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Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Funatani, Shumpei*
Proceedings of 13th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS13) (Internet), 11 Pages, 2024/11
Our research objectives are to develop a VCS that utilizes radiative cooling to passively remove decay heat and residual heat from the RPV during expected and unexpected natural phenomena and accidents. To solve the back pressure problem around the inlet and outlet, it is necessary to minimize reliance on fluid actuation, such as water, air, etc., and to avoid using natural circulation or natural convection as much as possible to improve safety against external hazards. In this presentation, we present the structural concept of the proposed VCS integrated with the reactor building and report the results of the cooling performance evaluation based on the results of experimental and analytical studies conducted to date.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi
Kakushinteki Reikyaku Gijutsu; Mekanizumu Kara Soshi, Shisutemu Kaihatsu Made, p.179 - 183, 2024/01
The HTGR has excellent safety, and even in the event of an accident where the reactor coolant is lost, the decay heat and residual heat in the core can be dissipated from the outer surface of the RPV, so the fuel temperature never exceeds the limit value, and the core stabilizes. On the other hand, regarding the cooling system that transports the heat emitted from the RPV to the final heat sink, an active cooling system using forced circulation of water by a pump, etc., and a passive cooling system using natural circulation of the atmosphere have been proposed. However, there is a problem that the cooling performance is affected by the operation of dynamic equipment and weather conditions. This paper presents an overview of a new cooling system concept using radiative cooling, which has been proposed to solve the above problem, and introduces the results of analysis and experiments aimed at confirming the feasibility of this concept.
Banno, Masaki*; Funatani, Shumpei*; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi
Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2023/05
A fundamental study on the safety of a passive cooling system for the RPV with radiative cooling is conducted. The object of this study is to demonstrate that passive RPV cooling system with radiative cooling is extremely safe and reliable even in the event of natural disasters. Therefore, an experimental apparatus, which is about 1/20 scale of the actual cooling system, was fabricated with several stainless steel containers. The surface of the heating element in the experimental apparatus simulates the surface of the RPV, and the heating element generates natural convection and radiation. A comparison of the Grashof number between the actual cooling system and the experimental apparatus confirmed that both were turbulent, and the experimental results as a scale model are valuable. Moreover, the experimental results confirmed that the heat generated from the surface of the RPV during the rated operation can be removed.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Funatani, Shumpei*
Proceedings of 2023 International Congress on Advanced in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2023) (Internet), 17 Pages, 2023/04
The objectives of this study are as follows: to understand the characteristics, degree of passive safety features for heat removal were compared for RCCSs based on atmospheric radiation and based on atmospheric natural circulation under the same conditions. Therefore, the authors concluded that the proposed RCCS based on atmospheric radiation has the advantage that the temperature of the RPV can be stably maintained against disturbances in the outside air (ambient air). Moreover, methodology to utilize all the heat emitted from the RPV surface for increasing the degree of waste-heat utilization was discussed.
Banno, Masaki*; Funatani, Shumpei*; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi
Yamanashi Koenkai 2022 Koen Rombunshu (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2022/10
A fundamental study on the safety of a passive cooling system for the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) with radiative cooling is conducted. The object of this study is to demonstrate that passive RPV cooling system with radiative cooling is extremely safe and reliable even in the event of natural disasters. Therefore, an experimental apparatus, which is about 1/20 scale of the actual cooling system, was fabricated with several stainless steel containers. The surface of the heating element in the experimental apparatus simulates the surface of the RPV, and the heating element generates natural convection and radiation. As a result of the experiments, we succeeded in visualizing the natural convection in the experimental apparatus in detail.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Liu, W.*; Morita, Koji*
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 162, p.108512_1 - 108512_10, 2021/11
Times Cited Count：1 Percentile：12.48(Nuclear Science & Technology)The objectives of this study are as follows: to understand the characteristics, degree of passive safety features for heat removal were compared for RCCSs based on atmospheric radiation and based on atmospheric natural circulation under the same conditions. Next, simulations on accidental conditions, such as increasing average heat-transfer coefficient via natural convection due to natural disasters, were performed with STAR-CCM+, and methodology to control the amount of heat removal was discussed. As a result, a new RCCS based on atmospheric radiation is recommended because of the excellent degree of passive safety features/conditions, and the amount of heat removal by heat transfer surfaces which can be controlled. Finally, methodology to determine structural thickness of scaled-down heat removal test facilities for reproducing natural convection and radiation was developed, and experimental methods by using pressurized and decompressed chambers was also proposed.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Liu, W.*; Morita, Koji*
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 151, p.107867_1 - 107867_11, 2021/02
Times Cited Count：2 Percentile：24.93(Nuclear Science & Technology)A new RCCS with passive safety features consists of two continuous closed regions. One is a region surrounding RPV. The other is a cooling region with heat transferred to the ambient air. The new RCCS needs no electrical or mechanical driving devices. We compared the RCCS using atmospheric radiation with that using atmospheric natural circulation in terms of passive safety features and control methods for heat removal. The magnitude relationship for passive safety features is heat conduction 
radiation natural convection. Therefore, the magnitude for passive safety features of the former RCCS can be higher than that of the latter RCCS. In controlling the heat removal, the former RCCS changes the heat transfer area only. On the other hand, the latter RCCS needs to change the chimney effect. It is necessary to change the air resistance in the duct. Therefore, the former RCCS can control the heat removal more easily than the latter RCCS.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Liu, W.*; Morita, Koji*
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 133, p.830 - 836, 2019/11
