• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.11
• /
• pp.4191-4203
• /
• 2023

Robotics applications are greatly needed in hazardous locations, e.g., fusion and fission reactors, where robots must perform delicate and complex tasks under ionizing radiation conditions. The drawback is that some robotic parts, such as active electronics, are susceptible to radiation. It can lead to unexpected failures and early termination of the robotic operation. This paper analyses the ionizing radiation effect from 0.09 to 1.5 Gy/s in robotic components (microcontrollers, servo motors and temperature sensors). The first experiment compares the performance of various microcontroller types and their actuators and sensors, where different mitigation strategies are applied, such as using Radiation-Hardened (Rad-Hard) microcontrollers or shielding. The second and third experiments analyze the performance of a 3-Degrees of Freedom (DoF) robotic arm, evaluating its components' responses and trajectory. This study enhances our understanding and expands our knowledge regarding radiation's impact on robotic arms and components, which is useful for defining the best strategies for extending the robots' operational lifespan, especially when performing maintenance or inspection tasks in radiation environments.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.241-249
• /
• 2022

This paper discusses the design of a ground clutter prevention fence for a radar wind profiler (RWP). The design point of the clutter fence is to improve the quality of the received signal by removing the non-weather clutter coming from the side. In this paper, a clutter prevention fence composed of a metallash mesh around the RWP is proposed, and the phase center of the antenna, the length, and height of the down fence, and the height and slop of the top fence through M&S are designed. The designed ground clutter prevention fence and 256 active phase array antennas were used as basic data. The effectiveness of the design was confirmed by a simulation. The side lobe in the ±90° direction was reduced by more than 30dB depending on the presence or absence of the designed ground clutter prevention fence. The fence was manufactured by 3D modeling, and the clutter shielding performance of approximately 20dB or more on the side of the antenna (±90°) was confirmed by applying it to the currently operated RWP.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.68-75
• /
• 2007

A single chip NFC transceiver supporting not only NFC active and passive mode but also 13.56MHz RFID reader and tag mode was designed and fabricated. The proposed NFC transceiver can operate as a RFID tag even without external power supply which has dual antenna structure for initiator and target. The area increment due to additional target antenna is negligible because the target antenna is constructed by using a shielding layer of initiator antenna. The analog front end circuit of the proposed NFC transceiver consists of a transmitter and receiver of reader/writer block supporting NFC initiator or RFID reader mode, and a tag circuit for target of passive NFC mode or RFID tag mode. The maximum baud rate of the proposed NFC device is 212kbps by using UART serial interface. The chip has been designed and fabricated using a Magnachip's $0.35{\mu}m$ double poly 4-metal CMOS process, and the effective area of the chip is 2200um by 3600um.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.219-226
• /
• 1997

Ultralow background gamma-ray measurement system was installed to measure and analyze gamma-rays emitted from environmental and swipe samples. The background reduction techniques applied on this system are the passive shielding to surround the HPGe detector, an active external anticosmic shield to shield cosmic-rays and the nitrogen gas supply to minimize the introduction of ubiquitous radon decay nuclei. The performance test result showed that the system background at energies between 50 keV and 2 MeV is reduced about $10^{-2}$ order and the MDA is so low as to be suitable for the environmental sample analysis. But it is appeared that the neutron produced by cosmic-ray increases the background at low energy region.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.458-464
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Metacarpal fractures are common hand injury that may require operative intervention to ensure adequate reduction and stabilization. Traditionally, titanium miniplate was used for rigid fixation of bone fractures. However, the use of permanent plate lends itself to multiple complications such as infection, exposure of the hardware, tendon adhesions, tendon rupture, prolonged pain, bony atrophy and osteoporosis (stress shielding), metal sensitization, and palpation under the skin. This study evaluated the usefulness and stability of biodegradable plates and screws for treatment of metacarpal bone fractures. Methods: There was 17 patients who had surgery for metacarpal bone fracture from April 2007 to June 2010. All patients had open reduction and internal fixation. We used absorbable plates and screws (Inion CPS$^{(R)}$) for internal fixation. Postoperative results were assessed with x-ray. Stability of plates and screws, healing process and its complications were observed by clinical and radiographic assessment. Results: All patients were successfully reduced of bone fracture, and fixations with absorbable plates and screws were stable. The mean follow up period was 7.1 months. 2 patients complained postoperative pain, but they were relieved with analgesics. All patients experienced transient stiffness, but they were relieved with active assistive range of motion after removal of splint. No patients suffered complications which could be occurred by using metallic plate. Conclusion: There was no critical complications such as re-fracture or nonunion among patients. No patients suffered side effects related with metallic implants. Biodegradable implants can offer clinically stable and attractive alternative to metallic implants to stabilize metacarpal bone fractures in the hand.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.185-189
• /
• 2011

