Shigeaki Nakagawa

Achievement of Reactor-Outlet Coolant Temperature of 950°C in HTTR

A High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) is particularly attractive due to its capability of producing high-temperature helium gas and to its inherent safety characteristics. The High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR), which is the first HTGR in Japan, achieved its rated thermal power of 30 MW and reactor-outlet coolant temperature of 950°C on 19 April 2004. During the high-temperature test operation which is the final phase of the rise-to-power tests, reactor characteristics and reactor performance were confirmed, and reactor operations were monitored to demonstrate the safety and stability of operation. The reactor-outlet coolant temperature of 950°C makes it possible to extend high-temperature gas-cooled reactor use beyond the field of electric power. Also, highly effective power generation with a high-temperature gas turbine becomes possible, as does hydrogen production from water. The achievement of 950°C will be a major contribution to the actualization of producing hydrogen from water using the high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. This report describes the results of the high-temperature test operation of the HTTR.

Passive heat removal by vessel cooling system of HTTR during no forced cooling accidents

Abstract The high temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR) being constructed by the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute is a graphite-moderated, helium-cooled reactor with an outlet gas temperature of 950 °C. Two independent vessel cooling systems (VCSs) of the HTTR cool the reactor core indirectly during depressurized and pressurized accidents so that no forced direct cooling of the reactor core is necessary. Each VCS consists of a water cooling loop and cooling panels around the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). The cooling panels, kept below 90 °C, cool the RPV by radiation and natural convection and remove the decay heat from the reactor core during these accidents. This paper describes the design details and safety roles of the VCSs of the HTTR during depressurized and pressurized accidents. Safety analyses prove that the indirect core cooling by the VCSs and the inherent safety features of the reactor core prevent a temperature increase of the reactor fuel and fission product release from the reactor core during these conditions. Furthermore, it is confirmed that even if VCS failure is assumed during these accidents, the reactor core and RPV can remain in a safe state.

Plan for first phase of safety demonstration tests of the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR)

Safety demonstration tests using the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) will be conducted for the purpose of demonstrating inherent safety features of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) as well as providing the core and plant transient data for validation of HTGR safety analysis codes. The first phase safety demonstration test items include the reactivity insertion test and the coolant flow reduction test. In the reactivity insertion test, which is the control rod withdrawal test, one pair out of 16 pairs of control rods is withdrawn, simulating a reactivity insertion event. The coolant flow reduction test consists of the partial loss of coolant flow test and the gas circulators trip test. In the partial loss of coolant flow test, primary coolant flow rate is slightly reduced by control system. In the gas circulators trip test one and two out of three gas circulators are run down, simulating coolant flow reduction events. The gas circulators trip tests, in which position of control rods are kept unchanged, are simulation tests of anticipated transients without scram (ATWS).

Design and Fabrication of Reactor Pressure Vessel for High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR)

The reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of the HTTR is 5.5 m in inside diameter, 13.2 m in inside height, and 122 mm and 160 mm in wall thickness of the body and the top head dome, respectively. Because the reactor inlet temperature of the HTTR is higher than that of LWRs, 2 1/4Cr-1Mo steel is chosen for the RPV material. Fluence of the RPV is estimated to be less than 1×1017 n/cm2 (E>1 MeV), and so irradiation embrittlement is presumed to be negligible, but temper embrittlement is not. For the purpose of reducing embrittlement, content of some elements is limited on 2 1/4 Cr-1 Mo steel for the RPV using embrittlement parameters, J-factor and X . In this paper design, fabrication procedure, and in-service inspection technique of the RPV for the HTTR are described.Copyright