Times Cited Count：2 Percentile：19.31(Nuclear Science & Technology)A RCCS having passive safety features through radiation and natural convection was proposed. The RCCS design consists of two continuous closed regions: an ex-reactor pressure vessel region and a cooling region with a heat-transfer surface to ambient air. The RCCS uses a novel shape to remove efficiently the heat released from the RPV through as much radiation as possible. Employing air as the working fluid and ambient air as the ultimate heat sink, the RCCS design can strongly reduce the possibility of losing the working fluid and the heat sink for decay-heat-removal. Moreover, the authors started experiment research with using a scaled-down heat-removal test facility. Therefore, this study propose a comparative methodology between an actual RCCS and a scaled-down heat-removal test facility.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Liu, W.*; Morita, Koji*
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 122, p.201 - 206, 2018/12
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：35.54(Nuclear Science & Technology)A RCCS having passive safety features through radiation and natural convection was proposed. The RCCS design consists of two continuous closed regions: an ex-reactor pressure vessel region and a cooling region with a heat-transfer surface to ambient air. The RCCS uses a novel shape to remove efficiently the heat released from the RPV through as much radiation as possible. Employing air as the working fluid and ambient air as the ultimate heat sink, the RCCS design can strongly reduce the possibility of losing the working fluid and the heat sink for decay-heat-removal. This study addresses an improvement of heat-removal capability using heat conduction on the RCCS. As a result, a heat flux removed by the RCCS could be doubled; therefore, it is possible to halve the height of the RCCS or increase the thermal reactor power.
Hosomi, Seisuke*; Akashi, Tomoyasu*; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Liu, W.*; Morita, Koji*; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi
Proceedings of 11th Korea-Japan Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS-11) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2018/11
A new RCCS with passive safety features consists of two continuous closed regions. One is a region surrounding RPV. The other is a cooling region with heat transferred to the ambient air. The new RCCS needs no electrical or mechanical driving devices. We started experiment research with using a scaled-down test section. Three experimental cases under different emissivity conditions were performed. We used Monte Carlo method to evaluate the contribution of radiation to the total heat released from the heater. As a result, after the heater wall was painted black, the contribution of radiation to the total heat could be increased to about 60%. A high emissivity of RPV surface is very effective to remove more heat from the reactor. A high emissivity of the cooling part wall is also effective because it not only increases the radiation emitted to the ambient air, but also may increase the temperature difference among the walls and enhance the convection heat transfer in the RCCS.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Morita, Koji*
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 96, p.137 - 147, 2016/10
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：41.31(Nuclear Science & Technology)After Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster by TEPCO, a cooling system to prevent core damage became more important from the perspective of defense in depth. Therefore, a new, highly efficient RCCS with passive safety features without a requirement for electricity and mechanical drive is proposed. Employing the air as the working fluid and the ambient air as the ultimate heat sink, the new RCCS design strongly reduces the possibility of losing the heat sink for decay heat removal. The RCCS can always stably and passively remove a part of the released heat at the rated operation and the decay heat after reactor shutdown. Specifically, emergency power generators are not necessary and the decay heat can be passively removed for a long time, even forever if the heat removal capacity of the RCCS is sufficient. We can also define the experimental conditions on radiation and natural convection for the scale-down heat removal test facility.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Morita, Koji*
Proceedings of 2016 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2016) (CD-ROM), p.1250 - 1257, 2016/04
After Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster by TEPCO, a cooling system to prevent core damage became more important from the perspective of defense in depth. Therefore, a new, highly efficient RCCS with passive safety features without a requirement for electricity and mechanical drive is proposed. Employing the air as the working fluid and the ambient air as the ultimate heat sink, the new RCCS design strongly reduces the possibility of losing the heat sink for decay heat removal. The RCCS can always stably and passively remove a part of the released heat at the rated operation and the decay heat after reactor shutdown. Specifically, emergency power generators are not necessary and the decay heat can be passively removed for a long time, even forever if the heat removal capacity of the RCCS is sufficient. We can also define the experimental conditions on radiation and natural convection for the scale-down heat removal test facility.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi
Journal of Thermal Science, 24(3), p.295 - 301, 2015/06
Times Cited Count：2 Percentile：10.96(Thermodynamics)Before rise-to-power tests, the actual measured value of heat released from the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) or removed by the Vessel Cooling System (VCS) cannot be obtained. It is difficult for operators to evaluate the reactor outlet coolant temperature supplied from the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) before rise-to-power tests. Therefore, when the actual measured value of heat released from the RPV or removed by the VCS are changed during rise-to-power tests, operators need to evaluate quickly, within a few minutes, the heat removed by the VCS and the reactor outlet coolant temperature of 30 (MW), at the 100% of the reactor power, before the temperature achieves to 967 (
C) which is the maximum temperature limit generating the reactor scram. In this paper, a rapid evaluation method for use by operators is presented.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Hu, R.*
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 77, p.165 - 171, 2015/03
Times Cited Count：15 Percentile：75.79(Nuclear Science & Technology)A new, highly efficient reactor cavity cooling system (RCCS) with passive safety features without a requirement for electricity and mechanical drive is proposed. The RCCS design consists of continuous closed regions; one is an ex-reactor pressure vessel (RPV) region and another is a cooling region having heat transfer area to ambient air assumed at 40 (C). The RCCS uses a novel shape to efficiently remove the heat released from the RPV with radiation and natural convection. Employing the air as the working fluid and the ambient air as the ultimate heat sink, the new RCCS design strongly reduces the possibility of losing the heat sink for decay heat removal.
