• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.811-816
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• 2022

This work presents the methodology used to expand the capabilities of the Monte Carlo code OpenMC for the calculation of reactor kinetic parameters: effective delayed neutron fraction β_eff and neutron generation time L. The modified code, OpenMC(Time-Dependent) or OpenMC(TD), was then used to calculate the effective delayed neutron fraction by using the prompt method, while the neutron generation time was estimated using the pulsed method, fitting Λ to the decay of the neutron population. OpenMC(TD) is intended to serve as an alternative for the estimation of kinetic parameters when licensed codes are not available. The results obtained are compared to experimental data and MCNP calculated values for 18 benchmark configurations.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.920-927
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• 2017

With ever-advancing computer technology, the Monte Carlo (MC) neutron transport calculation is expanding its application area to nuclear reactor transient analysis. Dynamic MC (DMC) neutron tracking for transient analysis requires efficient algorithms for delayed neutron generation, neutron population control, and initial condition modeling. In this paper, a new MC steady-state simulation method based on time-dependent MC neutron tracking is proposed for steady-state initial condition modeling; during this process, prompt neutron sources and delayed neutron precursors for the DMC transient simulation can easily be sampled. The DMC method, including the proposed time-dependent DMC steady-state simulation method, has been implemented in McCARD and applied for two-dimensional core kinetics problems in the time-dependent neutron transport benchmark C5G7-TD. The McCARD DMC calculation results show good agreement with results of a deterministic transport analysis code, nTRACER.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.160-168
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• 1983

About 25 years ago, halfway along the recorded history of the neutron as a separate entity, Korea entered the nuclear age and initiated its own neutron research and development programs. Since that time Korean scientists have taken all possible advantages of the special opportunities offered by the neutron. Scientists the world over, in the Far East, hear East, and the West, have adapted these opportunities to their special needs. These needs are manifested in all phases of modern life, including power generation by nuclear means, food preservation, production of new types of food-bearing plants, commercial uses of activation analysis, irradiations, and isotope production, nuclear medicine, industrial quality control through nuclear measurements, and direct use of neutrons in research in many areas including solid state physics, chemistry, physics, biology, and medicine. Research with neutrons has been successfully conducted using nuclear research reactors of all sizes ranging from the very small (∼10 kilowatts) to the very large(50-100 Megawatts). This speaker has teen associated with nuclear research since 1945 and directly with neutron research since 1957. From this continuous research and development activity, he will report on some of the prospects in the second 50 years of the neutron.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제51권7호
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• pp.1860-1865
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• 2019

The confinement degradation of the energetic particles during RMP would be a key issue in success of realizing the successful energy production using fusion plasma, because a 3.5 MeV energetic alpha particle should be able to sustain the burning plasma after the ignition. As KSTAR recent results indicate the generation of high-performance plasma(${\beta}_p{\sim}3$), the confinement of the energetic particles is also an important key aspect in neutral beam driven plasma. In general, the measured absolute value of the neutron intensity is generally used for to estimating the confinement time of energetic particles by comparing it with the theoretical value based on transport calculations. However, the availability of, but for its calculation process, many accurate diagnostic data of plasma parameters such as thermal and incident fast ion density, are essential to the calculation process. In this paper, the time evolution of the neutron signal from an He3 counter during the beam blank has permitted to facilitate the estimation of the slowing down time of energetic particles and the method is applied to investigate the fast ion effect on ELM suppressed KSTAR plasma which is heated by high energy deuterium neutral beams.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.675-680
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• 2014

Pulverization of two different sized micro-$B_4C$ particles (${\sim}10{\mu}m$ and ${\sim}150{\mu}m$) was investigated using a STS based high energy ball milling system. Shapes, generation of the impurities, and reduction of the particle size dependent on milling time and initial particle size were investigated using various analytic tools including SEM-EDX, XRD, and ICP-MS. Most of impurity was produced during the early stage of milling, and impurity content became independent on the milling time after the saturation. The degree of particle size reduction was also dependent on the initial $B_4C$ size. It was found that the STS nanoparticles produced from milling is strongly bounded with the $B_4C$ particles forming the $B_4C$/STS composite particles that can be used as a neutron absorbing nanocomposite. Based on the morphological evolution of the milled particles, a schematic pulverization model for the $B_4C$ particles was constructed.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 1997년도 춘계학술발표회논문집(2)
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• pp.445-450
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• 1997

Self-Powered Neutron Detectors(SPNDs) are currently used to estimate the power generation distribution and fuel burn-up in several nuclear power reactors in Korea. In this paper, Monte Carlo simulation is accomplished to calculate the escape probability of beta particle as a function of their birth position fur the typical geometry of rhodium-based SPNDs. Also, a simple numerical method calculates the initial generation rate of beta particles and the change of generation rate due to rhodium burn-up. Using the simulation and the numerical method, the burn-up profile of rhodium density and the neutron sensitivity are calculated as a function of burn-up time in the reactor. The sensitivity of the SPNDs decreases non-linearly due to the high absorption cross-section and the non-uniform burn-up of rhodium in the emitter rod. In addition, for improvement of some properties of rhodium-based SPNDs which are currently used, this paper presents a new material. The method used here can be applied to the analysis of other types of SPNDs and will be useful in the optimum design of new SPNDs for long term usage.

