Takuya Shimura

Synthesis of superacid-modified poly(arylene ether sulfone)s via post-bromination

A versatile synthetic method of superacid-modified poly(arylene ether sulfone)s via post-bromination has been developed. Three kinds of high molecular weight poly(arylene ether sulfone)s, in which differences lie in the main chain structures, were synthesized and brominated. Careful control of the reaction conditions enabled selective and quantitative bromination of the polymers. The bromo groups were converted to superacid groups via Ullmann coupling reaction to obtain the title ionomers (FSPE-1a, 1b, and 1c). The chemical structure and the ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the FSPE-1s were characterized by 1H and 19F NMR spectra. Tough, flexible, and transparent membranes with IEC ranging from 0.87 to 1.09 meq g−1 were obtained by solution casting. The FSPE-1 membranes showed comparable properties (chemical stability, phase-separated morphology, water absorbability, and proton conductivity,) to those of our previous version of the superacid-modified poly(arylene ether sulfone) (FSPE) synthesized from brominated monomers (pre-bromination method). The advantages of the post-bromination method have been proven by significant improvement in the mechanical strength of the FSPE-1 membranes since it could provide superacid-modified aromatic ionomers with much higher molecular weight.

Study on Control Method of Natural Circulation by Injection of Helium Gas

This study is to investigate a control method of natural circulation of air by injection of helium gas. A depressurization accident is one of the design-basis accidents of a Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR). When the primary pipe rupture accident occurs in the VHTR, air is expected to enter into the reactor pressure vessel from the breach and oxidize in-core graphite structures. Finally, it seems to be probable that the natural circulation flow of air in the reactor pressure vessel produce continuously. In order to predict or analyze the air ingress phenomena during the depressurization accident of the VHTR, therefore, it is important to develop the method for prevention of air ingress during the accident.The experiment has been carried out regarding natural circulation using a circular tube consisting of the loop type or the reverse U-shaped type. The vertical channel consists of the one side heated tube and the other side cooled tube. The experimental results were obtained as follows. When the temperature difference between the vertical tubes was kept at 52K, the velocity of natural circulation flow became about 12cm/s. During this steady state, a small amount of helium injected to the channel. Then, the flow velocity of natural circulation suddenly decreased. The volume of injected helium is about 3% of the total volume of the channel. The velocity became around zero. After 1500 seconds elapsed, the natural circulation suddenly produced again. The experimental results show that the natural circulation flow of air can be controlled by the method of helium gas injection. This paper also discusses an overview of the method for the prevention of air ingress during the primary pipes rupture accident.Copyright