Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors

Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Morishita, Masaki*; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ando, Masanori; Ashida, Takashi; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Doda, Norihiro; Enuma, Yasuhiro; Ezure, Toshiki; Fukano, Yoshitaka; et al.

Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors; JSME Series in Thermal and Nuclear Power Generation, Vol.3, 631 Pages, 2022/07

https://shop.elsevier.com/books/sodium-cooled-fast-reactors/morishita/978-0-12-824076-2

This book is a collection of the past experience of design, construction, and operation of two reactors, the latest knowledge and technology for SFR designs, and the future prospects of SFR development in Japan. It is intended to provide the perspective and the relevant knowledge to enable readers to become more familiar with SFR technology.

Numerical analysis for FP speciation in VERDON-2 experiment; Chemical re-vaporization of iodine in air ingress condition

Shiotsu, Hiroyuki; Ito, Hiroto*; Sugiyama, Tomoyuki; Maruyama, Yu

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 163, p.108587_1 - 108587_9, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2021.108587

Computer code analysis of irradiation performance of axially heterogeneous mixed oxide fuel elements attaining high burnup in a fast reactor

Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Yokoyama, Keisuke; Nemoto, Junichi*; Ishitani, Ikuo*; Ito, Masahiro*; Pelletier, M.*

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 359, p.110448_1 - 110448_7, 2020/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2019.110448

Coupled computer code analyses of irradiation performance of axially heterogeneous mixed oxide (MOX) fuel elements with high burnup in a fast reactor were conducted. Post-irradiation experiments revealed local concentration of Cs near the interfaces between MOX fuel and blanket columns including the internal blanket of the fuel elements as well as an increase in their cladding diameters. The analyses indicated that the local Cs concentration occurred as a result of Cs axial migration from the MOX fuels toward the blanket pellets near the interfaces. Swelling of the blanket pellets induced by the formation of low-density Cs-U-O compound was not sufficient to cause pellet-to-cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI). The PCMI analyzed in the MOX fuel column regions was insignificant, and the cladding diameter increases were caused mainly by void swelling in cladding and irradiation creep due to fission gas pressure.

CHEMKEq; Evaluation code for chemical composition based on partial mixed model with Chemical Equilibrium and Reaction Kinetics (Contract research)

Ito, Hiroto*; Shiotsu, Hiroyuki; Tanaka, Yoichi*; Nishihara, Satomichi*; Sugiyama, Tomoyuki; Maruyama, Yu

JAEA-Data/Code 2018-012, 42 Pages, 2018/10

JAEA-Data-Code-2018-012.pdf:4.93MB

Chemical composition of fission products transported in nuclear facilities in severe accidents is controlled by slower chemical reaction rates, therefore, it could be different from that evaluated on the chemical equilibrium assumption. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the chemical composition with reaction kinetics. On the other hand, databases applicable to the analysis of nuclear facilities have not been constructed because knowledge of reaction rates of complex chemical reactions in severe accidents is currently limited. Accordingly, we have developed the CHEMKEq code based on a partial mixed model with chemical equilibrium and reaction kinetics to decrease uncertainties of the chemical composition caused by the reaction rate. The CHEMKEq code, under mass conservation law, firstly evaluates chemical species obeying the chemical equilibrium model, and then, relatively slow reactions are solved by the reaction kinetics model. Moreover, the CHEMKEq code has a multiplicity of use in evaluations of chemical composition because general chemical equilibrium and reaction kinetics models are also available and databases required to calculation are external file formats. This report is the user's guide of the CHEMKEq code, showing models, solution methods, structure of the code and calculation examples. And information to run the CHEMKEq code is summarized in appendixes.

Analyses of deformation and thermal-hydraulics within a wire-wrapped fuel subassembly in a liquid metal fast reactor by the coupled code system

Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Ito, Masahiro*

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 317, p.133 - 145, 2017/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2017.03.026

The coupled numerical analysis of mechanical and thermal behaviors was performed for a wire-wrap fuel pin bundle subassembly irradiated in a fast reactor. For the analysis, the fuel pin bundle deformation analysis code BAMBOO and the thermal hydraulics analysis code ASFRE exchanged the deformation and temperature analysis results through the iterative calculations to attain convergence corresponding to the static balance between deformation and temperature. The analysis by the coupled code system showed that radial distribution of coolant temperatures in a subassembly tended to be flattened as a result of the fuel pin bundle deformation governed by cladding void swelling and irradiation creep. Such temperature distribution was slightly analyzed as a result of the small bowing of the fuel pins due to the cladding-wire interaction even when no bundle-duct interaction occurred. The effect of the spacer wire-pitch on deformation and thermal hydraulics was also investigated in this study.

