Pilot study on thermal, physico-chemical, and mechanical behavior of concrete to understand the failure behavior of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station reactor pressure vessel pedestals (Contract research); FY2023 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Tokai National Higher Education and Research System*

JAEA-Review 2025-034, 83 Pages, 2025/12

JAEA-Review-2025-034.pdf:6.9MB

The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), had been conducting the Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2023. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F), Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). For this purpose, intelligence was collected from all over the world, and basic research and human resource development were promoted by closely integrating/collaborating knowledge and experiences in various fields beyond the barrier of conventional organizations and research fields. The sponsor of the Project was moved from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to JAEA since the newly adopted proposals in FY2018. On this occasion, JAEA constructed a new research system where JAEA-academia collaboration is reinforced and medium-to-long term research/development and human resource development contributing to the decommissioning are stably and consecutively implemented. Among the adopted proposals in FY2023, this report summarizes the research results of the "Pilot study on thermal, physico-chemical, and mechanical behavior of concrete to understand the failure behavior of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station reactor pressure vessel pedestals" conducted in FY2023. The present study aims to examine the mechanism of the collapse of only concrete with rebar remaining in the pedestal in the containment vessel (PCV) of 1F. In verifying concrete-specific factors, (1) to clarify the short-term dissolution mechanism by high temperature, we investigated data acquisition methods in melting experiments, established an analytical framework for determining dissolution, and developed a numerical analysis method for volume change by heating. Additionally, (2) to clarify long-term dissolution mechanism by temperature history, we organized the temperature and water injection history, determined concrete exposure conditions during experiments, and established a method for selecting materials and measuring expansion. Furthermore, we summarized existing knowledge of the expansion phenomenon caused by water supply after high temperature heating. In the verification of special external environmental factors, (1) to evaluate thermal conditions of PCV concrete during an accident, a preliminary heat transfer analysis of fuel debris was conducted. In addition, (2) as elemental behavior tests and comprehensive tests, a preliminary high temperature storage test on concrete materials in a water vapor atmosphere and a preliminary reaction test on the reaction behavior of metal debris and concrete were conducted. Furthermore, uranium-containing suboxides were prepared. This study provided comprehensive insight into the mechanism of concrete failure in 1F Unit 1.

New JENDL-4.0/HE neutron and proton ACE files

Konno, Chikara

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 61(1), p.121 - 126, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2237970

The JENDL-4.0/HE neutron and proton ACE files were produced in 2017 and those of 22 nuclei for neutron and 25 nuclei for proton were bundled in the PHITS code. Recently it was found that the following five data in the JENDL-4.0/HE neutron and proton ACE files had any problems; ACE files for N and O, heating numbers, damage energy production cross sections, secondary neutron multiplicities and fission cross sections. Thus new JENDL-4.0/HE neutron and proton ACE files were produced with the problems fixed. This paper describes the problems and how to produce the new neutron and proton ACE files in detail.

Hydrogen release reaction from sodium hydride with different sample quantities

Doi, Daisuke

Proceedings of 29th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 29) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2022/08

https://doi.org/10.1115/ICONE29-91847

Advancement of elemental analytical model in LEAP-III code for tube failure propagation

Uchibori, Akihiro; Yanagisawa, Hideki*; Takata, Takashi; Li, J.*; Jang, S.*

Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 7(3), p.19-00548_1 - 19-00548_11, 2020/06

https://doi.org/10.1299/mej.19-00548

Evaluation of occurrence possibility of tube failure propagation under sodium-water reaction accident is an important issue. In this study, a numerical analysis method to predict occurrence of failure propagation by overheating rupture was constructed to expand application range of an existing computer code. Applicability of the method was constructed through the numerical analysis of the experiment on water vapor discharging in liquid sodium. To improve the evaluation accuracy for the temperature distribution, a Lagrangian particle model for simulating reacting jet was also developed as an alternative method and its basic function was confirmed.

Oxidation kinetics of silicon carbide in steam at temperature range of 1400 to 1800C studied by laser heating

Pham, V. H.; Nagae, Yuji; Kurata, Masaki; Bottomley, D.; Furumoto, Kenichiro*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 529, p.151939_1 - 151939_8, 2020/02

AA2019-0197.pdf:1.61MB

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151939

Oxidation of silicon carbide in steam studied by laser heating

Pham, V. H.; Nagae, Yuji; Kurata, Masaki; Furumoto, Kenichiro*; Sato, Hisaki*; Ishibashi, Ryo*; Yamashita, Shinichiro

Proceedings of International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference / Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference (Global/Top Fuel 2019) (USB Flash Drive), p.670 - 674, 2019/09

Advancement of numerical analysis method for tube failure propagation

Uchibori, Akihiro; Takata, Takashi; Yanagisawa, Hideki*; Li, J.*; Jang, S.*

Proceedings of 2018 ANS Winter Meeting and Nuclear Technology Expo; Embedded Topical International Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics (ATH 2018) (USB Flash Drive), p.1289 - 1294, 2018/11

Evaluation of occurrence possibility of tube failure propagation under sodium-water reaction accident is an important issue. In this study, a numerical analysis method to predict occurrence of failure propagation by overheating rupture was constructed to expand application range of an existing computer code. Applicability of the method was constructed through the numerical analysis of the experiment on water vapor discharging in liquid sodium. To improve the evaluation accuracy for the temperature distribution, a Lagrangian particle model for simulating reacting jet was also developed as an alternative method and its basic function was confirmed.

Evaluation and demonstration of cutting the fuel assembly heating examination by AWJ

Maruyama, Shinichiro*; Watatani, Satoshi*

Mitsui Sumitomo Kensetsu Gijutsu Kenkyu Kaihatsu Hokoku, (15), p.107 - 112, 2017/10

https://www.smcon.co.jp/company/development-center/report-2017/

It is essential to estimate characteristics and forms of fuel debris for safe and reliable removing at the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (1F). For the estimation, melting behavior of fuel assembly in the accident is being researched. To proceed the research, the fuel debris were need to cut, and the abrasive water jet (AWJ) which had enough results for cutting ceramic material or mixed material of zirconium alloy and stainless. The test results demonstrated that AWJ could cut the fuel assembly and accumulated the cutting data which will be subservient when removing the fuel debris in future.

The Effect of azimuthal temperature distribution on the ballooning and rupture behavior of Zircaloy-4 cladding tube under transient-heating conditions

Narukawa, Takafumi; Amaya, Masaki

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 53(11), p.1758 - 1765, 2016/11

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2016.1158671

Preparation for a new experimental program addressing core-material-relocation behavior during severe accident with BWR design conditions; Conduction of preparatory tests applying non-transfer-type plasma heating technology

Abe, Yuta; Sato, Ikken; Ishimi, Akihiro; Nakagiri, Toshio; Nagae, Yuji

Proceedings of 24th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-24) (DVD-ROM), 7 Pages, 2016/06

https://doi.org/10.1115/ICONE24-60249

A new experimental program using non-transfer type plasma heating is under consideration in JAEA to clarify the uncertainty on core-material relocation (CMR) behavior of BWR. In order to confirm the applicability of this new technology, authors performed preparatory plasma heating tests using small-scale test pieces (107 mm 107 mm 222 mmh). Based on these preliminary results, an excellent perspective in terms of applicability of the non-transfer plasma heating technology to the SA (Severe Accident) experimental study was obtained. Furthermore, JAEA is preparing for the next step intermediate-scale preparatory tests in 2016 using ca. 50 rods and a control blade that would not only confirm its technical applicability, but also some insights relevant to the issue on CMR itself.