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Journal Articles

Sintering and microstructural behaviors of mechanically blended Nd/Sm-doped MOX

Hirooka, Shun; Horii, Yuta; Sunaoshi, Takeo*; Uno, Hiroki*; Yamada, Tadahisa*; Vauchy, R.; Hayashizaki, Kohei; Nakamichi, Shinya; Murakami, Tatsutoshi; Kato, Masato

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(11), p.1313 - 1323, 2023/11

 Times Cited Count:1 Percentile:96.85(Nuclear Science & Technology)

Additive MOX pellets are fabricated by a conventional dry powder metallurgy method. Nd$$_{2}$$O$$_{3}$$ and Sm$$_{2}$$O$$_{3}$$ are chosen as the additive materials to simulate the corresponding soluble fission products dispersed in MOX. Shrinkage curves of the MOX pellets are obtained by dilatometry, which reveal that the sintering temperature is shifted toward a value higher than that of the respective regular MOX. The additives, however, promote grain growth and densification, which can be explained by the effect of oxidized uranium cations covering to a pentavalent state. Ceramography reveals large agglomerates after sintering, and Electron Probe Micro-Analysis confirms that inhomogeneous elemental distribution, whereas XRD reveals a single face-centered cubic phase. Finally, by grinding and re-sintering the specimens, the cation distribution homogeneity is significantly improved, which can simulate spent nuclear fuels with soluble fission products.

Journal Articles

Validation practices of multi-physics core performance analysis in an advanced reactor design study

Doda, Norihiro; Kato, Shinya; Hamase, Erina; Kuwagaki, Kazuki; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Ohgama, Kazuya; Yoshimura, Kazuo; Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Yokoyama, Kenji; Uwaba, Tomoyuki; et al.

Proceedings of 20th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-20) (Internet), p.946 - 959, 2023/08

An innovative design system named ARKADIA is being developed to realize the design of advanced nuclear reactors as safe, economical, and sustainable carbon-free energy sources. This paper focuses on ARKADIA-Design for design studies as a part of ARKADIA and introduces representative verification methods for numerical analysis methods of the core design. ARKADIA-Design performs core performance analysis of sodium-cooled fast reactors using a multiphysics approach that combines neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, core mechanics, and fuel pin behavior analysis codes. To confirm the validity of these analysis codes, validation matrices are identified with reference to experimental data and reliable numerical analysis results. The analysis models in these codes and the representative practices for the validation matrices are described.

Journal Articles

Oxygen potential of neodymium-doped U$$_{0.817}$$Pu$$_{0.180}$$Am$$_{0.003}$$O$$_{2 pm x}$$ uranium-plutonium-americium mixed oxides at 1573, 1773, and 1873 K

Vauchy, R.; Sunaoshi, Takeo*; Hirooka, Shun; Nakamichi, Shinya; Murakami, Tatsutoshi; Kato, Masato

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 580, p.154416_1 - 154416_11, 2023/07

 Times Cited Count:1 Percentile:96.85(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)

Journal Articles

Machine learning sintering density prediction model for MOX fuel pellet

Kato, Masato; Nakamichi, Shinya; Hirooka, Shun; Watanabe, Masashi; Murakami, Tatsutoshi; Ishii, Katsunori

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi (Internet), 22(2), p.51 - 58, 2023/04

Uranium and Plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) pellets used as fast reactor fuels have been produced from several raw materials by mechanical blending method through processes of ball milling, additive blending, granulation, pressing, sintering and so on. It is essential to control the pellet density which is one of the important fuel specifications, but it is difficult to understand relationships among many parameters in the production. Database for MOX production was prepared from production results in Japan, and input data of eighteen types were chosen from production process and made a data set. Machine learning model to predict sintered density of MOX pellet was derived by gradient boosting regressor, and represented the measured sintered density with coefficient of determination of R$$^{2}$$=0.996

Journal Articles

Materials science and fuel technologies of uranium and plutonium mixed oxide

Kato, Masato; Machida, Masahiko; Hirooka, Shun; Nakamichi, Shinya; Ikusawa, Yoshihisa; Nakamura, Hiroki; Kobayashi, Keita; Ozawa, Takayuki; Maeda, Koji; Sasaki, Shinji; et al.

