Nuclear criticality benchmark analyses on TRIGA-type reactor systems by using continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP with JENDL-5

Yanagisawa, Hiroshi; Umeda, Miki; Motome, Yuiko; Murao, Hiroyuki

JAEA-Technology 2022-030, 80 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Technology-2022-030.pdf:2.57MB
JAEA-Technology-2022-030(errata).pdf:0.11MB

Nuclear criticality benchmark analyses were carried out for TRIGA-type reactor systems in which uranium-zirconium hydride fuel rods are loaded by using the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP with the evaluated nuclear data library JENDL-5. The analyses cover two sorts of benchmark data, the IEU-COMP-THERM-003 and IEU-COMP-THERM-013 in the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) Handbook, and effective neutron multiplication factors, reactivity worths for control rods etc. were calculated by JENDL-5 in comparison with those by the previous version of JENDL. As the results, it was confirmed that the effective neutron multiplication factors obtained by JENDL-5 were 0.4 to 0.6% greater than those by JENDL-4.0, and that there were no significant differences in the calculated reactivity worths by between JENDL-5 and JENDL-4.0. Those results are considered to be helpful for the confirmation of calculation accuracy in the analyses on NSRR control rod worths, which are planned in the future.

Particle-based simulation of jet impingement behaviors

Takatsuka, Daichi*; Morita, Koji*; Liu, W.*; Zhang, T.*; Nakamura, Takeshi*; Kamiyama, Kenji

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

Subcriticality determination methodology during fuel loading of accelerator-driven system

Katano, Ryota

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(3), p.368 - 381, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2021.1973609

We propose a subcriticality determination methodology to be applied during fuel loading of an accelerator-driven system (ADS). In this methodology, subcriticality is determined via the area ratio method (via the proton accelerator) in the first step and by the neutron source multiplication method (through the spontaneous fission neutrons of minor actinides) in subsequent steps; then, the number of fuel assemblies to be loaded in the next step is predicted. We performed a numerical simulation of the proposed methodology, and the estimated subcriticalities agreed well with those obtained by eigenvalue calculations. We also conducted an uncertainty assessment of the proposed methodology and deduced a value of 1000 pcm for the uncertainty. The proposed methodology can be a candidate for practical subcriticality monitoring for ADS.

Prediction of RPV lower structure failure and core material relocation behavior with MPS method (Contract research)

Yoshikawa, Shinji; Yamaji, Akifumi*

JAEA-Research 2021-006, 52 Pages, 2021/09

JAEA-Research-2021-006.pdf:3.89MB

In Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (referred to as "FDNPS" hereafter) unit2 and unit3, failure of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and relocation of some core materials (CRD piping elements and upper tie plate, etc.) to the pedestal region have been confirmed. In boiling water reactors (BWRs), complicated core support structures and control rod drive mechanisms are installed in the RPV lower head and its upper and lower regions, so that the relocation behavior of core materials to pedestal region is expected to be also complicated. The Moving Particle Semi-implicit (MPS) method is expected to be effective in overviewing the relocation behavior of core materials in complicated RPV lower structure of BWRs, because of its Lagrangian nature in tracking complex interfaces. In this study, for the purpose of RPV ablation analysis of FDNPS unit2 and unit3, rigid body model, parallelization method and improved calculation time step control method were developed in FY 2019 and improvement of pressure boundary condition treatment, stabilization of rigid body model, and calculation cost reduction of debris bed melting simulation were achieved in FY2020. These improvements enabled sensitivity analyses of melting, relocation and re-distribution behavior of deposited solid debris in RPV lower head on various cases, within practical calculation cost. As a result of the analyses of FDNPS unit2 and unit3, it was revealed that aspect (particles/ingots) and distribution (degree of stratification) of solidified debris in lower plenum have a great impact on the elapsed time of the following debris reheat and partial melting and on molten pool formation process, further influencing RPV lower head failure behavior and fuel debris discharging behavior.

Proceedings of the 2019 Symposium on Nuclear Data; November 28-30, 2019, Kyushu University, Chikushi Campus, Fukuoka, Japan

Watanabe, Yukinobu*; Shigyo, Nobuhiro*; Kin, Tadahiro*; Iwamoto, Osamu

JAEA-Conf 2020-001, 236 Pages, 2020/12

JAEA-Conf-2020-001.pdf:13.75MB

The 2019 Symposium on Nuclear Data was held at Chikushi Campus Cooperation Building (C-Cube), Kyushu University, on November 28 to 30, 2019. The symposium was organized by the Nuclear Data Division of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ) in cooperation with Sigma Investigative Advisory Committee of AESJ, Nuclear Science and Engineering Center of Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kyushu Branch of AESJ, and Center for Accelerator and Beam Applied Science of Kyushu University. In the symposium, there were one tutorial, "From the resonance theory to statistical model", and five sessions, "Study on Nuclear Data and related topics", "Reactor physics", "International Cooperation", "Nuclear Physics", and "High Energy Nuclear Data and their Application". In addition, recent research progress on experiments, nuclear theory, evaluation, benchmark and applications was presented in the poster session. Among 85 participants, all presentations and following discussions were very active and fruitful. This report consists of total 42 papers including 13 oral and 29 poster presentations.

