• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.2315-2324
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• 2023

Space nuclear reactors are becoming popular in deep space exploration owing to their advantages of high-power density and stability. Following the fourth-generation nuclear reactor technology, a conceptual design of the dual drum-controlled space molten salt reactor (D²-SMSR) is proposed. The reactor concept uses molten salt as fuel and heat pipes for cooling. A new reactivity control strategy that combines control drums and safety drums was adopted. Critical physical characteristics such as neutron energy spectrum, neutron flux distribution, power distribution and burnup depth were calculated. Flow and heat transfer characteristics such as natural convection, velocity and temperature distribution of the D²-SMSR under low gravity conditions were analyzed. The reactivity control effect of the dual-drums strategy was evaluated. Results showed that the D²-SMSR with a fast spectrum could operate for 10 years at the full power of 40 kWth. The D²-SMSR has a high heat transfer coefficient between molten salt and heat pipe, which means that the core has a good heat-exchange performance. The new reactivity control strategy can achieve shutdown with one safety drum or three control drums, ensuring high-security standards. The present study can provide a theoretical reference for the design of space nuclear reactors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1996.05b
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• pp.435-440
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• 1996

Large Loss-of-Coolant Accidents analyzed in Final Safety Analysis Reports are usually covered by Reactor Inlet Header. Reactor Outlet Header and Primary Pump Suction breaks as representative cases. In this study we analyze the total (guillotine) break of an Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) pipe located at the ECCS injection point into the Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS). It was expected that thermal-hydraulic behaviors in the PHT and ECC systems are different from those of a Reactor Inlet Header break, having an equivalent break size. The main purpose of this study is to get insights on the differences occurred between the two cases and to assess these differences from the phenomenon behavior point of view. It was also investigated whether the ECCS line break analysis results could be covered by header break analysis results. The study reveals that as the intact loop has almost the same behavior in both analyzed cases. broken loop behavior is different mostly regarding sheath temperature in the critical core pass and pressure decrease in the broken Reactor Inlet Header. Differences are also met in the ECCS behavior and in event sequences timings.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.793-802
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• 2024

In the framework of the European project SAMOSAFER, this numerical study focuses on some thermal aspects of the Emergency Draining Tank (EDT) located underneath the core of a Molten Salt Reactor. In case of an emergency, this tank passively receives the liquid fuel salt and is designed to ensure a subcritical state. An important requirement is that the fuel does not overheat to maintain the EDT Hastelloy container integrity. The present EDT is based upon a group of hexagonal cooling assemblies arranged in a hexagonal grid and cooled down thanks to conduction through the inert salt layer up to an air flow in charge of removing the heat. This numerical thermal study relies on a conjugated heat transfer analysis coupling a Finite Element solid thermal code (SYRTHES) and two instances of a Finite Volume CFD codes (Code_Saturne). Calculations on an initial design suggest that a simple center airpipe flow is likely to not sufficiently cool the device. Alternative solutions have been evaluated. Introduction of fins to enhance the heat transfer do not bring a noticeable improvement regarding maximum temperature reached. However, a solution in which the central pipe air flow is replaced by several cooling channels located closer to the fuel is investigated and suggests a better cooling.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.3166-3175
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• 2022

The most numerical investigations of the thermal-hydraulic phenomena following the loss of the residual heat removal capability during the mid-loop operation of the pressurized water reactor were performed according to simplifications and are not sufficiently accurate. To perform more accurate and more reliable predictions of thermal-hydraulic accidents in a nuclear power plant using computational fluid dynamics codes, a more detailed methodology is needed. Modelling results identified that thermal stratification and natural convection are observed. Temperatures of lower monitoring points remain low, while temperatures of upper monitoring points increase over time. The water in the heated region, in the upper unheated region and the pipe region was well mixed due to natural convection, meanwhile, there is no natural convection in the lower unheated region. Water temperature in the pipe region increased after a certain time delay due to circulation of flow induced by natural convection in the heated and upper unheated regions. The modelling results correspond to the experimental data. The developed computational fluid dynamics methodology could be applied for modelling of two-component single/two-phase natural convection and thermal stratification phenomena during the mid-loop operation of the pressurized water reactor or other nuclear and non-nuclear installations at similar conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.235-242
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• 1998

Aiming at one of decisive alternatives for long term aspect of nuclear power concerns, an integral and closed nuclear system, AMBIDEXTER (Advanced Molten-salt Break-even Inherently-safe Dual-mission Experimental and TEst Reactor) concept is under development. The AMBIDEXTER complex essentially comprises two mutually independent loops of the radiation/material transport and the heat/energy conversion, centered at the integrated reactor assembly, which enables one to utilize maximum benefits of nuclear energy under minimum risks of nuclear radiation. And it provides precious radioisotopes and radiation sources from its waste stream. Also the reactor operates at very low level of fission products inventory throughout its lifetime. The nuclear and thermalhydraulic characteristics of the molten TH/$^{233}$ U fuel salt extend the capability of the self-sustaining AMBIDEXTER fuel cycle to enhance resource security and safeguard transparency. The reactor system is consisted of a single component module of the core, heat exchangers and recirculation pumps with neither pipe connections nor active valves in between, which will significantly improve inherent features of nuclear safety. States of the core technologies associated with designing and developing the AMBIDEXTER concept are mostly available in commercialized form and thus demonstration of integral aspects of the concept should be the prime area in future R＆D programs.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.343-352
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• 2006