Materials Science and Fuel Technologies of Uranium and Plutonium mixed Oxide, 171 Pages, 2022/10

Innovative and advanced nuclear reactors using plutonium fuel has been developed in each country. In order to develop a new nuclear fuel, irradiation tests are indispensable, and it is necessary to demonstrate the performance and safety of nuclear fuels. If we can develop a technology that accurately simulates irradiation behavior as a technology that complements the irradiation test, the cost, time, and labor involved in nuclear fuel research and development will be greatly reduced. And safety and reliability can be significantly improved through simulation of nuclear fuel irradiation behavior. In order to evaluate the performance of nuclear fuel, it is necessary to know the physical and chemical properties of the fuel at high temperatures. And it is indispensable to develop a behavior model that describes various phenomena that occur during irradiation. In previous research and development, empirical methods with fitting parameters have been used in many parts of model development. However, empirical techniques can give very different results in areas where there is no data. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to construct a scientific descriptive model that can extrapolate the basic characteristics of fuel to the composition and temperature, and to develop an irradiation behavior analysis code to which the model is applied.

Journal Articles

Development of evaluation method for core deformation reactivity in sodium-cooled fast reactor; Verification of core deformation reactivity evaluation based on first-order perturbation theory

Doda, Norihiro; Kato, Shinya; Iida, Masaki*; Yokoyama, Kenji; Tanaka, Masaaki

Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2022/10

In the conventional core design in sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), negative reactivity feedback due to core deformation was neglected because of large uncertainty in analytical evaluation. To optimize core design, it is necessary to develop an analytical evaluation method and eliminate excessive conservativeness. An evaluation method for core deformation reactivity has been developed by coupling analysis of neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, and structural mechanics. For the verification study of the neutronics calculation method, the reactivity was calculated for the deformed core geometry in which the fuel assembly (FA) moved horizontally in the radial direction for each row from the core center. Compared to reference values derived from Monte Carlo calculations, the calculated reactivity due to FA displacement agreed well in the core region and was overestimated in the reflector region. The modification challenges in development of the core deformation model were identified.

Journal Articles

Study on the discharge behavior of the molten-core materials through the control rod guide tube; Investigations of the effect of an internal structure in the control rod guide tube on the discharge behavior

Kato, Shinya; Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Akaev, A.*; Vurim, A.*; Baklanov, V.*

Proceedings of 13th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics, Operation and Safety (NUTHOS-13) (Internet), 12 Pages, 2022/09

The In-Vessel Retention (IVR) of molten-core in Core Disruptive Accidents (CDAs) is of prime importance in enhancing the safety of sodium-cooled fast reactors. One of the main subjects in ensuring IVR is to design the Control Rod Guide Tube (CRGT) which allows effective discharge of molten core materials from the core region. The effectiveness of the CRGT design is assessed through CDA analyses, and it is reasonable for these analyses to develop a computer code collaborated with experimental researches. Thus, experiments addressing the discharge behavior of the molten-core materials through the CRGT have proceeded as one of the subjects in the collaboration research named the EAGLE-3 project, and the obtained experimental results are reflected in the development of the SIMMER code. In this project, a series of out-of-pile tests using molten-alumina as the fuel simulant was conducted to understand the discharge behavior of molten-core materials through the CRGT. In this study, in order to investigate the effect of an internal structure in the CRGT on the discharge behavior of the molten-core materials, the data of an out-of-pile test in which the molten-alumina penetrated to a duct with the internal structure were analyzed. In addition, the post-test analysis using the SIMMER code was conducted and the results were compared with the test results.

Journal Articles

Analysis on cooling behavior for simulated molten core material impinging to a horizontal plate in a sodium pool

Matsushita, Hatsuki*; Kobayashi, Ren*; Sakai, Takaaki*; Kato, Shinya; Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji

Proceedings of 13th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics, Operation and Safety (NUTHOS-13) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2022/09

During core disruptive accidents in sodium-cooled fast reactors, the molten core material flows through flow channels, such as the control rod guide tubes, into the core inlet plenum under the core region. The molten core material can be cooled and solidified while impinging on a horizontal plate of the inlet plenum in a sodium coolant. However, the solidification and cooling behaviors of molten core materials impinged on a horizontal structure have not been sufficiently studied thus far. Notably, this is an important phenomenon that needs to be elucidated from the perspective of improving the safety of sodium-cooled fast reactors. Accordingly, a series of experiments on discharging a simulated molten core material (alumina: Al$$_{2}$$O$$_{3}$$) into a sodium coolant on a horizontal structure was conducted at the experimental facility of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In this study, analyses on the sodium experiments using SIMMER-III as the fast reactor safety evaluation code were performed. The analysis methods were validated by comparing the results and experiment data. In addition, the cooling and solidification behaviors during jet impingement were evaluated. The results indicated that the molten core material exhibited fragmentation owing to the impingement on the horizontal plate and was, therefore, scattered toward the periphery. Furthermore, the simulated molten core material was evaluated to be cooled by sodium and subsequently solidified.

