30 days after the new type of research reactor "High Temperature Gas Reactor = HTTR" in Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, which had been out of operation for more than 10 years, passed the examination of the new national regulatory standards. I resumed operation.
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency's "HTTR" in Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, which started operation in 1998, is a new type of nuclear reactor that uses helium gas to cool the core and covers the nuclear fuel with highly heat-resistant ceramics. Since heat can be extracted at a high temperature of nearly 1000 degrees Celsius, it is possible to generate electricity and produce hydrogen using heat efficiently, and promotion is included in the national energy basic plan.
The operation was stopped for regular inspection in February 2011 before the Great East Japan Earthquake, and after that, it passed the examination based on the new regulatory standards of the country, and the operation was resumed on the 30th after the construction such as fire countermeasures was carried out. ..
On the 30th, after 11:00 am, the operator operated a button in the central control room to pull out the control rods that suppress the fission reaction, and at 2:40 pm, the fission reaction became a continuous "critical" state. I did.
The "HTTR" will gradually increase its output, and while operating until the end of September this year, it will first inspect the status of the equipment that has been in operation for the first time in 10 years.
From January next year, we plan to conduct verification tests to verify safety, such as lowering the output and temperature without using control rods or major cooling equipment, assuming troubles during operation.
Hitoshi Negishi, director of the Orai Research Institute, Fast Reactor and Advanced Thermal Reactor Research and Development Division, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, said, "I am deeply moved to be able to resume operation while high-temperature gas reactors are expected for future energy development. I would like to continue to give top priority to safety measures and respond carefully. "