Development of a mixed oxide fuel pin performance analysis code "CEDAR"; Models and analyses of fuel pin irradiation behavior

Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Mizuno, Tomoyasu; Nemoto, Junichi*; Ishitani, Ikuo*; Ito, Masahiro*

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 280, p.27 - 36, 2014/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2014.08.032

A deterministic computer code CEDAR has been developed to analyze irradiation behaviors of a mixed-oxide fuel pellet pin in a FBR. The FEM was incorporated into the mechanical calculation part of the code for properly analyzing stress-strain status in the fuel pellet and cladding, and mechanical interaction between the fuel pellet and cladding. The code features mechanistic analyses of irradiation behaviors of a fuel pin by integrating a lot of models to analyze major irradiation phenomena, thus expressing actual fuel pin irradiation behaviors. Analysis capabilities of the code were validated by calculations of fuel pellet temperatures, fractional fission gas releases of fuel pins and fuel pin cladding diametral strain profiles. The mechanisms of the fuel pin irradiation behaviors such as redistribution of Americium, PCMI and JOG formation were interpreted from the code analyses for the actual irradiation test fuel pins.

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Annual report for fiscal year 2012

Hama, Katsuhiro; Mikake, Shinichiro; Nishio, Kazuhisa; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Sasao, Eiji; Hikima, Ryoichi*; Tanno, Takeo*; Sanada, Hiroyuki; Onoe, Hironori; et al.

JAEA-Review 2013-050, 114 Pages, 2014/02

JAEA-Review-2013-050.pdf:19.95MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) is pursuing a geoscientific research and development project namely the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in crystalline rock environment in order to construct scientific and technological basis for geological disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste (HLW). The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase II and the Phase III in fiscal year 2012. This report presents the results of the investigations, construction and collaboration studies in fiscal year 2012, as a part of the Phase II and Phase III based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2010.

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Annual report for fiscal year 2010

Kunimaru, Takanori; Mikake, Shinichiro; Nishio, Kazuhisa; Tsuruta, Tadahiko; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Ueno, Takashi; Tokuyasu, Shingo; Daimaru, Shuji; Takeuchi, Ryuji; et al.

JAEA-Review 2012-020, 178 Pages, 2012/06

JAEA-Review-2012-020.pdf:33.16MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) is pursuing a geoscientific research and development project namely the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in crystalline rock environment in order to construct scientific and technological basis for geological disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste (HLW). The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase II. And Phase III started in 2010 fiscal year. This report shows the results of the investigation, construction and collaboration studies in fiscal year 2010, as a part of the Phase II based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2002.

Diametral strain of fast reactor MOX fuel pins with austenitic stainless steel cladding irradiated to high burnup

Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Ito, Masahiro*; Maeda, Koji

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 416(3), p.350 - 357, 2011/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2011.06.033

The C3M irradiation test, which was conducted in the experimental fast reactor in Joyo, demonstrated that mixed oxide (MOX) fuel pins with austenitic steel cladding could attain a peak pellet burnup of 130 GWd/t safely. The irradiated fuel pins exhibited diametral strain due to cladding void swelling and irradiation creep. Contributions to the cladding irradiation creep strain were made by the pellet-cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI) as well as the internal gas pressure. From the fuel pin ceramographs and Cs scanning, it was found that the PCMI was associated with the pellet swelling which was enhanced by the rim structure formation or by cesium uranate formation. The PCMI due to cesium urinate, which occurred near the top of the MOX fuel column, significantly increased the cumulative damage fraction (CDF) of the cladding though the CDF indicated that the cladding still had some margin to failure due to the creep damage.

Evaluation of creep damage and diametral strain of fast reactor MOX fuel pins irradiated to high burnups

Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Sogame, Motomu; Ito, Masahiro*; Mizuno, Tomoyasu; Donomae, Takako; Katsuyama, Kozo

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 47(8), p.712 - 720, 2010/08

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.47.712

In determining lifetime criteria of fast reactor fuel pins, creep damage due to fission gas pressure on mixed-oxide fuel pins with austenitic stainless steel cladding successfully irradiated to high burnups (120 GWd/t or higher pin averaged burnup) was evaluated. The degree of creep damage of these fuel pins was expressed as cumulative damage fractions (CDFs), defined so that cladding breaching occurs when the CDF exceeds 1.0. The obtained CDFs for typical high temperature fuel pins were on the order of 10-10 at the end of irradiation, indicating that these fuel pins had large safety margins against breaching due to creep damage. In order to investigate the factors that govern the lifetime of fuel pins, pin diametral increase as well as CDF were predicted in cases of extended burnups from 120 GWd/t onward, and then were compared with tentatively determined limit values. The predicted pin diametral increase reached its limit value earlier than the CDF because of a significant increase in the cladding void swelling, suggesting that lifetimes of fuel pins with austenitic stainless steel cladding are practically governed by the diametral increase rather than by the creep damage.