The Effect of base irradiation on failure behaviors of UO and chromia-alumina additive fuels under simulated reactivity-initiated accidents; A Comparative analysis with FEMAXI-8

宇田川 豊; 三原 武; 谷口 良徳; 垣内 一雄; 天谷 政樹

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 139, p.107268_1 - 107268_9, 2020/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2019.107268

This paper reports a computer-code analysis on the base-irradiation behavior of the chromia-and-alumina-doped BWR rod irradiated to 64 GWd/t in Oskarshamn-3, Sweden, and subjected to the reactivity-initiated-accident (RIA) test OS-1, which resulted in a fuel failure due to pellet-cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI) at the lowest fuel-enthalpy increase in all the BWR tests ever performed. The inverse calculation which utilized post-irradiation examination data as its constraint conditions revealed that the OS-1 rod had very likely experienced more intense PCMI loading due to higher swelling rate during base irradiation than other BWR rods subjected to previous RIA tests and thus had been prone to experience enhanced radial-hydride formation. The significant difference in the cladding hoop-stress more than 50 MPa discriminates the OS-1 rod from other BWR rods and supports the interpretation that enhanced radial-hydrides formation differentiated the PCMI-failure behavior observed in the test OS-1 from the previous BWR-fuel tests.

OSCAARコードパッケージの使用マニュアル

安全研究センター リスク評価研究ディビジョン 放射線安全・防災研究グループ

JAEA-Testing 2020-001, 65 Pages, 2020/03

JAEA-Testing-2020-001.pdf:4.42MB

日本原子力研究開発機構安全研究センターは、原子炉事故の確率論的リスク評価(PRA: Probabilistic Risk Assessment)研究の一環として、レベル3PRAコードOSCAARの開発を進めている。OSCAARは、レベル2PRAで得られたソースタームを基に、様々な気象条件に対し、環境に放出された後に拡散・沈着した放射性物質から公衆が受ける被ばく線量、防護措置による被ばく低減効果を考慮した上で、それに起因する健康影響等を確率論的に評価する計算コードである。このOSCAARを基に、Windows上にて、OSCAARの解析実行に加え、入力データファイルの作成、出力データファイルの後処理まで効率良く実施できるOSCAARコードパッケージを整備した。本報告は、OSCAARコードパッケージの使用方法を示したマニュアルである。

Experimental and analytical investigation of formation and cooling phenomena in high temperature debris bed

堀田 亮年*; 秋葉 美幸*; 森田 彰伸*; Konovalenko, A.*; Vilanueva, W.*; Bechta, S.*; Komlev, A.*; Thakre, S.*; Hoseyni, S. M.*; Skld, P.*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(3-4), p.353 - 369, 2020/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1691078

Key phenomena in the cooling states of debris beds under wet cavity conditions were classified into several groups based on the complicated geometry, nonhomogeneous porosity and volumetric heat of debris beds. These configurations may change due to the molten jet breakup, droplet agglomeration, anisotropic melt spreading, two-phase flow in a debris bed, particle self-leveling and penetration of molten metals into a particle bed. The modular code system THERMOS was designed for evaluating the cooling states of underwater debris beds. Three additional tests, DEFOR-A, PULiMS and REMCOD were employed to validate implemented models. This paper summarizes the entire test plan and representative data trends prior to starting individual data analyses and validations of specific models that are planned to be performed in the later phases. It also tries to report research questions to be answered in future works, such as various scales of melt-coolant interactions observed in the PULiMS tests.

Effects of oxidation and secondary hydriding during simulated Loss-Of-Coolant-Accident tests on the bending strength of Zircaloy-4 fuel cladding tube

岡田 裕史; 天谷 政樹

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 136, p.107028_1 - 107028_9, 2020/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2019.107028

In order to evaluate the fracture resistance of fuel rods against a seismic loading following a Loss-Of-Coolant-Accident (LOCA), the bending strength of fuel cladding which experienced a simulated LOCA has been investigated since the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. In this study, four-point-bending-tests were performed using Zircaloy-4 cladding tubes which experienced a simulated LOCA sequence in order to investigate the effects of oxidation and secondary hydriding occurring during a LOCA on the bending strength of fuel cladding. According to the obtained results, it was suggested that the maximum bending stress would be affected by the oxygen concentration in the prior-beta layer as well as the thickness of prior-beta layer. It was considered that the decrease in maximum bending stress by secondary hydriding is probably expressed by multiplying a factor of 0.37 by the maximum bending stress which solely takes account of the effect of oxidation.

A New probabilistic evaluation model for weld residual stress

真野 晃宏; 勝山 仁哉; 宮本 裕平*; 山口 義仁; Li, Y.

International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 179, p.103945_1 - 103945_6, 2020/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpvp.2019.103945

溶接残留応力(WRS)は、確率論的破壊力学(PFM)に基づく亀裂を有する配管溶接部の破損確率評価において最も重要な影響因子の一つであるとともに、大きな不確実さを有する。既存のPFM解析コードにおけるWRSの確率論的評価モデルでは、有限要素解析から得られる板厚内の複数の離散点におけるWRS値の不確実さが考慮されるが、板厚方向のWRSの分布形状が考慮されないため、板厚内におけるWRS値の相関関係や力のつり合いに関する複雑でユーザー依存の追加処理を行う必要がある。本研究では、より合理的なWRSの確率論的評価モデルとして、有限要素解析に基づくWRS解析結果をフーリエ余弦級数で表現し、WRS分布の不確実さをフーリエ余弦級数の係数の確率分布を用いて表現する確率論的評価モデルを提案した。フーリエ余弦級数の係数は、板厚内の特定位置におけるWRS値の大きさと板厚方向におけるWRSの分布形状の両方を同時に考慮して決定されるため、板厚内におけるWRS値の相関関係や力のつり合いが考慮されている。提案したWRS評価モデルは、解析コードのユーザー依存性がなく、簡単かつ合理的にWRSの不確実さを考慮できるため、PFM解析において有用であると結論した。