As nuclear industry has been developed, a various types of radiological contamination has occurred. After 9.11 terror in U.S.A., it has been concerned that terrorists' active area has been enlarged to use nuclear or radioactive substance. Recently, the most powerful earth-quake stroke, which triggered a massive tsunami in Japan and then Fukushima nuclear power plant reactor has suffered from a serious accident in history. The Fukushima reactor accident has occurred an anxiety of radiation leaks and about 170,000 people have been evacuated from the accidental area near the nuclear power plant. For these reasons, a social chaos can be occurred if radiological contamination occurs to the supply system for the drinking water. As such, the establishment of the radiation monitoring system for the city main water system is compelling for the national security. In this study, a feasibility test of radiation monitoring system which consists of unified hybrid-type radiation detectors was experimented for multi detection system by using gamma-ray imaging. The hybrid-type radiation sensors were fabricated with CsI(Tl) scintillators and photodiodes. A preamplifier and amplifier was also fabricated and assembled with the sensor in the shielding case. For the preliminary test of detection of radiological contamination in the river, multi CsI(Tl)-PIN photodiode radiation detectors and $^{137}Cs$ gamma-ray source were used. The DAQ was done by Linux based ROOT program and NI DAQ system with Labview program. The simulated contamination was assumed to be occurred at Gapcheon river in Daejeon city. Multi CsI(Tl)-PIN photodiode radiation detectors were positioned at the Gapcheon river side. Assuming that the radiological contaminations flows in the river the $^{137}Cs$ gamma-ray source has been moved and then, the contamination region was reconstructed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.10-17
• /
• 2021

The controversy over the risk of the human body being affected by electromagnetic fields emitted from 60 Hz power lines continues without end. There are currently no new studies or research progress being made in this direction that is notable, and the number of civil complaints is gradually increasing. The problem is that each study produces different results, among which the effect of exposure to magnetic fields on childhood leukemia is a major one. In Korea, an electrician who was maintaining a 22.9 kV power line died of leukemia, which has recently been recognized as an occupational disease. Methods to reduce magnetic fields from power lines include shielding with wire loops, incorporating split phases and compaction techniques, installing underground power lines, converting to high-voltage direct current (HVDC), and increasing the ground clearance of transmission towers. Depending on whether a separate power supply is needed or not, there are two types of wire loops: passive loop and active loop. Magnetic field reduction is currently done through underground power lines; however, the disadvantage of this process is high construction costs. Installing passive loops, with relatively low construction costs, leads to lower magnetic field reduction rates than installing underground cables and a weakness to not solving the landscape problem. This methodological study aims at designing methods and reducing the effects of 2-wire set loops-the simplest and most practical. Since the method proposed in this study has been designed after analyzing the distribution of complex electromagnetic fields near the expected loop installation location, a practical design can be implemented without the need for any difficult optimization programming.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
• /
• 2005.06a
• /
• pp.523-530
• /
• 2005

In this study, maximum exposure rate at DAW(Dry Active Waste) drum surface which is satisfying regulation limit was calculated for conceptual design of IP(Industrial Package). DAW can be classified as combustible and non-combustible waste and the calculation was conducted for single and mixed radionuclide for each type of waste. In case of combustible waste that mixed radionuclide is uniformly distributed, the maximum exposure rates at drum surface were 3.60E-01, 8.85E-01 and 1.27E+01 mSv/hr for IP Type 1, 2-a and 2-b, respectively. and 3.60E-01, 8.85E-01, 1.27E+01 mSv/hr for single radionuclide(Co-60). In case of non-combustible waste that mixed radionuclide is uniformly distributed, the maximum exposure rates at drum surface were 7.14E-01, 1.83E+00, 2.69E+01 mSv/hr for IP Type 1, 2-a and 2-b, respectively. and 7.13E-01, 1.81E-01, 2.62E+01 mSv/hr for single radionuclide(Co-60). Through this study, the maximum amount of DAW can be transported by IP was suggested as maximum exposure rate at drum surface and the calculation for the other types of waste will be conducted.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.219-226
• /
• 2012

Interventional radiologists are not aware of the potential injury from procedures. The purpose of this study are to evaluate radiation exposure of interventional radiologist from intervention procedures and to develop guideline of the simple methods for decreasing their radiation exposure from intervention procedure. In this study, Dosimeters were used to monitor operator doses of radiation exposure in a broad range of procedures from 20 interventional radiologist during the periods of 3 months. And, we searched protection methods of each interventional radiologist. During TACE procedure, there was using 0.5 mmPb radiation protector decreased average 89.5 % of radiation exposure. Thicker radiation protector provide decreasing radiation exposure. And radiation exposure dose decreased average 47.7 % by using pulse fluoroscopic mode. Therefore, interventional radiologist should wear protective aprons, use active shielding, monitor their doses, and know how to poisoning themselves during the procedure and operate correct of the machines for minimum dose.