Journal Articles

A Status of experimental program to achieve in-vessel retention during core disruptive accidents of sodium-cooled fast reactors

Kamiyama, Kenji; Matsuba, Kenichi; Kato, Shinya; Imaizumi, Yuya; Mukhamedov, N.*; Akayev, A.*; Pakhnits, A.*; Vurim, A.*; Baklanov, V.*

Proceedings of International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles; Sustainable Clean Energy for the Future (FR22) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2022/04

Journal Articles

Fragmentation and cooling behavior of a simulated molten core material discharged into a sodium pool with limited depth and volume

Matsuba, Kenichi; Kato, Shinya; Kamiyama, Kenji; Akayev, A. S.*; Baklanov, V. V.*

Proceedings of 28th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 28) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2021/08

In order to obtain experimental knowledge on fragmentation and cooling behavior of molten core material discharged into regions where the depth and volume of sodium are limited, a series of out-of-pile experiments using molten alumina as a simulant for molten core material was conducted. It was found that following mechanisms might be involved in the fragmentation and cooling behavior in a shallow sodium pool: (1) FCI which occurs at location of impingement of the molten jet on the bottom plate promotes fragmentation. (2) If there is a sufficient amount of sodium as a heat sink outside the region, heat exchange by sodium flow in and out due to vapor expansion and condensation suppresses the sodium temperature rise. (3) This temperature suppression contributes to effective cooling of molten core material. In the future study, in order to confirm the mechanisms which was clarified in this study, analytical evaluation of the experimental result will be carried out using a simulation tool.

Journal Articles

Deexcitation dynamics of muonic atoms revealed by high-precision spectroscopy of electronic $$K$$ X rays

Okumura, Takuma*; Azuma, Toshiyuki*; Bennet, D. A.*; Caradonna, P.*; Chiu, I. H.*; Doriese, W. B.*; Durkin, M. S.*; Fowler, J. W.*; Gard, J. D.*; Hashimoto, Tadashi; et al.

Physical Review Letters, 127(5), p.053001_1 - 053001_7, 2021/07

 Times Cited Count:9 Percentile:78.48(Physics, Multidisciplinary)

We observed electronic $$K$$X rays emitted from muonic iron atoms using a superconducting transition-edge-type sensor microcalorimeter. The energy resolution of 5.2 eV in FWHM allowed us to observe the asymmetric broad profile of the electronic characteristic $$K$$$$alpha$$ and $$K$$$$beta$$ X rays together with the hypersatellite $$K$$$$alpha$$ X rays around 6 keV. This signature reflects the time-dependent screening of the nuclear charge by the negative muon and the $$L$$-shell electrons, accompanied by electron side-feeding. Assisted by a simulation, this data clearly reveals the electronic $$K$$- and $$L$$-shell hole production and their temporal evolution during the muon cascade process.

Journal Articles

Validation of analysis models on relocation behavior of molten core materials in sodium-cooled fast reactors based on the melt discharge experiment

Igarashi, Kai*; Onuki, Ryoji*; Sakai, Takaaki*; Kato, Shinya; Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji

Proceedings of 2020 International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2020) (Internet), 6 Pages, 2020/08

Journal Articles

Effect of O/M ratio on sintering behavior of (Pu$$_{0.3}$$U$$_{0.7}$$)O$$_{2-x}$$

Nakamichi, Shinya; Hirooka, Shun; Kato, Masato; Sunaoshi, Takeo*; Nelson, A. T.*; McClellan, K. J.*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 535, p.152188_1 - 152188_8, 2020/07

 Times Cited Count:7 Percentile:72.51(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)

Oxygen-to-metal ratio (O/M) of uranium and plutonium mixed oxide depends on its oxygen partial pressure. To attain the desirable microstructure and O/M ratio of sintered pellets, it is important to investigate the relation between the sintering behavior and the atmosphere of sintering process. In this study, sintering behavior of (Pu$$_{0.3}$$U$$_{0.7}$$)O$$_{2}$$ and (Pu$$_{0.3}$$U$$_{0.7}$$)O$$_{1.99}$$ in controlled po$$_{2}$$ atmosphere were investigated. It was found activation energy of (Pu$$_{0.3}$$U$$_{0.7}$$)O$$_{1.99}$$ was higher than that of (Pu$$_{0.3}$$U$$_{0.7}$$)O$$_{2}$$. On the other hand, it was observed grain growth during sintering was suppressed in hypo-stoichiometric composition.

