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Matsuba, Kenichi; Kato, Shinya; Kamiyama, Kenji; Akaev, A. S.*; Vurim, A. D.*; Baklanov, V. V.*
Proceedings of 31st International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE31) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2024/11
During a severe accident in sodium-cooled fast reactors, molten core materials could be discharged from the core region toward the lower sodium region of the reactor vessel through coolant channels, such as control rod guide tubes. Typical SFRs have a sodium plenum with limited depth and volume, such as the core inlet plenum located under the core region. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the coolability of molten core materials discharged into a depth- and volume-limited sodium plenum. In the present study, to deepen the understanding on the coolability of molten core materials discharged into such a sodium plenum, conditions under which molten core materials form solidified fragments were discussed based on an experiment discharging a molten fuel simulant (molten Al2O3) into a test vessel filled with liquid sodium.
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.
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
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.
Kamiyama, Kenji
Human Energy Atom, 2021(2), p.30 - 35, 2021/00
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has agreed to the research cooperation on the core safety of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) with the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NNC-RK), and it has been going on for over 20 years. This research cooperation is called the EAGLE project, which is an advanced and challenging research program utilizing the facilities of NNC-RK. The background and outline of this EAGLE program, as well as the implementation status and major achievements so far, are introduced here.
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.
Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Ganovichev, D. A.*; Baklanov, V. V.*
Proceedings of 11th Korea-Japan Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS-11) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2018/11
In Core Disruptive Accidents of Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors, molten core material would be discharged through control rod guide tubes into the inlet coolant plenums beneath the rector cores. The inlet coolant plenums have quite limited heights and sodium inventories. Therefore, in the inlet plenums, molten core material with a jet-like shape would impinge on the bottom of the plenum before it breaks up into fragments. In this study, to clarify fragmentation behavior in a shallow sodium pool whose height and volume are so limited that jet impingement on the bottom is expected, an out-of-pile experiment discharging molten alumina into a sodium pool was conducted. Although a small amount of alumina agglomeration was found on the bottom plate (steel disk) installed in the sodium pool, most of the molten alumina was fragmented into debris particles. Results obtained in the present experiment suggest that molten core material is fragmented and quenched even in a shallow sodium pool.
Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Toyooka, Junichi; Zuev, V. A.*; Kolodeshnikov, A. A.*
Proceedings of 17th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-17) (USB Flash Drive), 11 Pages, 2017/09
To clarify jet fragmentation and accompanying cooling behaviors of molten core materials discharged into sodium, results of the out-of-pile experiments with a simulant material (AlO
) were analyzed. The results clarified that while Al
O
jets were entirely fragmented into smaller particles during their penetration to several tenths of a meter in depth of sodium, an additional significant distance was needed to cool down the particles to the degree that thermal loading on the steel structures could be neglected. Based on the results, it is concluded that in terms of the reduction of thermal load on the lower structures in the reactor vessels, the cooling distance after fragmentation should be treated.
Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Toyooka, Junichi; Zuev, V. A.*; Ganovichev, D. A.*; Kolodeshnikov, A. A.*
Proceedings of 10th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS-10) (USB Flash Drive), 5 Pages, 2016/11
Molten fuel discharge through control rod guide tubes (CRGTs) is a key process that dominates the termination of core disruptive accidents of sodium-cooled fast reactors, since fuel dispersion from the core contributes to the achievement of both deeper subcriticality in the degraded core and formation of coolable debris bed. Within a framework of a collaborative research program between Japan Atomic Energy Agency and National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, called EAGLE program, a new experimental program has been started with out-of-pile experiments to clarify the fuel discharge through CRGTs. This paper presents the status of the new program, including experimental results obtained so far.
Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Toyooka, Junichi; Tobita, Yoshiharu; Zuyev, V. A.*; Kolodeshnikov, A. A.*; Vassiliev, Y. S.*
Mechanical Engineering Journal (Internet), 3(3), p.15-00595_1 - 15-00595_8, 2016/06
To develop a method for evaluating the distance for fragmentation of molten core material discharged into sodium, the particle size distribution of alumina debris obtained in the FR tests was analyzed. The mass median diameters of solidified alumina particles were around 0.3 mm, which are comparable to particle sizes predicted by hydrodynamic instability theories such as Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. However, even though hydrodynamic instability theories predict that particle size decreases with an increase of Weber number, such the dependence of particle size on We was not observed in the FR tests. It can be interpreted that this tendency of measured mass median suggests that before hydrodynamic instabilities sufficiently grow to induce fragmentation, thermal phenomena such as local coolant vaporization and resultant vapor expansion accelerate fragmentation.
Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Toyooka, Junichi; Tobita, Yoshiharu; Zuev, V. A.*; Kolodeshnikov, A. A.*; Vasilyev, Y. S.*
Proceedings of 23rd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-23) (DVD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2015/05
To develop a method for evaluating the distance for fragmentation of molten core material discharged into sodium, the particle size distribution of alumina debris obtained in the FR tests was analyzed. The mass median diameters of solidified alumina particles were around 0.4 mm, which are comparable to particle sizes predicted by hydrodynamic instability theories such as Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. However, even though hydrodynamic instability theories predict that particle size decreases with an increase of Weber number, such the dependence of particle size on We was not observed in the FR tests. It can be interpreted that the tendency of measured mass median diameters (i.e., non-dependence on Weber number) suggests that before hydrodynamic instabilities sufficiently grow to induce fragmentation, thermal phenomena such as local coolant vaporization and resultant vapor expansion accelerate fragmentation.
Kamiyama, Kenji; Konishi, Kensuke; Sato, Ikken; Toyooka, Junichi; Matsuba, Kenichi; Suzuki, Toru; Tobita, Yoshiharu; Pakhnits, A. V.*; Vityuk, V. A.*; Vurim, A. D.*; et al.
Proceedings of 10th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics, Operation and Safety (NUTHOS-10) (USB Flash Drive), 8 Pages, 2014/12
Matsuba, Kenichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Konishi, Kensuke; Toyooka, Junichi; Sato, Ikken; Zuev, V. A.*; Kolodeshnikov, A. A.*; Vasilyev, Y. S.*
Proceedings of 8th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS-8) (USB Flash Drive), 7 Pages, 2012/12
A series of fragmentation tests (FR tests) for molten oxide was conducted to obtain experimental knowledge on the distance for fragmentation of molten core material discharged into the lower sodium plenum. Approx. 714 kg of molten alumina was discharged into a sodium pool (depth: 1.3 m, diameter: 0.4 m, temperature: approx. 673 K) through a duct (inner diameter: 40
63 mm). The test results showed that the molten alumina was fragmented into particles within 1 m from the surface of the sodium pool. The estimated distances for fragmentation in the FR tests were roughly 60
70% lower than the predictions by the existing representative correlation. The experimental knowledge confirms the possibility that the distance for fragmentation of the molten core material can be significantly reduced due to thermal interactions in the lower sodium plenum.
Kimura, Akihiro; Izumo, Hironobu; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Hori, Naohiko; Ishihara, Masahiro; Bannykh, V.*; Gluschenko, N.*; Chakrova, Y.*; Chakrov, P.*
JAEA-Testing 2010-002, 20 Pages, 2010/08
JMTR has a plan to produce Mo, which is the parent nuclide of radiopharmaceutical
Tc, by (n,
) method. The cooperation experiments for
Mo adsorption and
Tc elution with the Poly-Zirconium Compound (PZC) and the Molybdate Zirconium Gel (Zr-gel) methods were carried out at Kazakhstan National Nuclear Energy Center (NNC) in October, 2009. The
Mo adsorption capability was the same level as reference data, however the
Tc elution capability with PZC was lower than reference data in this test. Therefore, re-experiments of
Mo adsorption and
Tc elution with both methods were carried out at NNC. As a result, the
Mo adsorption and
Tc elution capabilities were obtained as the same levels as reference data. Additionally,
Tc solution was high purity by the elution method connected with alumina column.
Kimura, Akihiro; Izumo, Hironobu; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Hori, Naohiko; Ishihara, Masahiro; Bannykh, V.*; Gluschenko, N.*; Chakrova, Y.*; Chakrov, P.*
JAEA-Technology 2009-075, 23 Pages, 2010/02
Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has a plan to produce Mo, which is the parent nuclide of radiopharmaceutical
Tc, by (n,
) method. The
Mo adsorption and
Tc elution characteristics of molybdenum adsorbents should be evaluated since the specific activity of
Mo obtained by (n,
) method is low. Therefore,
Mo adsorption and
Tc elution tests with molybdenum adsorbents for the (n,
) method such as poly-zirconium compound (PZC) and molybdate zirconium gel were carried out under cooperation with the Kazakhstan National Nuclear Energy Center (NNC). As a result, the
Mo adsorption performance of the adsorbents was the same level as conventional data, whereas the
Tc elution performance of the adsorbents was lower than conventional data. The
Mo adsorption and
Tc elution performance will be investigated again in future.
