• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.149-161
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• 2008

As Programmable Logic Controllers(PLCs) are frequently used to implement real-time safety critical software, testing of PLC software is getting more important. We propose a structural testing technique on Function Block Diagram(FBD) which is one of the PLC programming languages. In order to test FBD networks, we define templates for function blocks including timer function blocks and propose an algorithm based on the templates to transform a unit FBD into a flowgraph. We generate test cases by applying existing testing techniques to the generated flowgraph. While the existing FBD testing technique do not consider infernal structure of FBD to generate test cases and can be applied only to FBD from which the specific intermediate model can be generated, this approach has advantages of systematic test case generation considering infernal structure of FBD and applicability to any FBD without regard to its intermediate format. Especially, the proposed method enables FBD networks including timer function blocks to be tested thoroughly. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, we use trip logic of bistable processor of digital nuclear power plant protection systems which is being developed in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the argumentations of group and classroom discussions in socioscientific issues (SSI) discussion classes. Twenty-seven high school students participated in the SSI discussion classes on nuclear power generation. We observed and recorded the classes and also conducted semi-structured interviews. For the analyses, we revised a previous framework that was developed to analyze dialogic argumentations in the context of SSI. The analyses of the results indicated that there were more discourse schemes in the classroom discussions than the group discussions which are related to awareness and openness to multiple perspectives, evidence based reasoning, and on-going inquiry and skepticism. And there were few discourse schemes related to moral and ethical sensitivity in the group and classroom discussions. Various grounds, data, and information were presented in the classroom discussions. Students concentrated on carrying their claims and were not able to sympathize with and accept other opinions. Therefore, there were few discourse schemes to reach consensus. In addition, they perceived classroom discussions as competitive and actively rebutted other claims or grounds. The levels of argumentation were also high in the classroom discussions. The group discussions were held in relaxed atmosphere, and they asked the opponents more for clarification or additional information and evidences. However, classroom discussions were held in serious atmosphere, and they actively queried the validity of the claims or grounds. Based on the results, some suggestions to implement SSI discussion classes were discussed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1105-1111
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• 2010

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institutes has been developing the SMART (System integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor), an environment-friendly nuclear reactor for the generation of electricity and to perform desalination. SMART reactors can be exposed to various external and internal loads caused by seismic and coolant flows. The CRDM(control rod drive mechanism), one of structures of the SMART, is a component which is adjusting inserting amount of a control rod, controlling output of reactor power and in an emergency situation, inserting a control rod to stop the reactor. The purpose of this research is performing the analysis of dynamic characteristic to ensure safety and integrity of structure of CRDM. This paper presents two FE-models, 3-D solid model and simplified Beam model of the CRDM in the coolant, and then compared the results of the dynamic characteristic about the two FE-models using a commercial Finite Element tool, ABAQUS CAE V6.8 and ANSYS V12. Beam 4 and beam 188 of simplified-model were also compared each other. And simplified model is updated for accuracy compare to 3-D solid.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2005

There are many tube and pipeline in nuclear power plant under high temperature and high pressure. Erosion and corrosion defects were expected on these tube and pipe-line by environmental and mechanical factors. These erosion and corrosion defects ran be evaluated by ultrasonic technique. In these study, Scanning Laser Source(SLS) technique was applied to detect defect and construct image. This technique also makes detection possible on rough and curved surfaces such as tube and pipe-line by scanning. Conventional ultrasonic scanning technique requires immersion of specimen or water jet for transferring ultrasonic wave between transducer and specimen. However, this SLS technique does not need contacting and couplant to generate surface wave and to get flaw images. Therefore, this SLS technique has several advantages, for complicated production inspection, non-contact, remote from specimen, and high resolution. In this study, SLS images were obtained with various conditions of generation laser ultrasound and receiving in order to enhance detectability of flaws on the tube. Stress corrosion cracks were produced on tube and images of stress corrosion cracks were constructed by using SLS technique.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.91-97
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• 2007

A survey of risk perception in Korea was conducted in 2001 with a special emphasis on industrial and technological risks. This article summarizes the characteristics of risk perception in consideration of socio-demographic background of respondents. The survey with sample size of 1,870 evaluates the perceived level of 25 risk items in the areas of transportation, chemicals, environment, industry, and nuclear power generation. Risks are categorized by using factor analysis to clarify attitudinal or behavioral properties of risk perception. Research findings show that the level of perceived risk does not correspond to the statistical level. Socio-demographic variables are significant predictors in explaining risk perception, or the discrepancies between "subjective" and "objective" risks. Effective risk communication can reduce the perceptional discrepancies, improve the awareness of technological risks, and ultimately facilitate the process of making and implementing policies for risk management and safety regulation. This article tries to provides policy guidelines for "Who is the target for risk communication" and "Which risk has the policy priority for safety improvement." Married females at the age of 30s and 40s with lower education and lower income in small cities are more vulnerable to risk misperception than other groups. More information and knowledge regarding unfamiliar, intangible, new technological risks should be delivered to the vulnerable groups for reducing perceptional bias. Society-wide safety can be improved by integrating policy, human, and social factors as well as techno-engineering advances.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.533-544
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• 2021