• 대한기계학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한기계학회 2001년도 추계학술대회논문집A
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• pp.155-160
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• 2001

This paper describes a probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) analysis based on Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. In the analysis of CANDU pressure tube, it is necessary to perform the PFM analyses based on statistical consideration of flaw generation time. A depth and an aspect ratio of initial semi-elliptical surface crack, a fracture toughness value, delayed hydride cracking (DHC) velocity, and flaw generation time are assumed to be probabilistic variables. In all the analyses, degradation of fracture toughness due to neutron irradiation is considered. Also, the failure criteria considered are plastic collapse, unstable fracture and crack penetration. For the crack growth by DHC, the failure probability was evaluated in due consideration of flaw generation time.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.337-344
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• 2019

The TRIGA fuel of the Philippine Research Reactor-1 (PRR-1) will be used in a subcritical reactor assembly (SRA) to strengthen and advance nuclear science and engineering expertise in the Philippines. SRA offers a versatile and safe training and research facility since it can produce neutrons through nuclear fission reaction without achieving criticality. In this work, we used a geometrically detailed model of the PRR-1 TRIGA fuel to design a subcritical reactor assembly and calculate physical parameters of different fuel configurations. Based on extensive neutron transport simulations an SRA configuration is proposed, comprising 44 TRIGA fuel rods arranged in a $7{\times}7$ square lattice. This configuration is found to have a maximum $k_{eff}$ value of $0.95001{\pm}0.00009$ at 4 cm pitch. The SRA is characterized by calculating the 3-dimensional neutron flux distribution and neutron spectrum. The effective delayed neutron fraction and mean neutron generation time of the system are calculated to be $748pcm{\pm}7pcm$ and $41{\mu}s$, respectively. Results obtained from this work will be the basis of the core design for the subcritical reactor facility that will be established in the Philippines.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.119-125
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• 1997

가압중수로는 감속재와 냉각재로 중수를 채택함으로써 높은 중성자 경제성을 달성하는 대신 중수소의 중성자 포획반응 때문에, 경수로에 비해, 다량의 삼중수소가 발생한다. 한편 원자로심에서, 삼중수소의 ${\beta}$-붕괴결과 발생된 $^3He$는, 열중성자를 포획하여 다시 삼중수소로 변환된다. 중수로에서 삼중수소의 생성에 대한 기존의 계산모형은, $^3He$가 상대적으로 낮은 용해도를 가지므로, 그 기여도를 무시해왔다. 그러나 $^3He$의 중성자 포획단면적은 중수소의 그것에 비해 $1.6{\times}10^7$ 배가 된다. 즉 $^3He$가 중수내에 0.03 ppm만 녹아있다 하더라도 $^3He$에 의해 생성되는 삼중수소의 양은 전체 중수에 의한 삼중수소의 양에 필적하게 된다. 본 연구에서는 월성1호기를 대상으로, 중수로에서 $^3He$가 삼중수소의 생성에 미치는 영향을 평가하였으며 결과를 실측치와 비교하였다. 연구의 결과, 감속재에서는 $^3He$의 용해도가 낮고 $^4He$ Cover gas 때문에 $^3He$의 기여도는 무시할 수 있음이 밝혀졌다. 반면 냉각재의 경우 $^3He$ 삼중수소의 생성에 지대한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 본 연구의 계산방법은 원전 운전초기의 냉각재내 삼중수소 생성량은 과대평가 하는 것으로 나타났으나 운전기간이 증가함에 따라 실측치와 잘 일치하는 것으로 나타났다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.415-417
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• 2008

현재 방사선치료는 선형가속기에 의하여 대다수 이루어지고 있으며 사용되는 방사선인 광자도 의학의 발전에 의해 고에너지화 고선량화 되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 방사선치료 조사면에서 중성자 측정이 가능한 CR-39를 이용한 중성자 검출법을 이용하였다. 선형가속기에서 발생되는 X선(광자)치료 시 발생 되는 중성자의 선량을 CR-39를 이용한 중성자 검출법을 이용하여 측정하고, 임상적 응용으로 고에너지 광자를 이용하여 암 치료에 사용할 때 중성자의 발생이 환자치료 선량과 연관되는 어떤 문제를 발생시키는지를 연구한 결과는 다음과 같다. 속중성자의 경우 광자 1Gy 조사 시 평균 0.35mSv, 2Gy 조사 시 평균 0.65mSv, 5Gy 조사 시 평균 1.82mSv, 열중성자의 경우 광자 1Gy 조사 시 평균 0.26mSv, 2Gy 조사 시 평균 0.56mSv, 5Gy 조사 시평균 1.23mSv의 중성자 발생하였다. Wedge Filter를 사용하여 중성자의 발생을 측정한 결과 Wedge Filter를 사용했을 때 중성자의 발생이 증가하였다. 고선량을 요구하는 SRS Cone을 사용했을 때에는 기존의 실험결과 보다 많은 중성자가 검출되었다. 속중성자의 경우 광자 5Gy 조사 시 평균 2.85mSv, 열중성자의 경우 광자 5Gy 조사 시 평균 1.37mSv의 중성자가 발생하였다. 일반 치료 시 광자 5Gy 조사했을 때 보다 속중성자의 경우 약 1.6배, 열중성자의 경우 약 1.12배 정도의 중성자가 더 발생하는 것으로 나타났다.