Magnetic ground state of YbCoZn probed by muon spin relaxation

Higemoto, Wataru; Sato, Kazuhiko*; Ito, Takashi; Oishi, Kazuki*; Saiga, Yuta*; Kosaka, Masashi*; Matsubayashi, Kazuyuki*; Uwatoko, Yoshiya*

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 2462, p.012039_1 - 012039_5, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2462/1/012039

The cubic compound YbCoZn has huge electronic specific heat coefficient and its ground state could be located in the vicinity of the quantum critical point. Indeed, a magnetic long-range order was observed under pressure above 1-2 GPa. To investigate magnetic ground state, we have carried out muon spin relaxation measurements and confirm non-magnetic ground state with fluctuating tiny magnetic moment.

Re-evaluation of electricity generation cost of HTGR

Fukaya, Yuji; Ohashi, Hirofumi; Sato, Hiroyuki; Goto, Minoru; Kunitomi, Kazuhiko

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi (Internet), 21(2), p.116 - 126, 2022/06

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J21.005

An improvement electricity generation cost evaluation method for High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) has been performed. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) had completed the commercial HTGR concept named Gas Turbine High Temperature Reactor (GTHTR300) and the electricity generation cost evaluation method approximately a decade ago. The cost evaluation was developed based on the method of Federation of Electric Power Companies (FEPC). The FEPC method was drastically revised after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Moreover, the escalation of material and labor cost for the decade should be consider to evaluate the latest cost. Therefore, we revised the cost evaluation method for GTHTR300 and the cost was compared with that of Light Water Reactor (LWR). As a result, it was found that the electricity generation cost of HTGR of 7.9 yen/kWh is cheaper than that of LWR of 11.7 yen/kWh by approximately 30% at the capacity factor of 70%.

Tumor radioresistance caused by radiation-induced changes of stem-like cell content and sub-lethal damage repair capability

Fukui, Roman*; Saga, Ryo*; Matsuya, Yusuke; Tomita, Kazuo*; Kuwahara, Yoshikazu*; Ouchi, Kentaro*; Sato, Tomoaki*; Okumura, Kazuhiko*; Date, Hiroyuki*; Fukumoto, Manabu*; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 12(1), p.1056_1 - 1056_12, 2022/01

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05172-4

Alive cancer cells after fractionated irradiations with 2 Gy X-rays per day for more than 30 days show clinically relevant radioresistant. Such radioresistance is experimentally interpreted to attributed to the increment of stem-like cell content. However, only an experimental approach cannot clarify the cell responses (DNA damage and cell death induction) of cancer stem cells, so the radioresistant mechanisms remain uncertain. In addition to the conventional cell experiments using radio-resistant cell lines established after fractionated irradiations, in this study we developed a mathematical model (so called integrated microdosimetric-kinetic (IMK) model) explicitly considering cancer stem-like cell content and DNA damage responses and investigated radioresistant mechanisms acquired after fractionated irradiations. The IMK model analysis suggested that the changes of stem-like cell fraction and DNA repair efficiency play important roles of radioresisitance acquired after irradiations. Considering these into the IMK model, we successfully reproduced the experimental survival of various cell lines and various irradiation conditions. This work would contribute to not only the precise understanding of the radioresistant mechanisms induced after irradiation but also predicting curative effects with high precision.

Background radiation monitoring using manned helicopter for application of technique of nuclear emergency response in the fiscal year 2019 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Sato, Kazuhiko*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Kikuchi, Hikaru*; Ishizaki, Azusa; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2020-019, 128 Pages, 2021/02

JAEA-Technology-2020-019.pdf:15.75MB

A large amount of radioactive material was released by the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Tokyo Electric Power Company, caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami on March 11, 2011. After the nuclear disaster, airborne radiation monitoring using manned helicopter has been utilized to grasp rapidly and widely the distribution of the radioactive materials around FDNPS. We prepare the data of background radiation dose, geomorphic characteristics and the controlled airspace around nuclear facilities of the whole country in order to make effective use of the monitoring technique as a way of emergency radiation monitoring and supply the results during accidents of the facilities. Furthermore, the airborne radiation monitoring has been conducted in Integrated Nuclear Emergency Response Drill to increase effectiveness of the monitoring. This report is summarized that the knowledge as noted above achieved by the aerial radiation monitoring around Higashidori nuclear power station, the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho village and Shika nuclear power station, the full details of the aerial radiation monitoring in Integrated Nuclear Emergency Response Drill in the fiscal 2019. In addition, examination's progress aimed at introduction of airborne radiation monitoring using unmanned helicopter during nuclear disaster and the technical issues are summarized in this report.

High temperature gas-cooled reactors

Takeda, Tetsuaki*; Inagaki, Yoshiyuki; Aihara, Jun; Aoki, Takeshi; Fujiwara, Yusuke; Fukaya, Yuji; Goto, Minoru; Ho, H. Q.; Iigaki, Kazuhiko; Imai, Yoshiyuki; et al.