Ion exchange (IX) performance on the exchanger bed is essentially evaluated for the generation of ultrapure water in electronics and chemical industries and for the corrosion control in nuclear power plants. The breakthrough characteristics of IX bed with multi-component were investigated with both cation- and mixed-IX beds of H- and ETAH-form for four kinds of cation exchange resins by using the combined solution of ethanolamine (ETA) and ammonia (NH₃) at trace NaCl. Unlike major components (ETAH⁺ and NH₄⁺ ), the phenomena of breakthrough and overshooting at bed outlet were not observed by Na⁺ over the test period (> 3 times theoretical exchange capacity of IX bed). The breakthrough from H-form resin bed was sequentially reached by ETAH⁺ and NH₄⁺, while the overshooting was observed for ETAH⁺ at the breakthrough of NH₄⁺. NH₄⁺ was 51.5% higher than ETAH⁺ in terms of the relative selectivity determined with the width of breakthrough zone. At the increased concentration of Na⁺ at bed inlet, the selectivity and the overshooting were decreased and increased, respectively. Na⁺ leakage was higher from ETAH-form resin bed and was not identical for four kinds of cation-exchange resins, which may be reduced by improving the intrinsic property of IX resin.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.175-188
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• 2023

Global interest in hydrogen energy is increasing as an eco-friendly future energy that can replace fossil fuels. Accordingly, a next-generation hydrogen production technology using microorganisms, nuclear power, etc. is being developed, while a lot of time and effort are still required to overcome the cost of hydrogen production based on fossil fuels. As a way to minimize greenhouse gas emissions in the hydrocarbon-based hydrogen production process, methane direct decomposition technology has recently attracted attention. In order to improve the economic feasibility of the process, the simultaneous production of value-added carbon materials with hydrogen can be one of the most essential aspects. For that purpose, various studies on catalysis related to the quality and yield of high-value carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In terms of process technology, a number of the research and development of fluidized-bed reactors capable of continuous production and improved gas-solid contact efficiency has been attempted. Recently, methane direct decomposition technology using a fluidized bed has been developed to the extent that it can produce 270 kg/day of hydrogen and 1000 kg/day of carbon. Plus, with the development of catalyst regeneration, separation and recirculation technologies, the process efficiency can be further improved. This review paper investigates the recent development of catalysts and fluidized bed reactor for methane direct pyrolysis to identify the key challenges and opportunities.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.28-53
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• 2024

In general, high-level radioactive waste (HLW) generated as a result of nuclear power generation should be disposed within the country. Determination of the disposal site and host rock for HLW deep geological repository is an important issue not only scientifically but also politically, economically, and socially. Considered host rock types worldwide for geological disposal include crystalline rocks, sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, and salt dome. However, South Korea consists of various rock types except salt dome. This paper not only analyzed the geological and rock mechanical characteristics on a nationwide scale with the preliminary results on various rock type studies for the disposal host rock, but also reviewed the characteristics and possibility of various rock types as a host rock through deep drilling surveys. Based on the nationwide screening for host rock types resulted from literature review, rock distributions, and detailed case studies, Jurassic granites and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Jinju and Jindong formations) were derived as a possible candidate host rock types for the geological disposal. However, since the analyzed data for candidate rock types from this study is not enough, it is suggested that the disposal rock type should be carefully determined from additional and detailed analysis on disposal depth, regional characteristics, multidisciplinary investigations, etc.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.205-236
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• 2010

This article deals with international space law for the environmental protection in outer space especially for space debris arising from space activities. After studying 1967 Outer Space Treaty, 1968 Rescue Agreement, 1972 Liability Convention, 1975 Registration Convention and 1979 Moon Agreement, we could find few provisions dealing with space environment in those treaties. During the earlier stages of the space age, which began in the late 1950s, the focus of international law makers was the establishment of the basic rules of space law governing the states' activities in outer space. Consequently the environmental issues and the risks that might arise from the generation of the space debris did not receive priority attention within the context of the development international space law. Although the phrases such as 'harmful contamination', 'harmful interference', 'disruption of the environment', 'adverse changes in the environment' and 'harmfully affecting' in relation to space environment were used in 1967 Outer Space Treaty and 1979 Moon Agreement, their true meaning was not definitely settled. Although 1972 Liability Convention deals with compensation, whether the space object covers space debris is unclear despite the case of Cosmos 954. In this respect international lawyers suggest the amendment of the space treaties and new space treaty covering the space environmental problems including the space debris. The resolutions, guidelines and draft convention are also studied to deal with space environment and space debris. In 1992 the General Assembly of the United Nations passed resolution 47/68 titled "Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space" for the NPS use in outer space. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee; IADC) issued some guidelines for the space debris which were the basis of "the UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines" approved by COPUOS in its 527th meeting. In 1994 the 66th conference of ILA adopted "International Instrument on the Protection of the Environment from Damage Caused by Space Debris". Although those resolutions, guidelines and draft convention are not binding states, there are some provisions which have a fundamentally norm-creating character and softs laws.