In-situ measurement of radiation driven back-conversion from para to ortho liquid hydrogen state in cold moderators at J-PARC

Teshigawara, Makoto; Lee, Y.*; Tatsumoto, Hideki*; Hartl, M.*; Aso, Tomokazu; Iverson, E. B.*; Ariyoshi, Gen; Ikeda, Yujiro*; Hasegawa, Takumi*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 557, p.165534_1 - 165534_10, 2024/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2024.165534

At Japanese Spallation Neutron Source in J-PARC, the para-hydrogen fraction was measured by using Raman spectroscopy in-situ for an integrated beam power of 9.4 MWh at 1 MW operation, to evaluate the functionality of the ferric oxyhydroxide catalyst. This result showed that full functionality of the catalyst was retained up to the 1 MW operation. We attempted to study the effect of neutron scattering driven para to ortho-hydrogen back-conversion rate in the absence of the catalyst effect with a bypass line without catalyst. The measured increase of ortho-hydrogen fraction was 0.44% for an integrated beam power of 2.4 MWh at 500 kW operation, however, which was considered to be due to not only to neutron collisions in cold moderators but also to the high ortho-hydrogen fraction of initially static liquid hydrogen in the bypass line and passive exudation of quasi-static hydrogen in the catalyst vessel to the main loop.

Design of the SPring-8 JAEA beamline BL22XU

Shiwaku, Hideaki; Marushita, Motoharu*

JAEA-Research 2022-015, 39 Pages, 2023/05

JAEA-Research-2022-015.pdf:2.74MB

We designed the hard X-ray undulator beamline BL22XU, which is dedicated to Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) at SPring-8 (now Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)). BL22XU is used for XAFS (X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) analysis experiments to develop separation and extraction materials for radioactive waste treatment and to elucidate their chemical behavior, magnetic research experiments using a diffractometer, and experiments under extreme conditions using a high-pressure press and a diamond anvil cell. The available X-ray energy range was set from 3 to 70 keV. To design the optics of the beamline, the reflectivity of the mirrors, the diffraction width of the monochromatic crystal, and the absorptance of the Be window were calculated. In addition, ray tracing was performed to optimize the materials for optics, dimensions, and location. The delay time of the ADL (Acoustic Delay Line) was also examined to ensure the safety in the use of radioactive materials. The operation of BL22XU "JAEA Actinide Science I" has already started. By collaborating BL22XU and BL23SU "JAEA Actinide Science II," which uses a soft X-ray undulator as a light source, we solve the problems to promote nuclear sciences. Since the monochromator was upgraded in 2018-2019, initial planning and measured data are documented here again.

Design and beam dynamics studies of an ADS RFQ based on an equipartitioned beam scheme

Yee-Rendon, B.; Kondo, Yasuhiro; Tamura, Jun; Nakano, Keita; Maekawa, Fujio; Meigo, Shinichiro; Jameson, R. A.*

Proceedings of 19th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (Internet), p.499 - 502, 2023/01

https://www.pasj.jp/web_publish/pasj2022/proceedings/PDF/WEP0/WEP001.pdf

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is designing a 30-MW proton linear accelerator (linac) for the accelerator-driven subcritical system (ADS). The Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) is an essential component for the performance of high-intensity linac, especially in ADS, where stringent reliability is demanded. The present RFQ will capture a 20 mA proton beam and accelerate from the energy of 35 keV to 2.5 MeV, where the space-charge effects are severe. The present RFQ's design employs the equipartitioning (EP) beam scheme to control the emittance growth and compactness. As a result, the beam halo formation was minimized and allowed to optimize the superconducting linac downstream part. A remarkable feature of this RFQ is the low Kilpatrick factor of 1.2 adopted to achieve high stability by reducing the probability of surface sparking on the vane. This work presents and discusses the results of this RFQ design.

Current status of new research reactor at the Monju Site

Mineo, Hideaki

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 64(11), p.617 - 621, 2022/11

https://doi.org/10.3327/jaesjb.64.11_617

In December 2016 Decisions were made by the Government on the Fast Breeder Prototype Reactor "Monju", which were decommissioning of the reactor and installation of a new research reactor at the Monju site. After the decisions, MEXT started research to list reactor candidates suitable for the site. Among the candidates, medium power reactor type of which thermal output less than 10,000 kW was chosen to utilize neutron beams. Then, from 2020, MEXT launched an entrusted business and adopted JAEA, Kyoto University and University of Fukui as the core institutions of the business to carry out the conceptual design. This paper describes the system to proceed the conceptual design and to examine the utilization management of the new research reactor and also shows their status.