Journal Articles

Study on the discharge behavior of molten-core through the control rod guide tube in the core disruptive accident of SFR

Kato, Shinya; Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Ganovichev, D. A.*; Baklanov, V. V.*

Proceedings of 2019 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2019) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2019/05

In order to ensure In-Vessel Retention (IVR) of molten-core in Core Disruptive Accident (CDA), we are investigating the possibility of the molten-core discharge through the control rod guide tube (CRGT) to prevent energetics due to exceeding the prompt criticality. Internal structures of the CRGT, such as a sodium-flow regulator when the CRGT is connected to the high-pressure plenum, may disturb the discharge of molten-core from the core region. Based on above background, an experimental program to clarify characteristics of molten-core discharge through the CRGT has been commenced as one of subjects under a joint study with National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NNC-RK) named EAGLE-3 project. An experiment using molten-alumina as fuel simulant and sodium was conducted at the out-of-pile test facility owned by NNC-RK to investigate sodium cooling effect around the sodium flow regulator on its destruction. The experimental result represented that void development at the initiation of molten-alumina discharge eliminated liquid-phase sodium from the discharge path and this also eliminated sodium cooling effect around the sodium flow regulator. As a result, early destruction of the sodium flow regulator and massive discharge of molten alumina occurred in turn.

Journal Articles

Sintering behavior of (U,Ce)O$$_{2}$$ and (U,Pu)O$$_{2}$$

Nakamichi, Shinya; Hirooka, Shun; Sunaoshi, Takeo*; Kato, Masato; Nelson, A.*; McClellan, K.*

Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 113(1), p.617 - 618, 2015/10

Cerium dioxide has been used as a surrogate material for plutonium dioxide. Dorr et al reported the use of hyper-stoichiometric conditions causes the start of shrinkage of (U,Ce)O$$_{2}$$ at low temperature compared with the sintering in reducing atmosphere. However, the precise stoichiometry of the samples investigated was not controlled or otherwise monitored, preventing any quantitative conclusions regarding the similarities or differences between (U,Ce)O$$_{2}$$ and (U,Pu)O$$_{2}$$. The motivation for the present work is therefore to compare the sintering behavior of MOX and the (U,Ce)O$$_{2}$$ MOX surrogates under controlled atmospheres to assess the role of oxygen defects on densification in both systems.

JAEA Reports

Development of three-dimensional diffusion and burn-up code HIZER for Monju core management

Kato, Shinya; Shimomoto, Yoshihiko; Kato, Yuko; Kitano, Akihiro

JAEA-Technology 2014-043, 36 Pages, 2015/02

JAEA-Technology-2014-043.pdf:8.94MB

The core management and operation code system aims to perform core management task efficiently by systematic management of data, analyses and edits, which are needed in the reactor core management and operation. The system consists of the five calculation modules: the reactor constant generation module, the neutronic-thermal calculation module, the radiation analysis module, the core structural integrity estimation module, and the core operation analysis module. In these modules, the neutronic-thermal calculation module is based on the dedicated three-dimensional diffusion and burn-up code HIZER. HIZER can execute core calculations easily for specific design specification and operation patterns of Monju, enabling efficient and accurate evaluation of the Monju core characteristics. This report describes its calculation method and validation results.

Journal Articles

Reduction of contaminated concrete waste by recycling aggregate with the aid of pulsed power discharge

Arifi, E.*; Ishimatsu, Koichi*; Iizasa, Shinya*; Namihira, Takao*; Sakamoto, Hiroyuki*; Tachi, Yukio; Kato, Hiroyasu*; Shigeishi, Mitsuhiro*

Construction and Building Materials, 67(Part B), p.192 - 196, 2014/09

 Times Cited Count:4 Percentile:26.11(Construction & Building Technology)

The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant accident has resulted in a large amount of radioactively contaminated concrete. The possible application of the pulsed power discharge to reduce the amount of contaminated concrete as radioactive waste was investigated. The contaminated concrete was decontaminated by separating contaminated matrix from uncontaminated coarse aggregate under pulsed power discharge process. In this study, a stable Cs isotope was used to simulate radioactively contaminated concrete. As a result, while the volume of reclaimed aggregate from contaminated concrete could be reproduced was up to 60%, nevertheless Cs detected in the reclaimed aggregate was only approximately 3%. Thus most of the Cs were dissolved in water during the discharge process. It is expected that the pulsed power could reduce the contaminated concrete waste by reusing aggregate. Further investigations are requested to test the applicability of this method under the realistic conditions close to the actual waste.

