News & Topics for FY '10

News

  • January 24, 2011; The test of loss of forced cooling without the vessel cooling system operational(the loss-of-core cooling test, LOCC) in the HTTR was successfully completed under the condition of the reactor power of 9MW (30% of the rated power). To demonstrate the inherent safety features of HTGR in the case of LOCC, all of the primary gas circulators and additionally one out of the two reactor vessel cooling systems for decay heat removal were stopped from the 9MW steady-state operation. The primary coolant flow rate reduced to zero, and the reactor power decreased rapidly to zero from just after the gas circulators' stoppage. The LOCC test was continued for 6 hours, during which the increase in the vessel temperature and other reactor structures were confirmed within the conservative analytical results obtained prior to the test.
  • December 21, 2010; The first loss-of-forced cooling (LOFC) test using the HTTR was conducted. In the test, all gas circulators in the primary system were stopped from the steady operation under the reactor power of 9MW (30% of the rated power of 30MW). Zero flow rate of the HTTR primary system was kept for 12 hours. The reactor power decreased rapidly down to zero from just after the gas circulators' stoppage. Several hours later, the reactor attained re-criticality and the reactor was kept steady state of low power.
  • September 29, 2010; At the 2nd Japan-Kazakhstan Joint Public-Private Sector Economic Conference, Marubeni Utility Services, Ltd, Toshiba Corporation and JAEA made presentation in their joint authors concerning the present status of cooperation in the field of HTGR technologies between Kazakhstan and Japan. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan mentioned the cooperation in field of HTGR technologies at that conference.
  • August 25, 2010; President Faisal Bin Turki AlFaisal from Global Strategic Studies Institute (GSSI) visited HTTR and hydrogen production facilities, and reported on recent Saudi circumstances. After his report, JAEA staffs exchanged views with him about them.
  • August 9 - 19, 2010; JAEA received four students from the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University under the Memorandum of Cooperation in Education and Training in the Field of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Technologies. JAEA provided the training concerning nuclear reactor engineering including the HTGR technologies at Oarai R&D Center and Tokai R&D Center during their stay.
  • July 7, 2010; Toyota Motor Co.,Ltd. and JAEA exchanged the information on hydrogen production and utilization.
  • June 23, 2010; Nissan Motor Co.,Ltd. and JAEA exchanged the information on hydrogen production and utilization.
  • April 12 - 23, 2010; The second lecture by JAEA experts was held at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University located in Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan, under the Memorandum of Cooperation in Education and Training in the Field of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Technologies.
  • Mar 31, 2010; JAEA and Toshiba Corporation prolonged their arrangement of research cooperation concerning the basic research on atomic energy, which was signed on December 17, 2007, by March 31, 2015.
  • Mar 13, 2010; HTTR achieved its 50-day continuous operation in high temperature operation mode.
  • Feb 4, 2010; Ambassador Natsui to the Republic of Kazakhstan visited HTTR and hydrogen production facility, and reported on recent Kazakhstan circumstances. After his report, JAEA staffs exchanged views with him about them.
  • Feb 1, 2010; In order to obtain the outcome of research and development on HTGRs technology in the short term, and strengthen still more the link with domestic industrial parties and foreign organization, "Nuclear Hydrogen and Heat Application Research Center" was established newly by restructuring former "Nuclear Applied Heat Technology Division in Nuclear Science and Engineering Directorate" and "HTGR Development Promotion Office in Policy Planning and Administration Department".

