Evaluation of failure fraction for high burnup High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor fuel

Sawa, Kazuhiro*; Haseda, Masaya*; Aihara, Jun

Nihon Kikai Gakkai Rombunshu (Internet), 89(921), p.22-00314_1 - 22-00314_6, 2023/05

https://doi.org/10.1299/transjsme.22-00314

In high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), Tri-isotropic (TRISO)-coated fuel particles are employed as fuel. In the high burnup coated fuel particle, stress due to fission gas pressure and irradiation-induced pyrolytic carbon (PyC) shrinkage is introduced into the coating layers and consequently the stress could cause failure of coating layers under high burnup irradiation condition. A failure model has developed to predict failure fraction of TRISO-coated particle under high burnup irradiation. In the model, failure probability is strongly dependent on the irradiation characteristics of PyC. This paper describes the outline of the failure model and evaluation result of high burnup fuel irradiation experiment by the model.

Transient response of LWR fuels (RIA)

Udagawa, Yutaka; Fuketa, Toyoshi*

Comprehensive Nuclear Materials, 2nd Edition, Vol.2, p.322 - 338, 2020/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803581-8.11682-0

Analytical study of SPERT-CDC test 859 using fuel performance codes FEMAXI-8 and RANNS

Taniguchi, Yoshinori; Udagawa, Yutaka; Amaya, Masaki

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 139, p.107188_1 - 107188_7, 2020/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2019.107188

Thresholds for failure of high-burnup LWR fuels by pellet cladding mechanical interaction under reactivity-initiated accident conditions

Udagawa, Yutaka; Sugiyama, Tomoyuki; Amaya, Masaki

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(12), p.1063 - 1072, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1637795

no abstracts in English

An Interpretation of Fukushima-Daiichi Unit 3 plant data covering the two-week accident-progression phase based on correction for pressure data

Sato, Ikken

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(5), p.394 - 411, 2019/05

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1588798

Water columns were adopted in the pressure measurement system of Fukushima-Daiichi Unit-3. Part of these water columns evaporated during the accident condition jeopardizing correct understanding on actual pressure. Through comparison of RPV (Reactor Pressure Vessel) and S/C pressures with D/W pressure, such water-column effect was evaluated. Correction for this effect was developed enabling clarification of slight pressure difference among RPV, S/C and D/W. This information was then integrated with other available data such as, water level, CAMS and environmental dose rate, into an interpretation of accident focusing on RPV and PCV pressurization/depressurization and radioactive material release to environment. It is suggested that dryout of in-vessel and ex-vessel debris was likely causing pressure decrease. S/C water poured into pedestal heated by relocated debris was the likely cause of pressurization. Cyclic reflooding of pedestal debris and dryout was likely.

The Evaluation of the influence of hydride rim and biaxial stress condition on the cladding failure under a reactivity-initiated-accident by using EDC test method

Shinozaki, Takashi; Mihara, Takeshi; Udagawa, Yutaka; Sugiyama, Tomoyuki; Amaya, Masaki

JAEA-Research 2014-025, 34 Pages, 2014/12

JAEA-Research-2014-025.pdf:6.05MB

EDC test is a test method on the mechanical property of fuel cladding tube, and it focuses on the stress condition generated by PCMI under a RIA. We conducted EDC tests which simulate the mechanical conditions during a RIA by using the unirradiated cladding tubes which simulate hydride rim. Circumferential residual strains observed in post-test specimens tended to decrease with increasing the hydrogen concentration in the test cladding tubes and the thickness of the hydride rim. We also prepared RAG tube and performed EDC tests on it. It was observed that circumferential total strains at failure tended to decrease with increasing pre-crack depth on the outer surface of RAG tube specimen. We conducted biaxial stress tests by applying longitudinal tensile load onto RAG tube specimens. It was observed that circumferential total strains at failure under biaxial stress conditions tended to decrease compared to the results under uniaxial tensile condition.

