Patents by Inventor Motoo Aoyama
Motoo Aoyama has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7997078Abstract: In a nuclear power plant, thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from thermal power in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle by at least one operation cycle. A proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, with respect to a flow rate of main steam, is reduced in the second operation cycle from that in the first operation cycle such that the temperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater is lowered by 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2009Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.Inventors: Masao Chaki, Kazuaki Kitou, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ootsuka, Kouji Shiina
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Publication number: 20110162364Abstract: In a nuclear power plant, thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from thermal power in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle by at least one operation cycle. A proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, with respect to a flow rate of main steam, is reduced in the second operation cycle from that in the first operation cycle such that the temperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater is lowered by 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventors: Masao Chaki, Kazuaki Kitou, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ootsuka, Kouji Shiina
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Publication number: 20110162363Abstract: In a nuclear power plant, thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from thermal power in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle by at least one operation cycle. A proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, with respect to a flow rate of main steam, is reduced in the second operation cycle from that in the first operation cycle such that the temperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater is lowered by 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventors: Masao CHAKI, Kazuaki KITOU, Motoo AOYAMA, Masaya OOTSUKA, Kouji SHIINA
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Patent number: 7970094Abstract: A nuclear power plant and method of operation for augmenting a second reactor thermal power output in a second operation cycle to a level larger than a first reactor thermal power output in the previous operation cycle. The plant is equipped, for example, with a reactor; a steam loop comprising high and low pressure turbines; a condenser for condensing steam discharged therefrom the low pressure turbine; a feedwater heater for heating feedwater supplied from the condenser; and a feedwater loop for leading feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater to the reactor. The operation method includes decreasing a ratio of extraction steam which is led to the feedwater heater from a steam loop in the second operation cycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuaki Kitou, Masao Chaki, Kouji Shiina, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ohtsuka, Masayuki Nagasawa, Minoru Okura, Seiji Nemoto, Yasuhiro Takahashi
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Publication number: 20100170246Abstract: In a nuclear power plant, thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from thermal power in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle by at least one operation cycle. A proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, with respect to a flow rate of main steam, is reduced in the second operation cycle from that in the first operation cycle such that the temperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater is lowered by 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventors: Masao CHAKI, Kazuaki Kitou, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ootsuka, Kouji Shiina
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Publication number: 20100128833Abstract: A reactor core, comprising: an outermost region; a core region surrounded by said outermost region; a plurality of fuel support members, each of which is disposed at a lower end portion of said outermost region and said core region; and a plurality of fuel assemblies loaded in said outermost region and said core region and supported by said fuel support members, wherein a plurality of fuel assemblies disposed in said core region include a plurality of first fuel assemblies, each of which is inserted into a first coolant passage which is formed in said fuel support member and has a first resistor having an opening, and a plurality of second fuel assemblies, each of which is individually inserted into each of second coolant passage which is formed in said fuel support member and has a second resistor having an opening and a larger pressure loss than that of said first resistor; and, four fuel assemblies, each of which is adjacent to each of four lateral sides of each of a plurality of first fuel assemblies,Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Inventors: Takeshi Mitsuyasu, Motoo Aoyama, Kazuya Ishii, Masao Chaki
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Patent number: 7614233Abstract: In a nuclear power plant, thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from thermal power in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle by at least one operation cycle. A proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, with respect to a flow rate of main steam, is reduced in the second operation cycle from that in the first operation cycle such that the temperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater is lowered by 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.Inventors: Masao Chaki, Kazuaki Kitou, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ootsuka, Kouji Shiina
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Publication number: 20090252282Abstract: A fuel assembly, comprising: a plurality of first fuel rods including uranium and not including a burnable poison; a plurality of second fuel rods including said uranium and said burnable poison; and a water rod; wherein said second fuel rods are placed at corners of an outermost layer of a fuel rod array; other second fuel rods are placed, in said outermost layer, adjacent to said second fuel rods placed at said corners; and other second fuel rods are placed adjacent to said water rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Inventors: Takeshi MITSUYASU, Motoo Aoyama, Tetsushi Hino