Topics

  • May 18, 2010; Oarai-machi presented some staffs of HTTR Project with letters of commendation for their bravery that they rescued their colleague, who fell on his back under his cardio-respiratory arrest, by using the AED (automatic external defibrillator).
  • May 17, 2010; From the result of post-project evaluation to the contract research of "Research and Development for Advance High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor Fuels and Graphite Components" (from FY '04 to FY '09) entrusted by the MEXT, the activity of that research was commended for the highest rating of A evaluation.
  • Jan 27, 2010; The annual meeting of FY '09 Innovative Nuclear Research and Development Program hosted by Japan Science and Technology Agency was held. In this meeting, the research activity of "Research and development of lifetime extension for primary materials by active chemistry control for coolant helium" which was selected as theme of basic research and development for young scientist in FY '06 was commended for S evaluation.
  • Jan 8, 2010; In research and development meeting in the Oarai Research and Development Institute, the activities on research and development of the hydrogen production by using IS process were reported.

Related article

  • JAEA succeeded in safety demonstration tests with HTTR which is a VHTR attracted a great deal of worldwide attention as a safe and low carbon-emission reactor. / NIKKEI Web (January 17, 2011)
  • Progressing the developments of High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor, excellent next generation nuclear reactor. / Tokyo Shimbun (January 17, 2011)
  • Completion of the loss of coolant test with the HTTR, which demonstrated the safety features of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. / The Denki Shimbun (December 24, 2010)
  • Successful completion of the cooling performance test with the HTTR for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. / NIKKEI (December 24, 2010)
  • Confirmation of the reactor stability using the HTTR under zero helium gas flow rate. / Joyo Shimbun (December 24, 2010)
  • Safety demonstration test with the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, HTTR. / NIKKEI (December 16, 2010)
  • Clean town realized with hydrogen supply and utilization. / Ibaraki Shimbun (December 10, 2010)
  • Research for making Japan encourage - Aiming to realize hydrogen economy with high-temperature gas cooled-reactor. / Yomiuri Shimbun (December 9, 2010)
  • Eye-catching element in infrastructure export. The development of electricity generation by helium gas cooled nuclear reactor is coming on. / Gas Review, No.709 (December 1, 2010)
  • Accelerate the research and development on high temperature gas cooled reactor. US has a plan to construct the prototype reactor by FY2021. People's Republic of China has a plan to deploy the commercial reactors by around 2013. HTTR in JAEA attracts high attention from Republic of Kazakhstan and other countries. / The Denki Shimbun (November 26, 2010)
  • Walking trail. Current research reactor: HTTR. Improve the heat utilization efficiency by using high temperature. / Gifu Shimbun (November 18, 2010)
  • Enhance the relationship of cooperation to US concerning the research and development on high temperature gas cooled reactor. / The Denki Shimbun (November 8, 2010)
  • Start the test of loss of coolant to prove the safety of high temperature gas cooled reactor. / The Denki Shimbun (November 4, 2010)
  • Introduction of high temperature gas cooled reactor (HTTR). / On the air at "FNN speaks" in Fuji Television Network (November 2, 2010)
  • JAEA was entrusted with the research on high temperature gas cooled reactor from NGNP project in US. / The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun (October 15, 2010)
  • JAEA was entrusted with the research on high temperature gas cooled reactor from General Atomics in US. / NIKKEI (October 15, 2010)
  • Expectation to "of low price, safe and small" reactor system, - Advanced type out of general knowledge, intended purpose different form light water reactor. / Asahi Shimbun (July 27, 2010)
  • Oarai-machi began the research project on the clean energy of "Hydrogen". / Yomiuri Shimbun (June 29, 2010)
  • Some staffs of HTTR Project rescued their colleague by using the AED (automatic external defibrillator). Oarai-machi presented them with letters of commendation for their bravery. / Ibaraki Shimbun (May 19, 2010)
  • As for development of next generation nuclear power plant, "UNNOTICED FIELDS" of advanced technologies should be shed the proper light on. / Fuji Sankei Business Eye (May 11, 2010)
  • Next generation nuclear power plant will be designed to be small and safe to set its sight to developing countries. Hydrogen production would be also considered. / NIKKEI (May 2, 2010)
  • JAEA, Foreign countries pay attention to the high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). HTGR has big advantage of its economic potential and heat utilization. / The Denki Shimbun (April 14, 2010)