Seismic evaluation of the CRDM and the CRDM guide tube for JRR-3

Kikuchi, Masanobu; Kawamura, Sho; Hosoya, Toshiaki

JAEA-Technology 2021-040, 86 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-040.pdf:3.26MB

In JRR-3, in response to new regulatory standard for research and test reactor which is enforced December 2013, we established new design basis ground motion for confirming new regulatory standard and carried out seismic evaluations of the appointments, instruments and structures which are installed in JRR-3 by using that earthquake motion. This report shows that the result of evaluations by fatigue strength evaluation, which is more detailed evaluation approach, about Control Rod Drive Mechanism (CRDM) and the CRDM Guide Tube that have gotten the serious result of seismic safety margin by using time history response analysis method. As a result, it was confirmed that CRDM and the CRDM Guide Tube have sufficient seismic safety margin.

Development of genetic and electrochemical diagnosis and inhibition technologies for invisible corrosion caused by microorganisms (Contract Research); FY2021 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; National Institute for Materials Science*

JAEA-Review 2022-045, 82 Pages, 2023/01

JAEA-Review-2022-045.pdf:4.6MB

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 FY2021. 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 FY2020, this report summarizes the research results of the "Development of genetic and electrochemical diagnosis and inhibition technologies for invisible corrosion caused by microorganisms" conducted in FY2021. The present study aims to develop innovative diagnostic techniques such as accelerated test specimens and on-site genetic testing for microbially induced and accelerated corrosion of metallic materials (microbially influenced corrosion, MIC), and to identify the conditions that promote MIC at 1F for proposing methods to prevent MIC through water quality and environmental control. We also aim to develop a research base based on materials, microorganisms, and electrochemistry, to develop technologies that can be used by engineers in the field, and to cultivate

Liquid phase sintering of alumina-silica co-doped cerium dioxide CeO ceramics

Vauchy, R.; Hirooka, Shun; Watanabe, Masashi; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Sunaoshi, Takeo*; Yamada, Tadahisa*; Nakamichi, Shinya; Murakami, Tatsutoshi

Ceramics International, 49(2), p.3058 - 3065, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.09.295

Assessment report on "Technical Supports for Nuclear Safety Regulation and Safety Research for their Purpose" in FY 2021 (Post- and pre-review assessment)

Planning and Co-ordination Office, Sector of Nuclear Safety Research and Emergency Preparedness

JAEA-Evaluation 2022-008, 68 Pages, 2022/11

JAEA-Evaluation-2022-008.pdf:2.01MB
JAEA-Evaluation-2022-008-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:64.08MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) consulted an assessment committee, "Evaluation Committee of Research and Development (R&D) Activities for Nuclear Safety Research", for post-review and pre-review assessments of Nuclear Safety Research, in accordance with "General Guideline for Evaluation of Government R&D Activities" by Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, "Guideline for Evaluation of R&D in Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology" and "Regulation on Conduct for Evaluation of R&D Activities" by JAEA. In response to the JAEA's consult, the Committee assessed the results and outcomes of the R&D programs during the 3rd mid-/long-term plan (from April 2015 to March 2022, including the expected results and outcomes) and the validity of the 4th mid-/long-term plan (7 years from FY2022), according to the above-mentioned guidelines. The Committee concluded that the rationale behind the R&D programs, the relevance of the program outcome and the efficiency of the program implementation during the 3rd mid-/long-term plan are comprehensively evaluated as "A", and the R&D programs for the 4th mid-/long-term plan is generally appropriate. This report summarizes the results of the assessment by the Committee. In addition, the appendices of the report contain the responses from JAEA on the comments and suggestions by the Committee and the presentation materials submitted to the Committee.

Assessment report of research on development activities in FY 2021 Activity; "Computational Science and Technology Research" (Result and in-advance evaluation)

Center for Computational Science & e-Systems

JAEA-Evaluation 2022-003, 61 Pages, 2022/11

JAEA-Evaluation-2022-003.pdf:1.42MB
JAEA-Evaluation-2022-003-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:6.16MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (hereinafter referred to as "JAEA") consults an assessment committee, "Evaluation Committee of Research Activities for Computational Science and Technology Research" (hereinafter referred to as "Committee") for result and in-advance evaluation of "Computational Science and Technology Research", in accordance with "General Guideline for the Evaluation of Government Research and Development (R&D) Activities" by Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, "Guideline for Evaluation of R&D in Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology" and "Regulation on Conduct for Evaluation of R&D Activities" by the JAEA. In response to the JAEA's request, the Committee assessed the research program of the Center for Computational Science and e-Systems (hereinafter referred to as "CCSE"). The Committee evaluated the management and research activities of the CCSE based on explanatory documents prepared by the CCSE, and oral presentations with questions-and answers.