Tazhibayeva, I. L.*; Kenzhin, E. A.*; Kulsartov, T. V.*; Kuykabayeva, A. A.*; Shestakov, V.*; Chikhray, E.*; Gizatulin, S.*; Maksimkin, O. P.*; Beckman, I. N.*; Kawamura, Hiroshi; et al.
Questions of Atomic Science and Technology, 2, p.3 - 11, 2008/00
Lithium titanate (LiTiO
) was chosen as a tentative reference material from viewpoints of good tritium recovery at low temperatures and of low tritium inventory and chemical stability for the breeding blanket in fusion reactors. The results of the irradiation tests of Li
TiO
in the WWR-K of NNC-RK are described in this paper. 96at%
Li-enriched Li
TiO
pebbles and disks were prepared as the irradiation specimens and these specimens were irradiated during 220 days (5350 hours) at the reactor power of 6 MWt. Tritium release was measured continuously during irradiation tests and tritium release properties were evaluated. The mechanics describing generation and release of tritium from the irradiated Li
TiO
were analyzed. There was estimated tritium loss due to recoil energy and binding of tritium in HTO, and there was calculated stationary tritium release due to diffusion under constant temperature and under thermal cycling.
Tazhibayeva, I. L.*; Kulsartov, T.*; Kenzhin, E. A.*; Maksimkin, O. P.*; Doronina, T. A.*; Silnyagina, N. S.*; Turubarova, L. G.*; Tsai, K. V.*; Zheltov, D. A.*; Kashirskiy, V. V.*; et al.
Questions of Atomic Science and Technology; Series the Thermonuclear Fusion, 1, p.3 - 11, 2008/00
The paper contains and analyzes the results of integrated material studies of lithium ceramic LiTiO
+ 5% mole TiO
irradiated in reactor WWR-K during 5,350 hours under controlled conditions taking into account effects of tritium generated in the course of irradiation. The changes in density, microstructure, phase and chemical composition, strength and microhardness were studies; lithium burn-up level and tritium residual content were defined. The significant influence of radiation-thermal impacts on structure and properties of ceramic samples were observed. It was shown that irradiation resulted in lithium ceramics softening, at that this effect depended on irradiation temperature. It was discovered the radiation change of phase composition of lithium ceramic.
Konishi, Kensuke; Toyooka, Junichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Sato, Ikken; Kubo, Shigenobu*; Kotake, Shoji*; Koyama, Kazuya*; Vurim, A. D.*; Gaidaichuk, V. A.*; Pakhnits, A. V.*; et al.
Nuclear Engineering and Design, 237(22), p.2165 - 2174, 2007/11
Times Cited Count:46 Percentile:93.11(Nuclear Science & Technology)The WF (Wall Failure) test of the EAGLE program, in which 2kg of uranium dioxide fuel-pins were melted by nuclear heating, was successfully conducted in the IGR of NNC/Kazakhstan. In this test, a 3mm-thick stainless steel (SS) wall structure was placed between fuel pins and a 10mm-thick sodium-filled channel (sodium gap). During the transient, fuel pins were heated, which led to the formation of a fuel-steel mixture pool. Under the transient nuclear heating condition, the SS wall was strongly heated by the molten pool, leading to wall failure. The time needed for fuel penetration into the sodium-filled gap was very short (less than 1 second after the pool formation). The result suggests that molten core materials formed in hypothetical LMFBR core disruptive accidents have a certain potential to destroy SS-wall boundaries early in the accident phase, thereby providing fuel escape paths from the core region. The early establishment of such fuel escape paths is regarded as a favorable characteristic in eliminating the possibility of severe re-criticality events.
Konishi, Kensuke; Kubo, Shigenobu*; Sato, Ikken; Koyama, Kazuya*; Toyooka, Junichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Kotake, Shoji*; Vurim, A. D.*; Gaidaichuk, V. A.*; Pakhnits, A. V.*; et al.
Proceedings of 5th Korea-Japan Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS-5), p.465 - 471, 2006/11
no abstracts in English
Konishi, Kensuke; Toyooka, Junichi; Kamiyama, Kenji; Sato, Ikken; Kubo, Shigenobu*; Kotake, Shoji*; Koyama, Kazuya*; Vurim, A. D.*; Gaidaichuk, V. A.*; Pakhnits, A. V.*; et al.
Proceedings of Technical Meeting on Severe Accident and Accident Management (CD-ROM), 16 Pages, 2006/03
no abstracts in English