• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.190-195
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• 2009

Na-tetrasilicic fluorine mica powders were synthesized by skull melting method. The staring materials having chemical composition of $Mg_3(OH)_2Si_4O_{10}:Na_2SiF_6:SiO_2=8.3:24.8:66.9$ mol% were charged into a cold crucible of 13 cm in diameter and 14cm in height and heated by R.F. generator at working frequency of 2.84 MHz. The materials were maintained for 1hr as a molten state and cooled down in the container. In this study, the specific electric resistance of mica was estimated and the columnar and plate shaped mica were synthesized.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.3 s.286
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• pp.148-151
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• 2006

In order to examine the process parameters for the vitrification of Low and Intermediate Level radioactive Waste (LILW) generated from nuclear power plants, measurements of several melt properties was performed for four selected glasses containing simulated waste. Electrical conductivity and viscosity were determined at temperatures ranging from 1123 to $1673^{\circ}C$. The temperature dependences of both properties in the molten state showed a similar behavior in which their values decrease as the temperature increases. The values of the electrical conductivity and viscosity at a temperature of 1423K adopted in an induction cold crucible melter process were $0.27{\sim}0.42$ S/cm and $9.8{\sim}42$ dPas, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.141-148
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• 2006

Skull melting method can be a good candidate for growing oxide single crystals with high quality and for mass production because of its low production costs and high yield through recycling of crust. In this study, rutile single crystals were frown by the skull melting method and ingot characteristics with the variation of different growth conditions has been investigated. Conditions for high quality rutile ingot growth were used for producing cold-crucible size of ${\Phi}12cm{\times}H14cm$, capacity of 3000 pF tank condenser, work frequency of 2.84 MHz, melt-dwelling time of 9hrs and growing speed of 2 mm/h.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.126-129
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• 2009

In this study, it was aimed to develop the re-use technology of ultra-fine silicon powders, by-products during the current production process of high purity poly-Si feedstock. For this goal, the compacts of the silicon powders were tried to fabricate by CIP (Cold Isostatic Pressing) method using silicon rubber mold without chemical binder materials. The density ratio of the silicon powder compacts reached 74%. In order to simulate the actual handling and charging conditions of feedstock material in casting process, a shaking test was carried out and mass loss measured. Finally, the silicon powder compacts were melted using a cold crucible induction melting method and the purity assessment was conducted by Hall effect measurement.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.94-97
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• 2005

For the fabrication of poly-crystalline silicon ingot, CCCC (Cold Crucible Continuous Casting) method under a high frequency alternating magnetic field, was utilized in order to prevent crucible consumption and ingot contamination and to increase production rate. In order to effectively and continuously melt and cast silicon, which has a high radiation heat loss due to the high melting temperature and a low induction heating efficiency due to a low electric conductivity, Joule and pinch effects were optimized. Throughout the present investigation, poly-crystalline Si ingot was successfully produced at the casting speed of above 1.5 mm/min under a non-contact condition.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.1547-1554
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• 2017

VESTA (Verification of Ex-vessel corium STAbilization) and VESTA-S (-small) test facilities were constructed at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in 2010 to perform various corium melt experiments. Since then, several tests have been performed for the verification of an ex-vessel core catcher design for the EU-APR1400. Ablation tests of an impinging $ZrO_2$ melt jet on a sacrificial material were performed to investigate the ablation characteristics. $ZrO_2$ melt in an amount of 65-70 kg was discharged onto a sacrificial material through a well-designed nozzle, after which the ablation depths were measured. Interaction tests between the metallic melt and sacrificial material were performed to investigate the interaction kinetics of the sacrificial material. Two types of melt were used: one is a metallic corium melt with Fe 46%, U 31%, Zr 16%, and Cr 7% (maximum possible content of U and Zr for C-40), and the other is a stainless steel (SUS304) melt. Metallic melt in an amount of 1.5-2.0 kg was delivered onto the sacrificial material, and the ablation depths were measured. Penetration tube failure tests were performed for an APR1400 equipped with 61 in-core instrumentation penetration nozzles and extended tubes at the reactor lower vessel. $ZrO_2$ melt was generated in a melting crucible and delivered down into an interaction crucible where the test specimen is installed. To evaluate the tube ejection mechanism, temperature distributions of the reactor bottom head and in-core instrumentation penetration were measured by a series of thermocouples embedded along the specimen. In addition, lower vessel failure tests for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are being performed. As a first step, the configuration of the molten core in the plant was investigated by a melting and solidification experiment. Approximately 5 kg of a mixture, whose composition in terms of weight is $UO_2$ 60%, Zr 10%, $ZrO_2$ 15%, SUS304 14%, and $B_4C$ 1%, was melted in a cold crucible using an induction heating technique.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.175-181
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• 2005

