• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.12
• /
• pp.2836-2846
• /
• 2020

During severe nuclear power plant (NPP) accidents, a H₂/CO mixture can be generated in the reactor pressure vessel by core degradation and in the containment as well by molten corium-concrete interaction. In spite of its importance, a state-of-the-art methodology predicting H₂/CO combustion risk relies predominantly on empirical correlations. It is therefore necessary to develop a proper methodology for flammability evaluation of H₂/CO mixtures at ex-vessel phases characterized by three factors: CO concentration, high temperature, and diluents. The developed methodology adopted Le Chatelier's law and a calculated non-adiabatic flame temperature model. The methodology allows the consideration of the individual effect of the heat transfer characteristics of hydrogen and carbon monoxide on low flammability limit prediction. The accuracy of the developed model was verified using experimental data relevant to ex-vessel phase conditions. With the developed model, the prediction accuracy was improved substantially such that the maximum relative prediction error was approximately 25% while the existing methodology showed a 76% error. The developed methodology is expected to be applicable for flammability evaluation in chemical as well as NPP industries.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2017

Accurate prediction of size, shape and velocity of a bubble rising through a liquid pool is very important for predicting the particulate removal efficiency in pool scrubbing, for designing engineering safety features to prepare for severe accidents in nuclear power plants, and for predicting the emission of fission products from MCCI (molten core-concrete interaction) process during severe accidents. In this review article, previous studies on the determination of the size, shape and rising velocity of a bubble in liquid are reviewed. Various theoretical and parameterization formulas calculating the bubble size, shape and velocity from physical properties of liquid and gas flowrate are compared. Recent studies tend to suggest simple parameterizations that can easily determine the bubble shape and rising velocity without iteration, whereas iteration has to be performed to determine the bubble shape and velocity in old theories. The recent parameterizations show good agreement with measured data obtained from experiments conducted using different liquid materials with very diverse physical properties, proving themselves to be very useful tools for researchers in related fields.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 2015

During the course of a severe accident in a light water nuclear reactor, large amounts of hydrogen can be generated and released into the containment during reactor core degradation. Additional burnable gases [hydrogen ($H_2$) and carbon monoxide (CO)] may be released into the containment in the corium/concrete interaction. This could subsequently raise a combustion hazard. As the Fukushima accidents revealed, hydrogen combustion can cause high pressure spikes that could challenge the reactor buildings and lead to failure of the surrounding buildings. To prevent the gas explosion hazard, most mitigation strategies adopted by European countries are based on the implementation of passive autocatalytic recombiners (PARs). Studies of representative accident sequences indicate that, despite the installation of PARs, it is difficult to prevent at all times and locations, the formation of a combustible mixture that potentially leads to local flame acceleration. Complementary research and development (R&D) projects were recently launched to understand better the phenomena associated with the combustion hazard and to address the issues highlighted after the Fukushima Daiichi events such as explosion hazard in the venting system and the potential flammable mixture migration into spaces beyond the primary containment. The expected results will be used to improve the modeling tools and methodology for hydrogen risk assessment and severe accident management guidelines. The present paper aims to present the methodology adopted by Institut de Radioprotection et de $S{\hat{u}}ret{\acute{e}}$ $Nucl{\acute{e}}aire$ to assess hydrogen risk in nuclear power plants, in particular French nuclear power plants, the open issues, and the ongoing R&D programs related to hydrogen distribution, mitigation, and combustion.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.1172-1179
• /
• 2020

As a Lagrangian particle method, Moving Particle Semi-implicit (MPS) method has great capability to capture interface/surface. In recent years, the multiphase flow simulation using MPS method has become one of the important directions of its developments. In this study, some key methods for multiphase flow have been introduced. The interface tension model in multiphase flow is modified to maintain the smooth of the interface and suitable for the three-phase flow. The mass transfer at immiscible liquid interface entrained by single bubble which could occur in Molten Core-Concrete Interaction (MCCI) has been investigated using this particle method. With the increase of bubble size, the height of entrainment column also increases, but the time of film rupture is slightly different. With the increase of density ratio between the two liquids, the height of entrained column decreases significantly due to the decreasing buoyancy of the denser liquid in the lighter liquid. In addition, the larger the interface tension coefficient is, the more rapidly the entrained denser liquid falls. This study validates that the MPS method has shown great performance for multiphase flow simulation. Besides, the influence of physical parameters on the mass transfer at immiscible interface has also been investigated in this study.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
• /
• v.48
• /
• pp.199-237
• /
• 2024

Donghak-gyo, the Teaching of Eastern Learning, is a new religious order founded by Kim Ju-hee, centered around the Donghak (Eastern Learning) lineage. The core thought conveyed in the lyrics of Donghak-gyo songs (gasa) can be identified as the concept of 'Return to the Former World (先天),' considering the frequency of the term and the content of the recited verses. The view of time and destiny (時運觀) held by Eastern Learning emphasizes the concept of 'Another Great Opening.' Donghak-gyo's perspective on time and destiny is further rooted in the concept of 'Return to the Former World.' Donghak-gyo particularly emphasizes the term 'Former World,' and incorporates the Study of Changes (易學) into their songs. They recite verses that depict the situation of the Great Opening as an interaction between yin and yang. In Donghak-gyo, it is emphatically asserted that the completion of the Later World's destiny leads to the achievement of the 'Return to the Former World.' It is sung that with the restoration of destiny associated with the 'Return to the Former World,' the symbolic 'Spring (春)' represented by the virtue of Wood (木德) will return. Donghak-gyo describes the unfolding of a new cycle of destiny (運數) as the 'restoration of Changes (易).' When this occurs, they refer to the emerging new world, characterized by a new order and norms, as the 'Return to the Former World,' asserting that a 'moral world' will be established, leading to the development of a moral civilization. It is also sung that the restoration of the destiny associated with the Return to the Former World is akin to the restoration of the Heavenly Dao (天道). The characteristics of the concept of the Return to the Former World are threefold: firstly, it advocates a nostalgic system; secondly, it is a backward-looking thought; and thirdly, the idea of 'cyclical repetition' encourages tangible actions such as 'returning to the origin' or 'restoring fundamentals.' The concept of Return to the Former World in Donghak-gyo, unlike many new religions of those days, provided a unique conceptualization and understanding of the Former World and presented a new framework for interpretation. It moved away from the notion of discarding the Former World as a relic of an outdated era, and instead interpreted it as a new era to be embraced. Therefore, the concept of 'Return to the Former World' in Donghak-gyo should be re-assessed as one of the ideologies that inherits the pursuit of returning to and restoring the past in Eastern traditions. However, it can be criticized for lacking a concrete methodology with regards to the 'Return to the Former World.' Additionally, it is noted for deficiencies in ethical consciousness and moral virtues. Furthermore, its explanation about the Former World come across as insufficient. Thus, the concept of the 'Return to the Former World' in Donghak-gyo seems to be characterized more by declarative slogans than substantive content.