• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.2407-2417
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• 2021

A structural integrity evaluation program (STEP) was developed for the high temperature reactor design evaluation according to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME B&PV), Section III, Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components, Division 5, High Temperature Reactors, Subsection HB. The program computerized HBB-3200 (the design by analysis procedures for primary stress intensities in high temperature services) and Appendix T (HBB-T) (the evaluation procedures for strain, creep and fatigue in high temperature services). For evaluation, the material properties and isochronous curves presented in Section II, Part D and HBB-T were computerized for the candidate materials for high temperature reactors. The program computerized the evaluation procedures and the constants for the weldment. The program can generate stress/temperature time histories of various loads and superimpose them for creep damage evaluation. The program increases the efficiency of high temperature reactor design and eliminates human errors due to hand calculations. Comparisons that verified the evaluation results that used the STEP and the direct calculations that used the Excel confirmed that the STEP can perform complex evaluations in an efficient and reliable way. In particular, fatigue and creep damage assessment results are provided to validate the operating conditions with multiple types of cycles.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.114-128
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• 2016

The development of operational performance indicators is of utmost importance for nuclear power plants, since they measure, track, and trend plant operation. Leading indicators are ideal for reducing the likelihood of consequential events. This paper describes the operational data analysis of the information contained in the Corrective Action Program. The methodology considers human error and organizational factors because of their large contribution to consequential events. The results include a tool developed from the data to be used for the identification, prediction, and reduction of the likelihood of significant consequential events. This tool is based on the resilience curve that was built from the plant's operational data. The stress is described by the number of unresolved condition reports. The strain is represented by the number of preventive maintenance tasks and other periodic work activities (i.e., baseline activities), as well as, closing open corrective actions assigned to different departments to resolve the condition reports (i.e., corrective action workload). Beyond the identified resilience threshold, the stress exceeds the station's ability to operate successfully and there is an increased likelihood that a consequential event will occur. A performance indicator is proposed to reduce the likelihood of consequential events at nuclear power plants.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3388-3400
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• 2023

Detailed analysis of the neutron pathway through matter inside the nuclear reactor core is exceedingly needed for safety and economic considerations. Due to the constant development of high-performance computing technologies, neutronics analysis using computer codes became more effective and efficient to perform sophisticated neutronics calculations. In this work, a commercial pressurized water reactor (PWR) presented by Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA) Core Physics Benchmark are modeled and simulated using a high-fidelity simulation of OpenMC code in terms of criticality and fuel pin power distribution. Various problems have been selected from VERA benchmark ranging from a simple two-dimension (2D) pin cell problem to a complex three dimension (3D) full core problem. The development of the code capabilities for reactor physics methods has been implemented to investigate the accuracy and performance of the OpenMC code against VERA SCALE codes. The results of OpenMC code exhibit excellent agreement with VERA results with maximum Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values of less than 0.04% and 1.3% for the criticality eigenvalues and pin power distributions, respectively. This demonstrates the successful utilization of the OpenMC code as a simulation tool for a whole core analysis. Further works are undergoing on the accuracy of OpenMC simulations for the impact of different fuel types and burnup levels and the analysis of the transient behavior and coupled thermal hydraulic feedback.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.848-851
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• 1997

A graphic simulation program is developed to assimilate the remote dismantling process of research nuclear reactors. This program makes extensive use of a commercial robot graphic instruction program. Firstly, a realistic graphic model of research reactors are built along with various dismantling equipments. Using the graphic instruction languages provided by IGRIP, then, a graphic process simulation program is developed that operates interactively with the user. Consequently, it is made possible for a process designer to visualize an arbitrary dismantling sequence and interactively modify the process. It is expected that the developed system will be utilized as an effective operator aid in both design and execution phases of remote dismantling of research reactor.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.125-140
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• 1996

Human Factors Engineering(HFE) program should be developed from the early stage of the design process for Nuclear Power Plant. The HFE program is conducted in accordance with the guidance in the Standard Review Plan(SRP) NUREG 0800, Chapter 18. The major purpose of this program is to reduce the incidence of human error during the operating life of the plants. A comprehensive human factors program is prepared by KOPEC to assure that key elements of human factors involvement are not inadvertently overlooked and the early, complete, and continuing inclusion of HFE in the design process. This paper is to introduce engineering steps of the HF activities to verify that the HF involvements on man-machine interface are adequate to support safe and efficient operation of nuclear power plant. If systems are developed without sufficient consideration on the HFE in the design, such systems may cost a high price due to the malfunction of the plant induced by the human errors.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.373-377
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• 2023