Convenient analytical tools for evaluation of the aperiodic and the fluctuating instabilities of the passive residual heat removal system (PRHRS) of an integral reactor are developed and results are discussed from the viewpoint of the system design. First, a static model for the aperiodic instability using the system hydraulic loss relation and the downcomer feedwater heating equations is developed. The calculated hydraulic relation between the pressure drop and the feedwater flow rate shows that several static states can exist with various numbers of water-mode feedwater module pipes. It is shown that the most probable state can exist by basic physical reasoning, that there is no flow rate through the steam-mode feedwater module pipes. Second, a dynamic model for the fluctuating instability due to steam generation retardation in the steam generator and the dynamic interaction of two compressible volumes, that is, the steam volume of the main steam pipe lines and the gas volume of the compensating tank is formulated and the D-decomposition method is applied after linearization of the governing equations. The results show that the PRHRS becomes stabilized with a smaller volume compensating tank, a larger volume steam space and higher hydraulic resistance of the path $a_{ct}$. Increasing the operating steam pressure has a stabilizing effect. The analytical model and the results obtained from this study will be utilized for PRHRS performance improvement.

• Journal of KSNVE
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.163-177
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• 1996

An investigation on thermohydraulic stability of flow oscillations in the CANada Deuterium Uranium-600(CANDU-6) heat transport system has been conducted. Flow oscillations in reactor coolant loops, comprising two heat sources and two heat sinks in series, are possibly caused by the response of the pressure to extraction of fluid in two-phase region. This response consists of two contributions, one arising from mass and another from enthalpy change in the two-phase region. The system computer code used in the investigation os SOPHT, which is capable of simulating steady states as well as transients with varying boundary conditions. The model was derived by linearizing and solving one-dimensional, homogeneous single- and two-phase flow conservation equations. The mass, energy and momentum equations with boundary conditions are set up throughout the system in matrix form based on a node-link structure. Loop stability was studied under full power conditions with interconnecting the two compressible two phase regions in the figure-of-eight circuit. The dominant function of the interconnecting pipe is the transfer of mass between the two-phase regions. Parametric survey of loop stability characteristics, i. e., damping ratio and period, has been made as a function of geometrical parameters of the interconnection line such as diameter, length, height and orifice flow coefficient. The stability characteristics with interconnection line has been clarified to provide a simple criterion to be used as a guide in scaling of the pipe.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.333-336
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• 1999

The crack of concrete induced by the heat of hydration is a serious problem, particularly in concrete structures such as mat-slab of nuclear reactor buildings, dams or large footings, foundations of high rise buildings, etc.. As a result of the temperature rise and restriction condition of foundation, the thermal stress which may induce the cracks can occur. Therefore the various techniques of the thermal stress control in massive concrete have been widely used. One of them is prediction of the thermal stress, besides low-heat cement which mitigates the temperature rise, pre-cooling which lowers the initial temperature of fresh concrete with ice flake, pipe cooling which cools the temperature of concrete with flowing water, design change which considers steel bar reinforcement, operation control and so on. The Aim of this paper is to verify the effect of low heat blended cement in reducing thermal stress in slab type's mass concrete such as container harbor structures.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.568-572
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• 2013

The main components, such as a reactor vessel, in commercial nuclear power plants have been welded to pipes with dissimilar metal in which Primary Water Corrosion Cracking (PWSCC) has been occurred. PWSCC has become a worldwide issue recently. This paper addresses the results of experimental and numerical analysis to prevent PWSCC by changing the stress profile that is tensile stress to compressive stress at interesting regions with plastic deformation generated by mechanical pressure. Based on the results of experimental and numerical analysis with a 6 inch pipe and dissimilar metal welded pipes, compressive stress 68~206 Mpa is generated at all locations of inner surface in the heat affected zone.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.1127-1133
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• 2021

A Spent Fuel Pool (SFP) is designed to store spent fuel assemblies in the pool. And, a SFP cooling and cleanup system cools the SFP coolant through a heat exchanger which exchanges heat with component cooling water. If the cooling system fails or interfacing pipe (e.g., suction or discharge pipe) breaks, the cooling function may be lost, probably leading to fuel damage. In order to prevent such an incident, it is required to properly cool the spent fuel assemblies in the SFP by either recovering the cooling system or injecting water into the SFP. Probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) is a good tool to assess the SFP risk when an initiating event for the SFP occurs. Since PSA has been focused on reactor-side so far, it is required to study on the framework of PSA approach for SFP and identify the key factors in terms of fuel damage frequency (FDF) through a case study. In this study, therefore, a case study of SFP-PSA on the basis of design information of APR-1400 has been conducted quantitatively, and several sensitivity analyses have been conducted to understand the impact of the key factors on FDF.