• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.89-103
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• 2016

Due to safety of the plant, it became very clear the importance of study occurrence reactor coolant system (RCS) issues specially the primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC). The Systems Engineering (SE) approach is characterized by the application of a structured engineering methodology for the design of a complex system or component. Robotic devices have been used for internal inspection, maintenance and performing remote welding and inspection in high-radiation areas. In this paper, PWSCC overview and inlay and over lay welding methodology introduced, concept of robotic device that can be inserted into the piping via Steam Generator (SG) main way to access to primary piping of pressurized water reactor (PWR) is developed based on SE methodology. A 3D model of the inspection system was developed along with the APR1400 (Advanced Power Reactor)reactor coolant systems (RCS) and internals with virtual 3D simulation of the operation for visualization to prove the validity of the concept.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.31-37
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• 2017

The heat transfer function or thermal performance is the most important function of the steam generator component in nuclear power plants. The declining of thermal performance, fouling does not affect the electric power of the nuclear power plant within a certain fouling level, but it affects the output when goes beyond the governor valve wide open of the turbine. The VWO steam pressure can be predicted through the thermal performance evaluation of steam generators in the nuclear power plant. In consideration of the fouling characteristics of the steam generator, methods of the thermal performance evaluation and fouling cases are reviewed, and also the critical VWO value is estimated through the actual thermal performance evaluation. It is necessary to apply the VWO theory based on the thermal performance of the steam generators.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.245-253
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• 2017

The relative displacement of a piping system installed between isolated and nonisolated structures in a severe earthquake might be larger when without a seismic isolation system. As a result of the relative displacement, the seismic risks of some components in the building could increase. The possibility of an increase in seismic risks is especially high in the crossover piping system in the buildings. Previous studies found that an elbow which could be ruptured by low-cycle ratcheting fatigue is one of the weakest elements. Fatigue curves for elbows were suggested based on component tests. However, it is hard to find a quantitative evaluation of the ultimate state of piping elbows. Generally, the energy dissipation of a solid structure can be calculated from the relation between displacement and force. Therefore, in this study, the ultimate state of the pipe elbow, normally considered as failure of the pipe elbow, is defined as leakage under in-plane cyclic loading tests, and a failure estimation method is proposed using a damage index based on energy dissipation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2010

This paper describes the Visual Tool for automatic ultrasonic examination that is under developing as a part of the project for development of automatic ultrasonic wave acquisition and analysis program. This tool that is supported by various image processing techniques will be adopted to detect the flaws in the component and piping welds in NPP. Visual Tool will enhance the integrity of nuclear power plant. The object of this paper is to address the Visual Tool which is developing for automatic ultrasonic inspection of welds in NPP.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2018

The paper presents preliminary investigation results for the effect of the baseline correction in the acceleration excitation method on finite element seismic analysis results (such as accumulated equivalent plastic strain, equivalent plastic strain considering cyclic plasticity, von Mises effective stress, etc) of nuclear safety Class I components. For investigation, finite element elastic-plastic time-history seismic analysis is performed for a surge line including a pressurizer lower head, a pressurizer surge nozzle, a surge piping, and a hot leg surge nozzle using the Chaboche hardening model. Analysis is performed for various seismic loading methods such as acceleration excitation methods with and without the baseline correction, and a displacement excitation method. Comparing finite element analysis results, the effect of the baseline correction is investigated. As a result of the investigation, it is identified that finite element analysis results using the three methods do not show significant difference.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2024