Saikusa, Akio*; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Fujimoto, Nozomu; Tachibana, Yukio; Iyoku, Tatsuo
JAERI-Data/Code 2002-027, 34 Pages, 2003/02
JAERI-Data-Code-2002-027.pdf:1.22MB
High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) is the first graphite-moderated helium gas cooled reactor in Japan. The rise-to-power test of the HTTR started on September 28,1999 and thermal power of the HTTR reached its full power of 30 MW on December 7, 2001. Vessel Cooling System (VCS) of the HTTR is a first Reactor Cavity Cooling System applied for High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors. The VCS cools the core indirectly through the reactor pressure vessel to keep core integrity during the loss of core flow accidents such as depressurization accident. Minimum heat removal of the VCS to satisfy its safety requirement is 0.3MW at 30 MW power operation. Through the performance test of the VCS in the rise-to-power test of the HTTR, it is confirmed that the VCS heat removal at 30 MW power operation is higher than 0.3MW. This paper shows outline of the VCS and test results on the VCS performance.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi
no journal, ,
The Ibaraki Block of the Kanto Branch of The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) organized a seminar for first-year students of the Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, College of Engineering at the Ibaraki University. As an introductory seminar to the university, I give a presentation on career-paths for engineers in JAEA at the 19th "I understand" engineers lecture for students.
Yamaguchi, Shuhei*; Sato, Noriyasu*; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Morita, Koji*; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi
no journal, ,
After Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster by TEPCO, a cooling system to prevent core damage became more important from the perspective of defense in depth. Therefore, a new, highly efficient RCCS with passive safety features without a requirement for electricity and mechanical drive is proposed. Employing the air as the working fluid and the ambient air as the ultimate heat sink, the new RCCS design strongly reduces the possibility of losing the heat sink for decay heat removal. The RCCS can always stably and passively remove a part of the released heat at the rated operation and the decay heat after reactor shutdown. Last year, we built the scale-down heat removal test facility and now conduct experiments to understand the heat-transfer characteristics. As a result, we could assess effect of radiation quantitatively for passive decay heat removal from the RPV.
Yamaguchi, Shuhei*; Sato, Noriyasu*; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Morita, Koji*; Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi
no journal, ,
After Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster by TEPCO, a cooling system to prevent core damage became more important from the perspective of defense in depth. Therefore, a new, highly efficient RCCS with passive safety features without a requirement for electricity and mechanical drive is proposed. Employing the air as the working fluid and the ambient air as the ultimate heat sink, the new RCCS design strongly reduces the possibility of losing the heat sink for decay heat removal. The RCCS can always stably and passively remove a part of the released heat at the rated operation and the decay heat after reactor shutdown. In 205, we built the scale-down heat removal test facility and now conduct experiments to understand the heat-transfer characteristics. As a result, we could assess effect of radiation quantitatively for passive decay heat removal from the RPV.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Morita, Koji*
no journal, ,
A new, highly efficient reactor cavity cooling system (RCCS) with passive safety features without a requirement for electricity and mechanical drive is proposed. The RCCS design consists of continuous closed regions; one is an ex-reactor pressure vessel (RPV) region and another is a cooling region having heat transfer area to ambient air assumed at 40C. The RCCS uses a novel shape to efficiently remove the heat released from the RPV with radiation and natural convection. Employing the air as the working fluid and the ambient air as the ultimate heat sink, the new RCCS design strongly reduces the possibility of losing the heat sink for decay heat removal.
Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Funatani, Shumpei*
no journal, ,
Our research objectives are to develop a VCS that utilizes radiative cooling to passively remove decay heat and residual heat from the RPV during expected and unexpected natural phenomena and accidents. To solve the back pressure problem around the inlet and outlet, it is necessary to minimize reliance on fluid actuation, such as water, air, etc., and to avoid using natural circulation or natural convection as much as possible to improve safety against external hazards. In this presentation, we present the structural concept of the proposed VCS integrated with the reactor building and report the results of the cooling performance evaluation based on the results of experimental and analytical studies conducted to date.