Journal Articles

Burning of MOX fuels in LWRs; Fuel history effects on thermal properties of hull and end piece wastes and the repository performance

Hirano, Fumio; Sato, Seichi*; Kozaki, Tamotsu*; Inagaki, Yaohiro*; Iwasaki, Tomohiko*; Oe, Toshiaki*; Kato, Kazuyuki*; Kitayama, Kazumi*; Nagasaki, Shinya*; Niibori, Yuichi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 49(3), p.310 - 319, 2012/03

AA2011-0278.pdf:0.56MB

 Times Cited Count:0 Percentile:0.01(Nuclear Science & Technology)

The thermal impacts of hull and end piece wastes from the reprocessing of MOX spent fuels burned in LWRs on repository performance were investigated. The heat generation rates in MOX spent fuels and the resulting heat generation rates in hull and end piece wastes change depending on the fuel histories including the burn-up of UO$$_{2}$$ spent fuels, the cooling period before reprocessing, the storage period of fresh MOX fuels. The heat generation rates of hull and end piece wastes from the reprocessing of MOX spent fuels with any of those histories are significantly larger than those from UO$$_{2}$$ spent fuels with burn-ups of 45 GWd/THM. If a temperature below 80$$^{circ}$$C is specified for cement-based materials used in waste packages after disposal, the allowable number of canisters containing compacted hull and end pieces in a package for 45 GWd-MOX needs to be limited to a value of 0.7 to 1.6, which is significantly lower than the value of 4.0 for 45 GWd-UO$$_{2}$$.

Journal Articles

Measurement of oxygen potential of (U$$_{0.8}$$Pu$$_{0.2}$$)O$$_{2pm x}$$ at 1773 and 1873 K, and its analysis based on point defect chemistry

Kato, Masato; Nakamichi, Shinya; Takeuchi, Kentaro; Sunaoshi, Takeo*

CALPHAD; Computer Coupling of Phase Diagrams and Thermochemistry, 35(4), p.623 - 626, 2011/12

 Times Cited Count:10 Percentile:54.72(Thermodynamics)

Uranium and plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) has been used as fuels of fast reactors. The MOX having fluorite structure is an oxygen nonstoichiometric compound which is stable in hyper- and hypo-stoichiometric composition range. The stoichiometry of MOX significantly affects their properties. So, it is essential to know the relation between stoichiometry and oxygen potential to develop MOX fuels. In this work, the oxygen potentials of (U$$_{0.8}$$Pu$$_{0.2}$$)O$$_{2pm x}$$ were measured at high temperatures of 1773, and 1873K. The measurements were carried out by gas equilibrium method using thermo-gravimetry. Th The oxygen partial pressure was adjusted by controlling the ratio of H$$_{2}$$/H$$_{2}$$O in the flowing gas atmosphere, and the oxygen potential was determined. The oxygen potentials were determined as functions of O/M ratio, and temperature. The data at stoichiometric composition were estimated to be -311kJ/mol and -299kJ/mol at 1773K, and 1873K based on point defect model.

Journal Articles

Influences of Am and Np on oxygen potentials of MOX fuels

Nakamichi, Shinya; Kato, Masato; Tamura, Tetsuya*

CALPHAD; Computer Coupling of Phase Diagrams and Thermochemistry, 35(4), p.648 - 651, 2011/12

 Times Cited Count:10 Percentile:52.38(Thermodynamics)

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has developed homogeneous MOX fuels containing minor actinides (MAs) such as Am and Np elements. In this work, particular attention is paid to the influence of small MA addition on oxygen potential of MOX fuels. Oxygen potentials of (Am$$_{0.024}$$Pu$$_{0.311}$$U$$_{0.665}$$)O$$_{2-x}$$ and (Am$$_{0.01}$$Np$$_{0.12}$$Pu$$_{0.29}$$U$$_{0.58}$$)O$$_{2-x}$$ in the near stoichiometric region were measured at 1473, 1573 and 1623K by thermogravimetry. (Am$$_{0.024}$$Pu$$_{0.311}$$U$$_{0.665}$$)O$$_{2-x}$$ and (Am$$_{0.01}$$Np$$_{0.12}$$Pu$$_{0.29}$$U$$_{0.58}$$)O$$_{2-x}$$ were slightly higher than those of (Pu$$_{0.30}$$U$$_{0.70}$$)O$$_{2-x}$$. From this work, it was found that oxygen potential of MOX is slightly increased by small Am addition and influence of Np addition on oxygen potential is not significant.

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