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Publication number: 20090141847Abstract: An method for operating a nuclear power generation plant, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of control rod patterns by operating a plurality of control rods during a first period of one operation cycle of a reactor including said first period before a point of time when all control rods are completely withdrawn from a core of said reactor and a core flow rate reaches firstly a set core flow rate, and a second period after said point of time, controlling stepwise at least once a temperature of feed water supplied to said reactor based on a different set feed water temperature during a period included in said first period for operating said reactor with a formed same control rod pattern, and continuing feed water temperature control based on said set feed water temperature until said core flow rate reaches a set core flow rate set based on said set feed water temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2008Publication date: June 4, 2009Inventors: Tetsushi HINO, Masao CHAKI, Motoo AOYAMA, Takeshi MITSUYASU, Yoshihiko ISHII
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Publication number: 20090041174Abstract: A reactor core, comprising: an outermost region; a core region surrounded by said outermost region; a plurality of fuel support members, each of which is disposed at a lower end portion of said outermost region and said core region; and a plurality of fuel assemblies loaded in said outermost region and said core region and supported by said fuel support members, wherein a plurality of fuel assemblies disposed in said core region include a plurality of first fuel assemblies, each of which is inserted into a first coolant passage which is formed in said fuel support member and has a first resistor having an opening, and a plurality of second fuel assemblies, each of which is individually inserted into each of second coolant passage which is formed in said fuel support member and has a second resistor having an opening and a larger pressure loss than that of said first resistor; and, four fuel assemblies, each of which is adjacent to each of four lateral sides of each of a plurality of first fuel assemblies, incType: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Inventors: Takeshi MITSUYASU, Motoo AOYAMA, Kazuya ISHII, Masao CHAKI
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Publication number: 20080317191Abstract: The present invention decreases the temperature of feed water supplied to the reactor of a set power when the flow rate of coolant supplied to the core of the reactor increases in the end of an operation cycle. This operating method can increase the thermal power of the nuclear power generation plant and increase the economical efficiency of fuel even when the operation cycle is prolonged. Particularly, even when the core flow rate increases in the end of the operation cycle, this method can suppress the rise of the cooling water temperature at the inlet of the core. Consequently, this invention can make the reactivity gain higher than that when the core flow rate is singly increased. The present invention can increase the thermal power of a nuclear reactor, and can improve the economical efficiency of fuel even when a period of an operation cycle is made longer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventors: Masao Chaki, Motoo Aoyama, Tetsushi Hino, Kazuya Ishii
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Publication number: 20080181349Abstract: A nuclear power plant and method of operation for augmenting a second reactor thermal power output in a second operation cycle to a level larger than a first reactor thermal power output in the previous operation cycle. The plant is equipped, for example, with a reactor; a steam loop comprising high and low pressure turbines; a condenser for condensing steam discharged therefrom the low pressure turbine; a feedwater heater for heating feedwater supplied from the condenser; and a feedwater loop for leading feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater to the reactor. The operation method includes decreasing a ratio of extraction steam which is led to the feedwater heater from a steam loop in the second operation cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuaki Kitou, Masao Chaki, Kouji Shiina, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ohtsuka, Masayuki Nagasawa, Minoru Okura, Seiji Nemoto, Yasuhiro Takahashi
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Patent number: 7349518Abstract: A ratio of the number of fuel assemblies loaded on a core to the number of control rod drive mechanisms is 3 or more. The fuel assembly itself contains mixed oxides of a low enrichment concentration uranium oxide containing 3 to 8 wt % in the average enrichment concentration of the fuel assembly, or mixed oxide containing not less than 2 wt %, but less than 6 wt % in the average enrichment concentration of fissile plutonium of. In the burner type BWR core on which the fuel assemblies are loaded, an average weight density of uranium, plutonium and minor actinides is 2.1 to 3.4 kg/L as a conversion at the value of unburned state.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2006Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Renzou Takeda, Motoo Aoyama, Junichi Miwa, Tomohiko Ikegawa, Kumiaki Moriya
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Patent number: 7333584Abstract: A nuclear power plant and method of operation for augmenting a second reactor thermal power output in a second operation cycle to a level larger than a first reactor thermal power output in the previous operation cycle. The plant is equipped, for example, with a reactor; a steam loop comprising high and low pressure turbines; a condenser for condensing steam discharged therefrom the low pressure turbine; a feedwater heater for heating feedwater supplied from the condenser; and a feedwater loop for leading feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater to the reactor. The operation method includes decreasing a ratio of extraction steam which is led to the feedwater heater from a steam loop in the second operation cycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Hitachi - GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuaki Kitou, Masao Chaki, Kouji Shina, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ohtsuka, Masayuki Nagasawa, Minoru Okura, Seiji Nemoto, Yasuhiro Takahashi
