10.2 Research and Development by Ship Research Institute
In succession to the works in 1996, "Studies related to the application of system reliability analysis method GO-FLOW" aimed at the establishment of the element technology for the reliability analysis for the reactor facility to begin with the marine reactor, and the reactor accident sequence identification function was examined and the accident propagation simulator was developed.
In the "Studies on improvement of reliability of power supply facilities of the nuclear powered ship", extraction of the self-sequence which is a problem in evaluating the safety was developed for the fire in which the countermeasures to avoid the simultaneous failures are considered to be insufficient.
In the "studies on the numerical simulation of the thermal hydrostatic behavior of the marine reactor", the secondary non-stationary thermal hydrostatic analysis code was developed in order to simulate the effect of the flow fluctuation derived from the ship motion on the decay heat removing capacity from the core. In the field of the radiation shielding, the evaluation of the performance of the high performance shielding material, the safety transportation of the returned radioactive wastes, the development of the high performance liquid shielding material, and the development of the ceramics type multi-function shielding material were successively implemented.
In addition, the effect of the vertical motion on the natural circulation cooling system was studied in succession, and the studies on the utilization technology of the human integral function to the reactor plant and the autonomous and decentralized cooperative function monitoring system were implemented in succession.
10.3 Research and development by other institutes
Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine achieved the studies on the flashing and condensation of the high pressure saturated water in the water in the water-filled containment generated in the small loss of coolant accident of the MRX and DRX (joint study with the Ship Research Institute) and the economical evaluation of the nuclear powered container carrier engaged in the arctic polar zone route. Kobe University of Mercantile Marine successively achieved the studies on the thermal flow phenomenon of the passive safety system of the marine reactor (joint study with Kyoto University), and on the dynamic characteristics and control of the marine reactor.
References
1) The JAERI report, JAERI-Tech 97-405, 1997
2) "A Report on Working Group for Examination of DRX Utilization to Deep-sea and Oceanographic Research", Marine Reactor Research Committee of the JAERI, 1998
3) Materials provided by Izuo Aya (the Ship Research Institute)
4) Journal of Japan Navigation Research Institute, 96 (1997), Kondo and two other authors
5) Materials provided by Tomoo Otsuji (Kobe University of Mercantile Marine)
[Tomoji TAKAMASA]
11. Automatic Control
Recently there introduced many systems intended not only for pursuing the control accuracy but also reducing the burden activities on the crew.
In particular, employment of the unique idea on propulsion and utilization of the recent computer technology and GPS are included.
11.1 Sophisticated Positioning Control
AZIPOD of ABB was mounted on the seventh ship "ELATION" of Fantasy Class of the Carnival Cruise Line for the first time as passenger ship, which was delivered at Kvaerner Masa Shipyard in February, 1998.
AZIPOD, which is a compact pod containing the propulsion motor and the propeller, and installed outboard a ship, can be freely turned by 360, and has the following characteristics compared with the conventional electric propulsion plant.
(1) The direction of the propeller thrust can be changeable and then the maneuvering performance is improved.
(2) The propulsion system is in the outboard pod, and then lower noise can be expected in passenger cabins, and the inboard space can also be effectively used.
(3) The system configuration becomes simple, and then less maintenance can be realized.
Generally these characteristics are enjoyed mainly by passenger ships, special work boats, and ice breakers. Furthermore precise positioning control can be realized by combining AZIPOD and dynamic positioning system.
11.2 Voice Operation System
MHI developed the navigation-support system (SUPER BRIDGE-X) with voice operation system to maneuver the ship by the instruction of the voice, and installed the system onboard the LPG carrier of domestic service which was delivered in October 1997.