Crud is a corrosion deposit that forms in equipments and piping of nuclear reactor's primary systems. When crud circulates through the reactor's primary system coolant and adheres to the surface of the nuclear fuel cladding tube, it can lead to the Axial Offset Anomaly (AOA) phenomenon. This occurrence is known to potentially reduce the output of a nuclear power plant or to necessitate an early shutdown. Consequently, worldwide nuclear power plants have employed ultrasonic cleaning methods since 2000 to mitigate crud deposition, ensuring stable operation and economic efficiency. This paper details the system configuration of ultrasonic nuclear fuel cleaning equipment, outlining the function of each component. The objective is to contribute to the local domestic production of ultrasonic nuclear fuel cleaning equipment. Additionally, the paper introduces a method for accurately measuring the weight of removed crud, a crucial factor in assessing cleaning effectiveness and providing input data for the BOA code used in core safety evaluations. Accurate measurement of highly radioactive filters containing crud is essential, and weighing them underwater is a common practice. However, the buoyancy effect during underwater weighing may lead to an overestimation of the collected crud's weight. To address this issue, the paper proposes a formula correcting for buoyancy errors, enhancing measurement accuracy. This improved weight measurement method, accounting for buoyancy effects in water, is expected to facilitate the quantitative assessment of filter weights generated during chemical decontamination and system operations in nuclear power plants.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.820-830
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• 2016

Pipe wall thinning by flow-accelerated corrosion and various types of erosion is a significant and costly damage phenomenon in secondary piping systems of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Most NPPs have management programs to ensure pipe integrity due to wall thinning that includes periodic measurements for pipe wall thicknesses using nondestructive evaluation techniques. Numerous measurements using ultrasonic tests (UTs; one of the nondestructive evaluation technologies) have been performed during scheduled outages in NPPs. Using the thickness measurement data, wall thinning rates of each component are determined conservatively according to several evaluation methods developed by the United States Electric Power Research Institute. However, little is known about the conservativeness or reliability of the evaluation methods because of a lack of understanding of the measurement error. In this study, quantitative models for UT thickness measurement deviations of nuclear pipes and fittings were developed as the first step for establishing an optimized thinning evaluation procedure considering measurement error. In order to understand the characteristics of UT thickness measurement errors of nuclear pipes and fittings, round robin test results, which were obtained by previous researchers under laboratory conditions, were analyzed. Then, based on a large dataset of actual plant data from four NPPs, a quantitative model for UT thickness measurement deviation is proposed for plant conditions.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1702-1707
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• 2007

The reduction of pipe-thickness induced by flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) is one of the most serious problems on the maintenance of piping system in nuclear power plants (NNP). If the thickness of a pipe component is reduced below the critical level, it cannot sustain pressure and consequently results in leakage or rupture. For this reason, wall thinning by FAC has been inspected in secondary side piping systems in NPPs. In this research Round Robin Test (RRT) was conducted to verify confidence of wall thinning measurement system in NPP. 12 inspectors from 3 companies participated and 23 specimens were used according to standard practice in RRT. The gage R&R analysis was introduced in regard to repeatability and reproducibility that are affected to measurement system errors. Confidence intervals of thickness measurement system were obtained.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2015

Nuclear power plant steam generator that is one of the main component has several thousands of thin tubes. And the steam generator tube is subject to damage because of the severe operation conditions such as the high temperature and pressure. Therefore periodic inspections are conducted to ensure the integrity of steam generator component. Hanul unit 3 also has been inspected in accordance with in-service inspection program and is scheduled to be replaced for exceeding the plugging rate which was recommended by manufacturer. During the steam generator replacement activity, we found several clustered porosity on inner surface of main feed water pipe. Additionally crack-like indications were found at weld interface between base material and weld of main feed water pipe. This paper describes the field experience and visual testing results for inner surface of main feed water pipes. The destructive test result had shown that these indications were porosities which were caused by manufacturing process not by operation service.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.31-39
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• 2019

Cracked component analysis is needed for structural integrity analysis under seismic loading. Under large amplitude cyclic loading conditions, the change in material properties can be complex, depending on the magnitude of plastic strain. Therefore the cracked component analysis under cyclic loading should consider appropriate cyclic hardening model. This study introduces a procedure for determining an appropriate cyclic hardening model for cracked component analysis. The test material was nuclear-grade TP316 stainless steel. The material cyclic hardening was simulated using the Chaboche combined hardening model. The kinematic hardening model was determined from standard tensile test to cover the high and wide strain range. The isotropic hardening model was determined by simulating C(T) test under cyclic loading using ABAQUS debonding analysis. The suitability of the material hardening model was verified by comparing load-displacement curves of cyclic C(T) tests under different load ratios.