Thermal-neutron capture cross-section measurements of neptunium-237 with graphite thermal column in KUR

Nakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji*; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(11), p.1388 - 1398, 2022/11

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2058639

The present study selected Np among radioactive nuclides and aimed to measure the thermal-neutron capture cross-section for Np in a well-thermalized neutron field by an activation method. A Np standard solution was used for irradiation samples. A thermal-neutron flux at an irradiation position was measured with neutron flux monitors: Sc, Co, Mo, Ta and Au. The Np sample and flux monitors were irradiated together for 30 minutes in the graphite thermal column equipped with the Kyoto University Research Reactor. The similar irradiation was carried out twice. After the irradiations, the Np samples were quantified using 312-keV gamma ray emitted from Pa in a radiation equilibrium with Np. The reaction rates of Np were obtained from gamma-ray peak net counts given by Np, and then the thermal-neutron capture cross-section of Np was found to be 173.84.4 barn by averaging the results obtained by the two irradiations. The present result was in agreement with the reported data given by a time-of-flight method within the limit of uncertainty.

Instability phenomena of lean hydrogen/oxygen/inert-gas premixed flames on a flat burner

Katsumi, Toshiyuki; Thwe, T. A.; Kadowaki, Satoshi

Journal of Visualization, 25(5), p.1075 - 1083, 2022/10

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-022-00844-9

Lean combustion and inert-gas addition are useful to control the burning velocity of hydrogen premixed flames, and it is well known that the cellular structure forms on the front of lean hydrogen flames owing to intrinsic instability. However, the influences of inert-gas addition on the instability phenomena of lean hydrogen premixed flames are not understood fully, and then it is needed to be investigated the flame instability experimentally. In the experiments, the cellular structure and fluctuation of H/O/inert gases (Ar, N,CO) premixed flames on a flat burner were obtained using direct observation, laser diagnostics and light emission intensity to elucidate the characteristics of instability phenomena. As the results, the correlation of inert-gas addition, equivalence ratio and total flow rate with the characteristics of cellular flames was revealed, and the influences of these parameters on flame instability were discussed.

Characterization of bremsstrahlung and -rays of fuel debris

Matsumura, Taichi; Okumura, Keisuke; Fujita, Manabu*; Sakamoto, Masahiro; Terashima, Kenichi; Riyana, E. S.

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 199, p.110298_1 - 110298_8, 2022/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2022.110298

Study on the relation between the crystal structure and thermal stability of FeUO and CrUO

Akiyama, Daisuke*; Kusaka, Ryoji; Kumagai, Yuta; Nakada, Masami; Watanabe, Masayuki; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Nagai, Takayuki; Sato, Nobuaki*; Kirishima, Akira*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 568, p.153847_1 - 153847_10, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153847

FeUO, CrUO, and FeCrUO are monouranates containing pentavalent U. Even though these compounds have similar crystal structures, their formation conditions and thermal stability are significantly different. To determine the factors causing the difference in thermal stability between FeUO and CrUO, their crystal structures were evaluated in detail. A Raman band was observed at 700 cm in all the samples. This Raman band was derived from the stretching vibration of the O-U-O axis band, indicating that FeCrUO was composed of a uranyl-like structure in its lattice regardless of its "x"' value. Mssbauer measurements indicated that the Fe in FeUO and FeCrUO were trivalent. Furthermore, FeCrUO lost its symmetry around Fe with increasing electron densities around Fe, as the abundance of Cr increased. These results suggested no significant structural differences between FeUO and CrUO. Thermogravimetric measurements for UO, FeUO, and CrUO showed that the temperature at which FeUO decomposed under an oxidizing condition (approximately 800 C) was significantly lower than the temperature at which the decomposition of CrUO started (approximately 1250 C). Based on these results, we concluded that the decomposition of FeUO was triggered by an ``in-crystal'' redox reaction, i.e., Fe U Fe U, which would not occur in the CrUO lattice because Cr could never be reduced under the investigated condition. Finally, the existence of Cr in FexCrUO effectively suppressed the decomposition of the FeCrUO crystal, even at a very low Cr content.

MCNP6 calculation of neutron flux map in the HTTR during normal operation

Ho, H. Q.; Ishitsuka, Etsuo; Iigaki, Kazuhiko

Recent Contributions to Physics, 82(3), p.16 - 20, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.26577/RCPh.2022.v82.i3.03