling loss without active shutdown operations.

Handbook of Advanced Nuclear Hydrogen Safety (2nd Edition); Development of hydrogen behavior integrated analysis system and application to actual PWR

Terada, Atsuhiko; Thwe Thwe, A.; Hino, Ryutaro*

JAEA-Review 2024-049, 400 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Review-2024-049.pdf:13.94MB

In the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, safety measures against hydrogen in severe accident has been recognized as a serious technical problem in Japan. As one of efforts to form a common knowledge base between nuclear engineers and experts on combustion and explosion, we issued the "Handbook of Advanced Nuclear Hydrogen Safety (1st edition)" in 2017. For improvement of the rational advancement of hydrogen safety measures and further reliability of hydrogen safety evaluation, a CFD analysis is highly expected to produce more precisely and quantitative results. We have been developing an integrated CFD analysis code system which can analyze hydrogen diffusion, explosion-combustion and structural integrity at the severe accident especially for pressurized water reactors (PWRs). We organized the role of LP and the CFD analyses and their utilization examples of hydrogen safety validation. Based on these results, we made the "Handbook of Advanced Nuclear Hydrogen Safety (2nd volume)". The analysis results of real scale PWR described in 2nd volume are confirmed by cross-analysis models and existing data obtained through representative small, medium and large-scale tests.

Development of failure mitigation technologies for improving resilience of nuclear structures

Kasahara, Naoto*; Yamano, Hidemasa; Nakamura, Izumi*; Demachi, Kazuyuki*; Sato, Takuya*; Ichimiya, Masakazu*

International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 211, p.105298_1 - 105298_6, 2024/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpvp.2024.105298

Resonance ionization spectroscopy of high-lying 4sns and 4snd Rydberg levels of odd calcium isotopes

Iwata, Yoshihiro; Miyabe, Masabumi; Akaoka, Katsuaki; Wakaida, Ikuo; Hasegawa, Shuichi*

Journal of the Optical Society of America B, 41(1), p.119 - 126, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.507539

Calcium Rydberg levels are of significant interest for efficient and isotope-selective resonance ionization of trace radionuclides such as calcium-41 (Ca). In this study, we report novel measurement data on the energy level shifts of calcium-43 (Ca) for 4sns S and 4s(n-1)d D (n=40, 45, 50, 55, 60) Rydberg levels due to hyperfine-induced singlet-triplet mixing specific to isotopes with an odd mass number.

Validation of feedback reactivity evaluation models for plant dynamics analysis code during unprotected loss of heat sink event in sodium-cooled fast reactors

Yoshimura, Kazuo; Doda, Norihiro; Igawa, Kenichi*; Tanaka, Masaaki; Yamano, Hidemasa

Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science, 9(2), p.021601_1 - 021601_9, 2023/04

https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4055328

Feedback reactivity automatically caused by radial expansion of the core is known as one of the inherent safety features in a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR). In order to validate the evaluation models of the reactivity feedback equipped in the in-house plant dynamics analysis code named Super-COPD, the benchmark analyses for the unprotected loss of heat sink (ULOHS) tests of BOP-302R and BOP-301 in an experimental SFR, EBR-II were conducted and the applicability of the evaluation method for the reactivity feedback was indicated during the ULOHS even, by comparing the numerical results and the experimental data.

Improving the safety of the high temperature gas-cooled reactor "HTTR" based on Japan's new regulatory requirements

Hamamoto, Shimpei; Shimizu, Atsushi; Inoi, Hiroyuki; Tochio, Daisuke; Homma, Fumitaka; Sawahata, Hiroaki; Sekita, Kenji; Watanabe, Shuji; Furusawa, Takayuki; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; et al.

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 388, p.111642_1 - 111642_11, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2021.111642

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency adapted High-Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) to meet the new regulatory requirements that began in December 2013. The safety and seismic classifications of the existing structures, systems, and components were discussed to reflect insights regarding High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) that were acquired through various HTTR safety tests. Structures, systems, and components that are subject to protection have been defined, and countermeasures to manage internal and external hazards that affect safety functions have been strengthened. Additionally, measures are in place to control accidents that may cause large amounts of radioactive material to be released, as a beyond design based accident. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rigorously and appropriately reviewed this approach for compliance with the new regulatory requirements. After nine amendments, the application to modify the HTTR's installation license that was submitted in November 2014 was approved in June 2020. This response shows that facilities can reasonably be designed to meet the enhanced regulatory requirements, if they reflect the characteristics of HTGRs. We believe that we have established a reference for future development of HTGR.

Modelling concrete degradation by coupled non-linear processes

Oda, Chie; Kawama, Daisuke*; Shimizu, Hiroyuki*; Benbow, S. J.*; Hirano, Fumio; Takayama, Yusuke; Takase, Hiroyasu*; Mihara, Morihiro; Honda, Akira

Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, 19(10), p.1075 - 1087, 2021/10

https://doi.org/10.3151/jact.19.1075

Concrete in a transuranic (TRU) waste repository is considered a suitable material to ensure safety, provide structural integrity and retard radionuclide migration after the waste containers fail. In the current study, coupling between chemical, mass-transport and mechanical, so-called non-linear processes that control concrete degradation and crack development were investigated by coupled numerical models. Application of such coupled numerical models allows identification of the dominant non-linear processes that will control long-term concrete degradation and crack development in a TRU waste repository.

JAEA-TDB-RN in 2020; Update of JAEA's thermodynamic database for solubility and speciation of radionuclides for performance assessment of geological disposal of high-level and TRU wastes

Kitamura, Akira

JAEA-Data/Code 2020-020, 164 Pages, 2021/03

JAEA-Data-Code-2020-020.pdf:3.11MB
JAEA-Data-Code-2020-020-appendix(DVD-ROM).zip:0.56MB

Part of JAEA's Thermodynamic Database (JAEA-TDB) for solubility and speciation of radionuclides (JAEA-TDB-RN) for performance assessment of geological disposal of high-level radioactive and TRU wastes has been updated with subsuming the database for geochemical calculations (JAEA-TDB-GC). This report has focused to update JAEA-TDB-RN after selecting change in standard Gibbs free energy of formation (), change in standard enthalpy change of formation (), standard molar entropy () and, heat capacity (), change in standard Gibbs free energy of reaction (), change in standard enthalpy change of reaction () and standard entropy change of reaction () as well as logarithm of equilibrium constant (log) at standard state. The extent of selection of these thermodynamic data enables to evaluate solubility and speciation of radionuclides at temperatures other than 298.15 K. Furthermore, the latest thermodynamic data for iron which have been critically reviewed, selected and compiled by the Nuclear Energy Agency within Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD/NEA) have been accepted. Most of previously selected log have been refined to confirm internal consistency with JAEA-TDB-GC. Text files of the updated JAEA-TDB have been provided for geochemical calculation programs of PHREEQC and Geochemist's Workbench.