High-Temperature Continuous Operation of the HTTR

Abstract

  A high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) is a graphite-moderated and helium gas-cooled reactor. It is particularly attractive due to its capability of producing high-temperature helium gas, and its passive and inherent safety features. To enable nuclear energy application to a wide range of heat process industries, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has continued extensive effort for the development of the HTGR using the high-temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR), which is the first HTGR in Japan with a thermal power of 30 MW, and operates it at the site of the JAEA's Oarai Research and Development Center. The HTTR has successfully completed a full-power high-temperature (950°C) continuous operation for 50 days from January to March in 2010. Through this operation, the potential of a stable high-temperature heat supply to heat application systems, such as a hydrogen production system, was demonstrated. This paper presents the operation results including reactor characteristics.