An Investigation of fuel and fission product behavior in rise-to-power test of HTTR, 2; Results up to 30 MW operation

Ueta, Shohei; Emori, Koichi; Tobita, Tsutomu*; Takahashi, Masashi*; Kuroha, Misao; Ishii, Taro*; Sawa, Kazuhiro

JAERI-Research 2003-025, 59 Pages, 2003/11

JAERI-Research-2003-025.pdf:2.53MB

In the safety design requirements for the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) fuel, it is determined that "the as-fabricated failure fraction shall be less than 0.2%" and "the additional failure fraction shall be small through the full service period". Therefore the failure fraction should be quantitatively evaluated during the HTTR operation. In order to measure the primary coolant activity, primary coolant radioactivity signals the in safety protection system, the fuel failure detection (FFD) system and the primary coolant sampling system are provided in the HTTR. The fuel and fission product behavior was evaluated based on measured data in the rise-to-power tests (1) to (4). The measured fractional releases are constant at 210 up to 60% of the reactor power, and then increase to 710 at full power operation. The prediction shows good agreement with the measured value. These results showed that the release mechanism varied from recoil to diffusion of the generated fission gas from the contaminated uranium in the fuel compact matrix.

Morphology change of rock-like oxide fuels in reactivity-initiated-accident simulation tests

Nakamura, Takehiko; Sasajima, Hideo; Yamashita, Toshiyuki; Uetsuka, Hiroshi

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 319, p.95 - 101, 2003/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(03)00139-9

Pulse irradiation tests under simulated RIA conditions were performed with three types of ROX fuels. Single phase YSZ, homogeneous mixture of YSZ/spinel and YSZ particle dispersed in spinel type ROX fuels were pulse irradiated in the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR). Mode and threshold of the fuel failure including its consequences were investigated under the RIA conditions. The fuel failure occurred in a burst type mode in all the three types of ROX fuel tests with considerable fuel melting. Even though the mode was quite different from those of UO fuel, failure threshold enthalpies of the ROX fuels were close to that of UO fuel at about 10 GJ m. The consequence of the failure of the ROX fuels was different from the one of UO fuel, because molten fuel dispersal occurred at lower enthalpies in the ROX fuel tests. Change of the fuel structure and material interaction in the transient heating conditions were examined through optical and secondary electron microscopy, and electron probe micro analysis.

Modification of fuel failure detection system at multi-purpose reactor

Haruyama, Mitsuo; Shitomi, Hajimu; Nakamura, Kiyoshi

JAERI-Tech 2003-025, 29 Pages, 2003/03

JAERI-Tech-2003-025.pdf:2.16MB

As one of the technical cooperation activity based on the Annex III, the Cooperation in the Area of Reactor Physics and Technology, of the Arrangement between the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) and the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), the modification of the Fuel Failure Detection System (FFDS) was carried out by the joint work at the Multi-purpose Reactor RSG-G.A. Siwabessy (RSG-GAS). The system takes the delayed neutron detection method. The design requirements of the modification are, (1) to save the system units currently used and the spares on hand as long as practicable, and / or (2) to replace the system units with those easy to maintain or to obtain at the markets. The modified system obtained around twice of higher sensitivity for delayed neutron detection than before and more reliable monitoring possibility with redundancy. The specification, installation, adjustment methods and characteristics of the modified system and the modus operandi of FFDS at high power reactor operation are described in this paper.

Influence of coolant temperature and pressure on destructive forces at fuel failure in the NSRR experiment

Kusagaya, Kazuyuki*; Sugiyama, Tomoyuki; Nakamura, Takehiko; Uetsuka, Hiroshi

JAERI-Tech 2002-105, 24 Pages, 2003/01

JAERI-Tech-2002-105.pdf:1.4MB

High-temperature and high-pressure influence on the destructive force at the fuel rod failure in reactivity-initiated-accident (RIA) simulating experiment using the NSRR (Nuclear Safety Research Reactor) is estimated, for the purpose of mechanical designing of a new experimental capsule for simulating the temperature and pressure condition of typical commercial BWR. When knowledge on pressure impulse and water hammer, which are the cause of the destructive force, and steam property dependence on temperature and pressure are taken into account, one can qualitatively estimate that the destructive force in the BWR operation condition is smaller than that in the room temperature and atmospheric pressure condition. The water column velocity, which determines the impact by water hammer, is further investigated quantitatively by modeling the experimental system and the water hammer phenomenon. As a result, the maximum velocity of water column in the BWR operation condition is calculated to be only about 10% of that in the room temperature and atmospheric pressure condition.