Ingots of rutile single crystals were grown by the skull melting method, and their characteristics were compared in terms of melt-dwelling time for each melt. The method is based on direct inductive heating of an electrically conducted melt by an alternating RF field, and the heating is performed by absorption of RF energy. $TiO_2$ is an insulator at room temperature but its electric conductivity increases elevated temperature. Therefore, titanium metal ring(outside diameter : 6cm, inside diameter : 4cm, thickness 0.2cm) was embedded into $TiO_2$, powder (anatase phase, CERAC, 3N) for initial RF induction heating. Important factors of the skull melting method are electric resistivity of materials at their melting point, working frequency of RF generator and cold crucible size. In this study, electric resitivity of $TiO_2$, $(10^{-2}\~10^{-1}\;{\Omega}{\cdot}m)$ at its melting point was estimated by compairing the electric resitivities of alumina and zirconia. Inner diameter and height of the cold crucible was 11 and 14cm, respectively, which were determined by considering of the Penetration depth $(0.36\~1.13cm)$ and the frequency of RF generator.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 1990

An attempt was made to grow Y-Ba-Cu-O single crystals by skull method(cold crucible process). Grown YBa2Cu3O7-x(YBC) single crystals were obtained from the upper part of the YBC solid mixture. There were plate-like YBC single crystals aligned with solidified flux along the crystal growth direction. Single crystal size was (5$\times$2$\times$0.2㎣) and was grown to a-b plane of YBC crystal structure which can flow super currents. Optical microscope and X-ray diffraction were employed characterize these microstructure and YBC single crystals.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2003

Principles of a novel pulse growing method are described. The method realized in the crystal growing on a seed from melts under raw melt feeding provided a more reliable control of the crystallization process when producing large alkali halide crystals. The slow natural convection of the melt in the crucible at a constant melt level is intensified by rotating the crucible, while the crystal rotation favors a more symmetrical distribution of thermal stresses over the crystal cross-section. Optimum rotation parameters for the crucible and crystal have been determined. The spatial position oi the solid/liquid phase interface relatively to the melt surface, heaters and the crucible elements are considered. Basing on that consideration, a novel criterion is stated, that is, the immersion extent of the crystallization front (CF) convex toward the melt. When the crystal grows at a <> CF immersion, the raised CF may tear off from the melt partially or completely due to its weight. This results in avoid formation in the crystal. Experimental data on the radial crystal growth speed are discussed. This speed defines the formation of a gas phase layer at the crystal surface. The layer thickness il a function of time a temperature at specific values of pressure in the furnace and the free melt surface dimensions in the gap between the crystal and crucible wall. Analytical expressions have been derived for the impurity component mass transfer at the steady-state growth stage describing two independent processes, the impurity mass transfer along the <> path and its transit along the <> one. The heater (and thus the melt) temperature variation is inherent in any control system. It has been shown that when random temperature changes occur causing its lowering at a rate exceeding $0.5^{\circ}C/min$, a kind of the CF decoration by foreign impurities or by gas bubbles takes place. Short-term temperature changes at one heater or both result in local (i.e., at the front) redistribution of the preset axial growth speed.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.576-581
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• 2002

In order to simultaneously vitrify the ton Exchange Resin(IER) and Dry Active Waste(DAW) generated from the Nuclear Power Plants, a vitrification pilot test was conducted using an induction cold crucible melter. The PCT result evaluating the chemical durability of the vitrified from showed that the final glass was more durable than the benchmark glass. Liquidus temperature for the final vitrified form was 1048 K(775$\^{C}$) fur heat treatment experiments. The value of the compressive strength for the vitrified form was ninety times higher than the regulation limit, 34 kg/㎠. The glasses on bottom, middle and top of the CCM were homogeneous with no secondary phase. The precipitation of the magnetic metal phase was able to be avoided by simultaneously fEeding of DAW with IER containing strongly reducing organics. Volume reduction factor of 74 was achieved through the vitrification Pilot test for mixed waste.