The Monte Carlo (MC) method has become an indispensable part of the nuclear radiation research field. Several widely used and well-known MC packages were developed for simulation of radiation transport and interaction with matter. All these MC packages require users to prepare an input script. The input script can become lengthy for complex models. The process of preparing these input scripts is time-consuming and error-prone. In the present work, we have developed an open-source GUI computer program for modelling radiation transport and interaction in multi-segmented slab phantoms using grid-based system for the widely used PHITS MC package. The developed tools would be useful for future users of PHITS MC package and particularly inexperienced users. The present program is distributed under GPL license and all users can freely download, modify and redistribute the program without any restrictions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.1705-1716
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• 2021

Bangladesh, as a newcomer country, is expecting to start her nuclear power journey by 2022. Due to evident reasons, newcomer nuclear countries face several key challenges concerning the development of national nuclear safety infrastructure. The paper investigates the status of the 7 key safety infrastructure issues out of the 19 and readiness of the supportive organizations, laboratories, and workforces following the International Atomic energy Agency's status evaluation guide at milestone 3 and foreign countries' practice. Much progress has been achieved at phase 3 regarding the establishments of a few Acts, a regulator, and an operator. However, comprehensive regulatory frameworks, skilled workforces, establishments of a few supportive organizations, and laboratories for managing environmental radioactivity, radiological accidents, and radioactive wastes are yet to ready. Several suggestions are made for establishing and expediting radiation monitoring laboratories, a radiological emergency management center, a radioactive waste management company, and technical support organizations for the safety infrastructure. To avoid perceived risks, policymakers and competent authorities need to emphasize creating an optimized safety infrastructure before commissioning and operating the 1^st nuclear power plant safely, securely, and cost-sustainably.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 1983

A brief review is presented for the state-of-art waste treatment technologies, siting issues, and regulatory requirements in geologic disposal of nuclear wastes. Key technical issues that need to be solved by waste management research program are also presented.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.389-394
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• 2016

Background: Tetrahedral-mesh geometries can be used in the MCNP code, but the MCNP code accepts only the geometry in the Abaqus input file format; hence, the existing tetrahedral-mesh models first need to be converted to the Abacus input file format to be used in the MCNP code. In the present study, we developed a simple but useful computer program, TET2MCNP, for converting TetGen-generated tetrahedral-mesh models to the Abacus input file format. Materials and Methods: TET2MCNP is written in C++ and contains two components: one for converting a TetGen output file to the Abacus input file and the other for the reverse conversion process. The TET2MCP program also produces an MCNP input file. Further, the program provides some MCNP-specific functions: the maximum number of elements (i.e., tetrahedrons) per part can be limited, and the material density of each element can be transferred to the MCNP input file. Results and Discussion: To test the developed program, two tetrahedral-mesh models were generated using TetGen and converted to the Abaqus input file format using TET2MCNP. Subsequently, the converted files were used in the MCNP code to calculate the object- and organ-averaged absorbed dose in the sphere and phantom, respectively. The results show that the converted models provide, within statistical uncertainties, identical dose values to those obtained using the PHITS code, which uses the original tetrahedral-mesh models produced by the TetGen program. The results show that the developed program can successfully convert TetGen tetrahedral-mesh models to Abacus input files. Conclusion: In the present study, we have developed a computer program, TET2MCNP, which can be used to convert TetGen-generated tetrahedral-mesh models to the Abaqus input file format for use in the MCNP code. We believe this program will be used by many MCNP users for implementing complex tetrahedral-mesh models, including computational human phantoms, in the MCNP code.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2009.07a
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• pp.662_663
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• 2009

Motor bus transfer involves the process of transferring a bus that has several critical motors to an alternate source of power when the main normal power source feeding them is interrupted. Bus transfer is a time-critical application in which the transfer progress depends on various parameters such as the type of motor, load on the motor at the time of transfer, inertia of the motor, and the combined open-circuit time constant of various motors present on the bus at the time of transfer. This paper present the result of modeling and simulation of nuclear power motor bus using ETAP(Electrical Transient Analyzing Program) program for motor and motor bus residual voltage decay characteristics.