Steam Explosion Simulation Code JASMINE v.3 User's Guide; Revised for code version 3.3c

Iwasawa, Yuzuru; Matsumoto, Toshinori; Moriyama, Kiyofumi*

JAEA-Data/Code 2025-001, 199 Pages, 2025/06

JAEA-Data-Code-2025-001.pdf:9.71MB

A steam explosion is defined as a phenomenon that occurs when a hot liquid comes into contact with a low-temperature cold liquid with volatile properties. The rapid transfer of heat from the hot liquid to the cold liquid results in a chain reaction of the explosive vaporization of the cold liquid and fine fragmentation of the hot liquid. The explosive vaporization of the cold liquid initiates the propagation of shock waves in the cold liquid. The expansion of the hot and cold liquid mixture exerts mechanical forces on the surrounding structures. In severe accidents of light water reactors, the molten core (melt) is displaced into the coolant water, resulting in fuel-coolant interactions (FCIs). The explosive FCI, referred to as a steam explosion, has been identified as a significant safety assessment issue as it can compromise the integrity of the primary containment vessel. The JASMINE code is an analytical tool developed to evaluate the mechanical forces imposed by steam explosions in nuclear reactors. It performs numerical simulations of steam explosions in a mechanistic manner. The present report describes modeling concepts, basic equations, numerical solutions, and example simulations, as well as instructions for input preparation, code execution, and the use of supporting tools for practical purpose. The present report is the updated version of the "Steam Explosion Simulation Code JASMINE v.3 User's Guide, JAEA-Data/ Code 2008-014". The present report was compiled and updated based on the latest version of the code, JASMINE 3.3c, with corrections for minor errors of the distributed code JASMINE 3.3b, and conformance to recently widely used compilers on UNIX-like environments such as the GNU compiler. The numerical simulations described in the present report were obtained using the latest version JASMINE 3.3c. The latest parameter adjustment method for a model parameter proposed by the previous study is employed to conduct the numerical simulations.

Handbook of Advanced Nuclear Hydrogen Safety (2nd Edition); Development of hydrogen behavior integrated analysis system and application to actual PWR

Terada, Atsuhiko; Thwe Thwe, A.; Hino, Ryutaro*

JAEA-Review 2024-049, 400 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Review-2024-049.pdf:13.94MB

In the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, safety measures against hydrogen in severe accident has been recognized as a serious technical problem in Japan. As one of efforts to form a common knowledge base between nuclear engineers and experts on combustion and explosion, we issued the "Handbook of Advanced Nuclear Hydrogen Safety (1st edition)" in 2017. For improvement of the rational advancement of hydrogen safety measures and further reliability of hydrogen safety evaluation, a CFD analysis is highly expected to produce more precisely and quantitative results. We have been developing an integrated CFD analysis code system which can analyze hydrogen diffusion, explosion-combustion and structural integrity at the severe accident especially for pressurized water reactors (PWRs). We organized the role of LP and the CFD analyses and their utilization examples of hydrogen safety validation. Based on these results, we made the "Handbook of Advanced Nuclear Hydrogen Safety (2nd volume)". The analysis results of real scale PWR described in 2nd volume are confirmed by cross-analysis models and existing data obtained through representative small, medium and large-scale tests.

Detectability of pump/diagrid link rupture in pool-type sodium-cooled fast reactor

Onoda, Yuichi; Uchita, Masato*; Tokizaki, Minako*; Okazaki, Hitoshi*

Nuclear Technology, 20 Pages, 2025/00

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2025.2462367

Heat transfer coefficients model for SIMMER-III and SIMMER-IV

Brear, D. J.*; Kondo, Satoru; Sogabe, Joji; Tobita, Yoshiharu*; Kamiyama, Kenji

JAEA-Research 2024-009, 134 Pages, 2024/10

JAEA-Research-2024-009.pdf:2.45MB

The SIMMER-III/SIMMER-IV computer codes are being used for liquid-metal fast reactor (LMFR) core disruptive accident (CDA) analysis. The sequence of events predicted in a CDA is often influenced by the heat exchanges between LMFR materials, which are controlled by heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) in the respective materials. The mass transfer processes of melting and freezing, and vaporization and condensation are also controlled by HTCs. The complexities in determining HTCs in a multi-component and multi-phase system are the number of HTCs to be defined at binary contact areas of a fluid with other fluids and structure surfaces, and the modes of heat transfer taking into account different flow topologies representing flow regimes with and without structure. As a result, dozens of HTCs are evaluated in each mesh cell for the heat and mass transfer calculations. This report describes the role of HTCs in SIMMER-III/SIMMER-IV, the heat transfer correlations implemented and the calculation of HTCs in all topologies in multi-component, multi-phase flows. A complete description of the physical basis of HTCs and available experimental correlations is contained in Appendices to this report. The major achievement of the code assessment program conducted in parallel with code development is summarized with respect to HTC modeling to demonstrate that the coding is reliable and that the model is applicable to various multi-phase problems with and without reactor materials.