Development of technology to prevent scattering of radioactive materials in fuel debris retrieval (Contract research); FY2018 Center of World Intelligence Project for Nuclear Science/Technology and Human Resource Development

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; The University of Tokyo*

JAEA-Review 2019-037, 90 Pages, 2020/03

JAEA-Review-2019-037.pdf:7.0MB

JAEA/CLADS, had been conducting the Center of World Intelligence Project for Nuclear Science/Technology and Human Resource Development (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2018. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. 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 FY2018, this report summarizes the research results of the "Development of Technology to Prevent Scattering of Radioactive Materials in Fuel Debris Retrieval". The objective of the present study is to clarify the behavior of microparticles in gas and liquid phases in order to steadily confine radioactive microparticles at the time of debris retrieval in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. In addition, as measures to prevent scattering, we will evaluate and develop methods by experiments and simulation as to; (1) a method to suppress the scattering with minimum amount of water utilizing water spray etc., and (2) a method to suppress the scattering by solidifying fuel debris.

Proceedings of the 2018 Symposium on Nuclear Data; November 29-30, 2018, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama Campus, Tokyo, Japan

Chiba, Satoshi*; Ishizuka, Chikako*; Tsubakihara, Kosuke*; Iwamoto, Osamu

JAEA-Conf 2019-001, 203 Pages, 2019/11

JAEA-Conf-2019-001.pdf:18.86MB

The 2018 Symposium on Nuclear Data was held at Multi-Purpose Digital Hall and Collaboration Room of Tokyo Institute of Technology, on November 29 and 30, 2018. The symposium was organized by the Nuclear Data Division of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ) in cooperation with Sigma Special Committee of AESJ, Nuclear Science and Engineering Center of Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and Laboratory for Advanced Nuclear Energy of Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology. In the symposium, there were one tutorial, "Development of nuclear data processing code FRENDY", one special lecture "What the future holds for Nuclear Energy" and seven oral sessions, "Nuclear Data and Future Perspectives", "Current Status and Future Perspectives of Reactor Physics", "Topics", "Nuclear Data Applications", "International Session", "Nuclear Data Measurements and New Technology for Nuclear Reactor Diagnosis", and "Data Needs from New Fields". In addition, recent research progress on experiments, evaluation, benchmark and application was presented in the poster session. Among 82 participants, all presentations and following discussions were very active and fruitful. This report consists of total 35 papers including 13 oral and 22 poster presentations.

Automation technique of analytical pre-treatment for radioactive sample measurement using the program written by visual basic for applications

Yamamoto, Masahiko; Karo, Yoshinori*; Kodaka, Noriyasu; Kuno, Takehiko

JAEA-Technology 2019-014, 68 Pages, 2019/10

JAEA-Technology-2019-014.pdf:2.93MB

Analytical devices like syringe pump, electric burette, fraction collector, and electric valve have been controlled by the program written with Visual Basic for Applications (VBA Macro) to automate the column separation of radioactive sample measurement. It is found that VBA Macro can control each device. Therefore, automatic conditioning and separation equipment were made by combining each device and sequentially controlling with the program. The automation conditioning equipment can repeatedly perform conditioning operation with maximum of 8 columns. The automation separation equipment can separate and recover Sr in simulated highly active liquid waste by using Eichrom Technologies Sr resin. It is found that the developed automation method, using commercially available VBA Macro, is effective to reduce labor work, operator's radiation exposure, and to prevent operational error of analysis, together with reducing the cost of automation.

Excellent feature of Japanese HTGR technologies

Nishihara, Tetsuo; Yan, X.; Tachibana, Yukio; Shibata, Taiju; Ohashi, Hirofumi; Kubo, Shinji; Inaba, Yoshitomo; Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Goto, Minoru; Ueta, Shohei; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2018-004, 182 Pages, 2018/07

JAEA-Technology-2018-004.pdf:18.14MB

Research and development on High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) in Japan started since late 1960s. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) in cooperation with Japanese industries has researched and developed system design, fuel, graphite, metallic material, reactor engineering, high temperature components, high temperature irradiation and post irradiation test of fuel and graphite, high temperature heat application and so on. Construction of the first Japanese HTGR, High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR), started in 1990. HTTR achieved first criticality in 1998. After that, various test operations have been carried out to establish the Japanese HTGR technologies and to verify the inherent safety features of HTGR. This report presents several system design of HTGR, the world-highest-level Japanese HTGR technologies, JAEA's knowledge obtained from construction, operation and management of HTTR and heat application technologies for HTGR.

The Development status of Generation IV reactor systems, 2; High temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR)

Kunitomi, Kazuhiko; Nishihara, Tetsuo; Yan, X.; Tachibana, Yukio; Shibata, Taiju

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 60(4), p.236 - 240, 2018/04

High temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) is a graphite-moderated and helium-gas-cooled thermal-neutron reactor that has excellent safety features and can produce high temperature heat of 950C. It is expected to use for various heat applications as well as for electricity generation to reduce carbon dioxide emission. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been promoted research and development to demonstrate the HTGR safety features using High temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR) and it's heat application. JAEA are also conducting the action to international deployment of Japanese HTGR technologies in cooperation with industries-government-academia. This paper reports status of the research and development of HTGR and domestic and international collaborations.