• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.549-558
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• 2000

A transient model for hydrogen generation in molten metal-water interactions was developed with separate models for two stages of coarse mixing and stratification. The model selves the mechanistic equations (heat and mass transfer correlation, heat conduction equation and the concentration diffusion equation) of each stage with non-zero boundary conditions. Using this model, numerical simulations were performed for single droplet experiments in the Argonne National Laboratory tests and for FITS tests that simulated dynamic fragmentation and stratification. The calculation results of hydrogen generation showed better agreement to the experiment data than those of previous works. It was found from the analyses that the steam concentration to be reached at the reaction front might be the main constraint to the extent of the metal droplet oxidized. Also, the hydrogen generation rate in the coarse mixing stage was the higher than that in the stratification stage. The particle size was the most important factor in the coarse mixing stage to predict the amount of hydrogen generation.

• Transactions of the KSME C: Technology and Education
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2015

Nuclear hydrogen production technology is being developed for the future energy supply system. The sulfur-iodine thermo-chemical hydrogen production process directly splits water by using of the heat generated from very high temperature gas-cooled reactor, a typical Generation IV nuclear system. Nuclear hydrogen key technologies are composed of VHTR simulation technology at elevated temperature, computational tools, TRISO fuel, and sulfur iodine hydrogen production technology. Key technology for nuclear hydrogen production system were developed and demonstrated in a laboratory scale test facility. Technical challenges for the commercial hydrogen production system were discussed.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.2850-2855
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• 2008

Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) has been selected as a high energy heat source for a nuclear hydrogen generation. The VHTR heat is transferred to a thermo-chemical hydrogen production process through an intermediate loop. Both Process Heat Exchanger and sulfuric acid evaporator provide the coupled components between the VHTR intermediate loop and hydrogen production module. A small scaled Compact Nuclear Hydrogen Coupled Components test loop is developed to simulate the VHTR intermediate loop and hydrogen production module. Main objective of the loop is to screening the candidates of NHDD (Nuclear Hydrogen Development and Demonstration) coupled components. The operating condition of the gas loop is a temperature up to $950^{\circ}C$ and a pressure up to 6.0MPa. The thermal and fluid dynamic design of the loop is dependent on the structures that enclose the gas flow, especially primary side that has fast gas velocity. We designed and constructed a small scale sulfuric acid experimental system which can simulate a part of the hydrogen production module also.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.156-168
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• 2023

This study investigates the high temperature oxidation behaviour of a Ni-20Cr-1.2Si (wt.%) alloy in steam from 1200 ℃ to 1350 ℃ by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The results demonstrate that exposed Ni-based alloy developed a thin oxide scale, consisted mainly of Cr₂O₃. The oxidation kinetics obtained from the experimental results was applied to evaluate the hydrogen generation considering a simplified reactor core model with different cladding alloys following an unmitigated Loss-Of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) scenario in a hypothetical Small Modular Reactor (SMR). Overall, experimental data and simulations results show that both Fe-based and Ni-based alloys may enhance cladding survivability, delaying its melting, as well as reducing hydrogen generation under accident conditions compared to Zr-based alloys. However, a substantial neutron absorption occurs when Ni-based alloys are used as cladding for current uranium-dioxide fuel systems, even when compared to Fe-based alloys.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP) accident, new regulatory requirements were enforced in July 2013 and a backfit was required for all existing nuclear power plants. It is required to take measures to prevent severe accidents and mitigate their radiological consequences. The Regulatory Standard and Research Department, Secretariat of Nuclear Regulation Authority (S/NRA/R) has been conducting numerical studies and experimental studies on relevant severe accident phenomena and countermeasures. This article highlights fission product (FP) release and hydrogen risk as two major areas. Relevant activities in the S/NRA/R are briefly introduced, as follows: 1. For FP release: Identifying the source terms and leak mechanisms is a key issue from the viewpoint of understanding the progression of accident phenomena and planning effective countermeasures that take into account vulnerabilities of containment under severe accident conditions. To resolve these issues, the activities focus on wet well venting, pool scrubbing, iodine chemistry (in-vessel and ex-vessel), containment failure mode, and treatment of radioactive liquid effluent. 2. For hydrogen risk: because of three incidents of hydrogen explosion in reactor buildings, a comprehensive reinforcement of the hydrogen risk management has been a high priority topic. Therefore, the activities in evaluation methods focus on hydrogen generation, hydrogen distribution, and hydrogen combustion.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.413-426
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• 2009

Nuclear energy plays an important role in world energy production by supplying 6% of the world's current total electricity production. However, 86% of the energy consumed worldwide to produce industrial process heat, to generate electricity and to power the transportation sector still originates in fossil fuels. To cope with dwindling fossil fuels and climate change, it is clear that a clean alternative energy that can replace fossil fuels in these sectors is urgently required. Clean hydrogen energy is one such alternative. Clean hydrogen can play an important role not only in synthetic fuel production but also through powering fuel cells in the anticipated hydrogen economy. With the introduction of the high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) that can produce nuclear heat up to $950^{\circ}C$ without greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear power is poised to broaden its mission beyond electricity generation to the provision of nuclear process heat and the massive production of hydrogen. In this paper, the features and potential of the HTGR as the energy source of the future are addressed. Perspectives on nuclear heat and hydrogen applications using the HTGR are discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.1205-1206
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.203.2-203
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• 2001

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.216-216
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• 1999

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.53-54
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• 2005