Challenge of novel hybrid-waste-solidification of mobile nuclei generated in Fukushima Nuclear Power Station and establishment of rational disposal concept and its safety assessment (Contract research); FY2022 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Tokyo Institute of Technology*

JAEA-Review 2024-012, 122 Pages, 2024/09

JAEA-Review-2024-012.pdf:6.31MB

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 FY2022. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (hereafter referred to "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 FY2021, this report summarizes the research results of the "Challenge of novel hybrid-waste-solidification of mobile nuclei generated in Fukushima Nuclear Power Station and establishment of rational disposal concept and its safety assessment" conducted in FY2022. The present study aims to establish the rational waste disposal concept of a variety of wastes generated in 1F based on the hybrid-waste-solidification by the Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) method. The ceramics form with target elements, mainly iodine, which is difficult to immobilize, and Minor actinides such as Am, an alphaemitter and heat source, are HIPed with well-studied materials such as SUS and zircaloy, which make the long-term stability evaluation and safety assessment possible.

Application of the GIF safety design criteria and safety design guidelines on decay heat removal system to next generation sodium-cooled fast reactor in Japan

Yamano, Hidemasa; Futagami, Satoshi; Higurashi, Koichi*

Proceedings of Advanced Reactor Safety (ARS 2024), p.121 - 130, 2024/08

This paper describes the application of safety design criteria (SDC) and safety design guideline (SDG) developed in the Generation-IV international forum on decay heat removal system (DHRS) enhancing reliability to sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) recently designed in Japan.

Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Nuclear Criticality Safety (ICNC2023); October 1-6, 2023, Sendai International Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan

Suyama, Kenya; Gunji, Satoshi; Watanabe, Tomoaki; Araki, Shohei; Fukuda, Kodai; Shimada, Kazuya; Fujita, Tatsuya; Ueki, Taro; Nguyen, H.

JAEA-Conf 2024-001, 40 Pages, 2024/07

JAEA-Conf-2024-001.pdf:1.28MB
JAEA-Conf-2024-001-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:163.97MB

The 12th International Conference on Nuclear Criticality Safety (ICNC2023) was held from October 1 to October 6, 2023, at the Sendai International Center (Aobayama, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi-prefecture 980-0856, Japan), organized by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and co-organized by the Reactor Physics Division of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ) and the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD/NEA). 224 presentations passed peer review and 273 technical session registrations, bringing the total number of registered participants to 289, including accompanying persons. Technical tours were also conducted to i) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of TEPCO holdings and Interim Storage Facility Information Center, ii) Nuclear Science Research Institute of JAEA (STACY Renewable Reactor and FCA), iii) NanoTerasu of Tohoku University (synchrotron radiation facility) and Onagawa Nuclear Power Station of Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. This report summarizes the conference and compiles the papers that were presented and agreed to be published in the Proceedings.

Overview of development program for engineering scale extraction chromatography MA(III) recovery system

Watanabe, So; Takahatake, Yoko; Hasegawa, Kenta; Goto, Ichiro*; Miyazaki, Yasunori; Watanabe, Masayuki; Sano, Yuichi; Takeuchi, Masayuki

Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 11(2), p.23-00461_1 - 23-00461_10, 2024/04

https://doi.org/10.1299/mej.23-00461

Effect of fuel particle size on consequences of criticality accidents in water-moderated solid fuel particle dispersion system

Fukuda, Kodai; Yamane, Yuichi

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(12), p.1514 - 1525, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2224327

This study aims to clarify the effect of fuel particle radius on the criticality transient behavior and the total number of fissions in water-moderated solid fuel dispersion systems. Neutronics/thermal hydraulics-coupled kinetics analysis was performed in a hypothetical fuel debris system, where small fuel particles aggregate in water and become supercritical. Results showed that the number of fissions is 10 times larger when the fuel particle radius is reduced by one order of magnitude under conditions where heat transfer, i.e. from fuel to water, is emphasized. Moreover, there is a possibility that lower reactivity could give a larger number of fissions when the fuel particle size is very small. In addition, the number of fissions may be overestimated or underestimated to an unexpected extent unless appropriate fuel particle size is set on the analysis.

Criticality safety evaluation of high active liquid waste during the evaporation to dryness process at Tokai Reprocessing Plant

Miura, Takatomo; Kudo, Atsunari; Koyama, Daisuke; Obu, Tomoyuki; Samoto, Hirotaka

Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Nuclear Criticality Safety (ICNC2023) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2023/10

Tokai Reprocessing Plant (TRP) had reprocessed 1,140 tons of spent fuel discharged from commercial reactors (BWR, PWR) and Advanced Thermal Reactor "Fugen" from 1977 to 2007. TRP had entered decommissioning stage in 2018. In order to reduce the risk of High Active Liquid Waste (HALW) held at the facility, the vitrification of HALW is given top priority. HALW generated from reprocessing of spent fuel contains not only fission products (FPs) but also trace amounts of uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) within the liquid and insoluble residues (sludge). Under normal conditions, concentrations of U and Pu in HALW are very low so that it can not reach criticality. Since FPs with high neutron absorption effect coexists in HALW, even if the cooling function is lost due to serious accident and HALW evaporates to dryness, it is considered that criticality would not been reached. In order to confirm this estimation quantitatively, criticality safety evaluations were carried out for the increase of U and Pu concentrations by evaporation of HALW to the point of dryness. In this evaluation, infinite multiplication factors were calculated for each of solution system and sludge system of HALW with respect to the concentration change through evaporation to dryness. It is confirmed it could not reach criticality. The abundance ratios of U, Pu and FPs were set conservatively based on analytical data and ORIGEN calculation results. Multiplation factors for two-layer infinite slab model of solution and sludge systems of HALW were also calculated, and it was confirmed it could not reached criticality. In conclusion, the result was gaind that there could be no criticality even in the process through evaporation to dryness of HALW in TRP.