Liquid film behavior and heat-transfer mechanism near the rewetting front in a single rod air-water system

和田 裕貴; Le, T. D.; 佐藤 聡; 柴本 泰照; 与能本 泰介

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(1), p.100 - 113, 2020/01

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1659872

The rewetting front propagation may occur when the fuel rod is cooled by the liquid film flow after it is dried out under accident conditions for BWR cores. Our previous study has revealed importance of precursory cooling, defined as a rapid cooling just before the rewetting, which has a significant effect on the propagation velocity. To understand the mechanism of the precursory cooling, we conducted heat transfer experiments using a single heater rod contained inside the transparent glass pipe to measure heat transfer behavior with simultaneous observation using a high-speed camera. The results showed characteristic effects of the wall temperature on the liquid film flow and liquid droplets formation at the rewetting front, i.e. sputtering. Even when the liquid film flows in rivulets under adiabatic condition, horizontally uniformed rewetting front was observed with increasing wall temperature due to enhanced flow resistance by sputtering. This sputtering effect was also confirmed from observations of the liquid film thickness, which increased with approaching the rewetting front. Heat transfer coefficients were predicted roughly well with a single-phase heat transfer correlation with entrance effects, suggesting the thinner thermal boundary layer downstream of the rewetting front may be one of the precursory cooling mechanisms.

Development of an external radiation dose estimation model for children returning to their homes in areas affected by the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

森 愛理; 高原 省五; 吉田 浩子*; 眞田 幸尚; 宗像 雅広

Health Physics, 117(6), p.606 - 617, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001100

On 1 April 2017, evacuation orders in large areas were lifted. To estimate external radiation doses to children after returning to these areas, a dose estimation model based on a probabilistic approach has been developed. Validation of the model in an area for which individual personal dosimetry measurements were available show that it is valid for infants, kindergarteners, 3rd to 6th grade elementary school students, and junior high school students. As a result of our estimations, 95th percentile doses to all age groups were less than 20 mSv y in period from 2017 to 2020 and in all areas. Doses in some areas were less than 1 mSv y, which is the long-term dosimetric target set by Japanese government. It is noted that our results are preliminary. To estimate doses to the children precisely, further considerations for assumptions and limitations on the environmental contamination conditions and behavioral patterns of children will be needed.

Study on dryout and rewetting during accidents including ATWS for the BWR at JAEA

佐藤 聡; 和田 裕貴; 柴本 泰照; 与能本 泰介

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 354, p.110164_1 - 110164_10, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2019.110164

原子力機構ではBWRの沸騰後遷移熱伝達、過渡限界熱流束及びリウェットに関する一連の実験研究を行ってきた。これまでに、異常過渡条件をカバーする実験データベースが開発されており、またリウェット現象における先行冷却の重要性が認識されるようになった。本論文では、原子炉停止機能喪失事象、炉心熱伝達へのスペーサの効果、機構論的モデル開発のための現象の物理的理解に焦点を当て、これまでに得られた主な結果と共に、本研究のアプローチを提示した。

The Effect of air fraction in steam on the embrittlement of Zry-4 fuel cladding oxidized at 1273-1573 K

Negyesi, M.; 天谷 政樹

Oxidation of Metals, 92(5-6), p.439 - 455, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11085-019-09939-5

The paper deals with the effect of air fraction in steam on the embrittlement of Zry-4 fuel cladding exposed under steam-air atmospheres (air fractions of 10-100%) in the temperature range of 1273-1573 K. Ring compression tests were carried out in order to evaluate the embrittlement of fuel cladding. Furthermore, the microhardness of prior -phase was measured and fractured surfaces were observed under SEM. The degree of the embrittlement was discussed against the results of metallographic and hydrogen analyses. The microstructure and the hydrogen pick-up were substantially affected by nitride formation. Accelerated oxidation kinetics enhanced shrinking of the prior -region. The enhanced hydrogen absorption resulted in the increased microhardness of prior -phase. The degree of fuel cladding embrittlement, expressed by the plastic strain at failure and the maximum load, correlated well with the microhardness and the thickness of prior -phase.

安全研究センター成果報告書(平成30年度)

安全研究・防災支援部門 安全研究センター

JAEA-Review 2019-015, 147 Pages, 2019/11

JAEA-Review-2019-015.pdf:7.77MB

日本原子力研究開発機構安全研究・防災支援部門安全研究センターでは、国が定める中長期目標に基づき、原子力安全規制行政への技術的支援及びそのための安全研究を行っている。本報告書は、安全研究センターの研究体制・組織及び国内外機関との研究協力の概要とともに、安全研究センターで実施している9つの研究分野((1)シビアアクシデント評価、(2)放射線安全・防災、(3)軽水炉燃料の安全性、(4)軽水炉の事故時熱水力挙動、(5)材料劣化・構造健全性、(6)核燃料サイクル施設の安全性、(7)臨界安全管理、(8)保障措置、(9)放射性廃棄物管理の安全性)について、平成30年度の活動状況及び研究成果を取りまとめたものである。