R&D on Accelerator Driven Nuclear Transmutation System (ADS) at J-PARC, 4; Proton beam technology and neutronics

Meigo, Shinichiro; Nakano, Keita; Iwamoto, Hiroki

Purazuma, Kaku Yugo Gakkai-Shi, 98(5), p.216 - 221, 2022/05

For the realization of accelerator-driven transmutation systems (ADS) and the construction of the ADS target test facility (TEF-T) at J-PARC, it is necessary to study the proton beam handling technology and neutronics for protons in the GeV energy region. Accordingly, the Nuclear Transmutation Division of J-PARC has studied these issues with using J-PARC's accelerator facilities, and so on. This paper introduces these topics.

Neutronic analysis of beam window and LBE of an Accelerator-Driven System

Nakano, Keita; Iwamoto, Hiroki; Nishihara, Kenji; Meigo, Shinichiro; Sugawara, Takanori; Iwamoto, Yosuke; Takeshita, Hayato*; Maekawa, Fujio

JAEA-Research 2021-018, 41 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA-Research-2021-018.pdf:2.93MB

Neutronic analysis of beam window of the Accelerator-Driven System (ADS) proposed by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducted using PHITS and DCHAIN-PHITS codes. We investigate gas production of hydrogen and helium isotopes in the beam window, displacement per atom of beam window material, and heat generation in the beam window. In addition, distributions of produced nuclides, heat density, and activity are derived. It was found that at the maximum 12500 appm H production, 1800 appm He production, and damage of 62.1 DPA occurred in the beam window by the ADS operation. On the other hand, the maximum heat generation in the beam window was 374 W/cm. In the analysis of LBE, Bi and Po were found to be the dominant nuclides in decay heat and radioactivity. Furthermore, the heat generation in the LBE by the proton beam was maximum around 5 cm downstream of the beam window, which was 945 W/cm.

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.

Recent status of the pulsed spallation neutron source at J-PARC

Takada, Hiroshi; Haga, Katsuhiro

JPS Conference Proceedings (Internet), 28, p.081003_1 - 081003_7, 2020/02

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSCP.28.081003

At the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), the pulsed spallation neutron source has been in operation with a redesigned mercury target vessel from October 2017 to July 2018, during which the operational beam power was restored to 500 kW and the operation with a 1-MW equivalent beam was demonstrated for one hour. The target vessel includes a gas-micro-bubbles injector and a 2-mm-wide narrow mercury flow channel at the front end as measures to suppress the cavitation damage. After the operating period, it was observed that the cavitation damage at the 3-mm-thick front end of the target vessel could be suppressed less than 17.5 m.

Safety design report on J-PARC Transmutation Physics Experimental Facility (TEF-P)

Partitioning and Transmutation Technology Division, Nuclear Science and Engineering Center

JAEA-Technology 2017-033, 383 Pages, 2018/02

JAEA-Technology-2017-033.pdf:28.16MB

JAEA is pursuing research and development (R&D) on volume reduction and mitigation of degree of harmfulness of high-level radioactive waste. Construction of Transmutation Experimental Facility (TEF) is under planning as one of the second phase facilities in the Japan Proton Accelerator Complex (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 liquid lead-bismuth eutectic target. Whereas in TEF-P, by introducing a proton beam to minor actinide loaded cores, reactor physical properties of the cores are to be studied, and operation experiences of ADS are to be acquired. This report summarizes results of safety design for establishment permit of one of two TEF facilities, TEF-P.

J-PARC transmutation experimental facility program and situation of the world

Maekawa, Fujio; Sasa, Toshinobu

Enerugi Rebyu, 37(9), p.15 - 18, 2017/08

Accelerator driven nuclear transmutation systems (ADS) are under development for reducing nuclear waste. The J-PARC Transmutation Experimental Facility program and situation of the world for the ADS development are introduced.