Based on “Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050,” JAEA has initiated an HTTR heat application test plan (Fig. 1) to couple a hydrogen production facility to the HTTR, with the aim of establishing coupling technology and evaluation methods that achieve a high level of safety for coupling a hydrogen production facility to an HTGR. The basic design for the coupling equipment to couple the HTTR and the hydrogen production facility has been implemented, and a development plan has been formulated.

The coupling equipment (Fig. 2) is composed of high temperature isolation valves to prevent the leakage of radioactive materials from the nuclear facility, a secondary helium gas circulator to feed high temperature helium gas, and a hot gas duct to transport high temperature helium gas to a hydrogen production facility. The development plan for these components is as follows. For the development of the high-temperature isolation valve, it was found necessary to optimize the shut-off surface pressure and select welding conditions to achieve the required seal performance and prevent adhesion between the valve body and seat during shut-off behavior. For the development of the secondary helium circulation machine, it was found necessary to conduct element verification tests in a helium environment on the magnetic bearings, high-speed motor, and aerodynamic section (impeller) with a view towards future large-capacity applications and to meet the required performance specifications. For the development of the hot gas duct, it was found necessary to measure the heat transfer characteristic data of the candidate insulation material in a helium environment and verify the construction method in order to use a new insulation material.

Based on these results, the required specifications for each connected facility device will be clarified.

This study was part of the results conducted on “HTGR demonstration reactor development project (Large-Scale Hydrogen Production Demonstration Project Utilizing Very High Temperature),” supported by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan.

Mizuta, N. et al., Development Plan for Coupling Technology Between High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor HTTR and Hydrogen Production Facility: (2) Development Plan for Coupling Equipment Between HTTR and Hydrogen Production Facility, Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30), Kyoto, Japan, 2023, ICONE30-1371, 6p.

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