High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors; JSME Series in Thermal and Nuclear Power Generation, Vol.5, 464 Pages, 2021/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/C2018-0-05383-9

As a general overview of the research and development of a High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) in JAEA, this book describes the achievements by the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) on the designs, key component technologies such as fuel, reactor internals, high temperature components, etc., and operational experience such as rise-to-power tests, high temperature operation at 950C, safety demonstration tests, etc. In addition, based on the knowledge of the HTTR, the development of designs and component technologies such as high performance fuel, helium gas turbine and hydrogen production by IS process for commercial HTGRs are described. These results are very useful for the future development of HTGRs. This book is published as one of a series of technical books on fossil fuel and nuclear energy systems by the Power Energy Systems Division of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Background radiation monitoring using manned helicopter for application of technique of nuclear emergency response in the fiscal year 2018 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Komiya, Tomokazu; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Seguchi, Eisaku*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Kawabata, Tomoki*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Sato, Kazuhiko*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2019-017, 95 Pages, 2019/11

JAEA-Technology-2019-017.pdf:12.09MB

By the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive material was released from the FDNPS. After the nuclear disaster, airborne radiation monitoring using manned helicopter was conducted around FDNPS. We have carried out the background radiation monitoring around the nuclear power stations of the whole country to apply the airborne radiation monitoring technique that has been cultivated in the aerial monitoring around FDNPS against nuclear emergency response. The results of monitoring around Shimane and Hamaoka Nuclear Power Stations in the fiscal 2018 were summarized in this report. In addition, technical issues were described.

Background radiation monitoring using manned helicopter for establishment of technique of nuclear emergency response in the fiscal year 2017 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Seguchi, Eisaku; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Kawabata, Tomoki; Toyoda, Masayuki*; Tobita, Shinichiro*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Sato, Kazuhiko*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2018-016, 98 Pages, 2019/02

JAEA-Technology-2018-016.pdf:18.64MB

By the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive material was released from the NPS. After the nuclear disaster, airborne radiation monitoring using manned helicopter was conducted around FDNPS. We have carried out the background monitoring around the nuclear power stations of the whole country to apply the airborne radiation monitoring technique that has been cultivated in Fukushima against nuclear emergency response. The results of monitoring around Tomari, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa and Genkai Nuclear Power Station in the fiscal 2017 were summarized in this report. In addition, technical issues were described.

Non-aqueous selective synthesis of orthosilicic acid and its oligomers

Igarashi, Masayasu*; Matsumoto, Tomohiro*; Yagihashi, Fujio*; Yamashita, Hiroshi*; Ohara, Takashi; Hanashima, Takayasu*; Nakao, Akiko*; Moyoshi, Taketo*; Sato, Kazuhiko*; Shimada, Shigeru*

Nature Communications (Internet), 8, p.140_1 - 140_8, 2017/07

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00168-5

GTHTR300 cost reduction through design upgrade and cogeneration

Yan, X.; Sato, Hiroyuki; Kamiji, Yu; Imai, Yoshiyuki; Terada, Atsuhiko; Tachibana, Yukio; Kunitomi, Kazuhiko

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 306, p.215 - 220, 2016/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2016.02.023

The latest design upgrade has incorporated several major technological advances made in the past ten years to both reactor and balance of plant in GTHTR300. As described in this paper, these advances have enabled raising the design basis reactor core outlet temperature to 950C and increasing power generating efficiency by nearly 5% point. Further implementation of seawater desalination cogeneration is made through employing a newly-proposed multi-stage flash process. Through efficient waste heat recovery of the reactor gas turbine power conversion cycle, a large cost credit is obtained against the conventionally produced water prices. Together, the design upgrade and the cogeneration are shown to reduce the GTHTR300 cost of electricity to under 2.7 cent/kW h.

Energy neutral phosphate fertilizer production using high temperature reactors; A Philippine case study

Haneklaus, N.*; Reyes, R.*; Lim, W. G.*; Tabora, E. U.*; Palattao, B. L.*; Petrache, C.*; Vargas, E. P.*; Kunitomi, Kazuhiko; Ohashi, Hirofumi; Sakaba, Nariaki; et al.

Philippine Journal of Science, 144(1), p.69 - 79, 2015/06

http://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/vol144no1/energy%20neutral%20phosphate%20fertilizer%20production.html

The Philippines may profit from extracting uranium (U) from phosphoric acid during fertilizer production in a way that the recovered U can be beneficiated and taken as raw material for nuclear reactor fuel. Used in a high temperature reactor (HTR) that provides electricity and/or process heat for fertilizer processing and U extraction, energy-neutral fertilizer production, an idea first proposed by Haneklaus et al., is possible. This paper presents a first case study of the concept regarding a representative phosphate fertilizer plant in the Philippines and exemplary HTR designs (HTR50S and GTHTR300C) developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Three different arrangements (version I-III), ranging from basic electricity supply to overall power supply including on site hydrogen production for ammonia conversion, are introduced and discussed.