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Publication number: 20070201605Abstract: A core disposed in a reactor pressure vessel includes one layer (an outermost region) at an outermost side of the core, two-three layers (an outer region) inside the outermost region and other layers (an inner region) inside the outer region. Fuel assemblies arranged in the core are supported by fuel supports having orifice. Orifice pressure loss coefficient of the orifice in the outermost region is set to be maximum and the orifice pressure loss coefficient of the orifice in the outer region is set to be minimum such that the flow rate of the coolant W for each fuel assembly in the outermost region is lowest and that for each fuel assembly in the outer region is highest. In the core of the natural circulation boiling water reactor, the reactor power distribution in a radial direction is flattened, and it is possible to increase the thermal margin.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: August 30, 2007Inventors: Kazuya ISHII, Motoo AOYAMA, Tetsushi HINO
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Publication number: 20070000250Abstract: A nuclear power plant and an operation method of the nuclear power plant, which can uprate plant power without greatly modifying the construction of plant equipment, while keeping a core's pressure loss characteristic, a safety margin, and a design margin in the transient state substantially the same as those before the power uprate. Thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from thermal power in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle at least one operation cycle. A proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, with respect to a flow rate of main steam is reduced in the second operation cycle from that in the first operation cycle such that temperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater lowers in the range of 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Inventors: Masao Chaki, Kazuaki Kitou, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ootsuka, Kouji Shiina
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Publication number: 20060210009Abstract: A ratio of the number of fuel assemblies loaded on a core to the number of control rod drive mechanisms is 3 or more. The fuel assembly itself contains mixed oxides of a low enrichment concentration uranium oxide containing 3 to 8 wt % in the average enrichment concentration of the fuel assembly, or mixed oxide containing not less than 2 wt %, but less than 6 wt % in the average enrichment concentration of fissile plutonium of. In the burner type BWR core on which the fuel assemblies are loaded, an average weight density of uranium, plutonium and minor actinides is 2.1 to 3.4 kg/L as a conversion at the value of unburned state.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2006Publication date: September 21, 2006Inventors: Renzou Takeda, Motoo Aoyama, Junichi Miwa, Tomohiko Ikegawa, Kumiaki Moriya
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Publication number: 20050220253Abstract: A nuclear power plant of the invention is equipped, for example, with a reactor; a steam loop comprising high and low pressure turbines; a condenser for condensing steam discharged therefrom the low pressure turbine; a feedwater heater for heating feedwater supplied from the condenser; and a feedwater loop for leading feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater to the reactor, and an operation method thereof is characterized by augmenting a second reactor thermal power output in a second operation cycle of the reactor larger than a first reactor thermal power output in a first operation cycle; and making an increase ratio of extraction steam, which is led to the feedwater heater with being extracted from the steam loop, in the second operation cycle for the first operation cycle smaller than an increase ratio of the second reactor thermal power output for the first reactor thermal power output.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuaki Kitou, Masao Chaki, Kouji Shina, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ohtsuka, Masayuki Nagasawa, Minoru Okura, Seiji Nemoto, Yasuhiro Takahashi
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Patent number: 6516043Abstract: A fuel assembly includes a plurality of fuel rods placed in a square lattice array of 9-rows/9-columns and at least one water rod. In this fuel assembly, the fuel rod pitch of the plurality of fuel rods is in a range of 14.15 mm to 14.65 mm, and means for offsetting and holding a fuel bundle composed of the fuel rods and the water rod is provided in such a manner that the center in a cross section of the fuel bundle is offset from the center in a cross section of the lower tie plate toward the channel fastener side. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a fuel assembly for a D-lattice core, which is capable of achieving the fuel economy comparable to that of a C-lattice core without reducing the thermal margin, and of using the existing fuel spacers.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1999Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masao Chaki, Koji Nishida, Motoo Aoyama, Junichi Koyama, Katsumasa Haikawa, Yasuhiro Aizawa
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Patent number: 6512805Abstract: There are provided a light water reactor core which has the same levels in cost efficiency and degree of safety as those of an existing BWR under operation now, that is, which is oriented to plutonium multi-recycle having a breeding ratio near 1.0 or slightly larger and having a negative void coefficient with minimizing modification of the reactor core structure of the existing BWR under operation now, and to fuel assemblies used for the boiling water reactor. The light water reactor core having an effective water-to-fuel volume ratio of 0.1 to 0.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2000Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Renzo Takeda, Motoo Aoyama, Junichi Miwa, Motohiko Ikegawa