• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권8호
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• pp.1756-1763
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• 2020

The paper studies spark plasma sintering (SPS) of industrially used UO₂-based fuel containing integral fuel burnable absorber (IFBA) of neutrons Gd₂O₃. Densification dynamics of pristine UO₂ powder and the one added with 2 and 8 wt% of Gd₂O₃ under ultrasonication in liquid has been studied under SPS conditions at 1050, 1250, and 1450 ℃. Effect of sintering temperature on phase composition as well as on O/U stoichiometry has been investigated for UO₂ SPS ceramics. Sintering of uranium dioxide added with Gd₂O₃ yields solid solution (U,Gd)O₂, which is isostructural to UO₂. SEM with EDX and metallography were implemented to analyze the microstructure of the obtained UO₂ ceramics and composite UO₂-Gd₂O₃ one, particularly, open porosity, defects, and Gd₂O₃ distribution were studied. Microhardness, compressive strength and density were shown to reduce after addition of Gd₂O₃. Obtained results prove the hypothesis on formation of stable pores in the system of UO₂-Gd₂O₃ due to Kirkendall effect that reduces sintering efficiency. The paper expands fundamental knowledge on pros and cons of fuel fabrication with IFBA using SPS technology.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.1044-1062
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• 2017

The construction project of the Kijang research reactor (KJRR), which is the second research reactor in Korea, has been launched. The KJRR was designed to use, for the first time, U-Mo fuel. Plate-type U-7 wt.% Mo/Al-5 wt.% Si, referred to as U-7Mo/Ale5Si, dispersion fuel with a uranium loading of $8.0gU/cm^3$, was selected to achieve higher fuel efficiency and performance than are possible when using $U_3Si_2/Al$ dispersion fuel. To qualify the U-Mo fuel in terms of plate geometry, the first miniplates [HANARO Miniplate (HAMP-1)], containing U-7Mo/Al-5Si dispersion fuel ($8gU/cm^3$), were fabricated at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and recently irradiated at HANARO. The PIE (Post-irradiation Examination) results of the HAMP-1 irradiation test were analyzed in depth in order to verify the safe in-pile performance of the U-7Mo/Al-5Si dispersion fuel under the KJRR irradiation conditions. Nondestructive analyses included visual inspection, gamma spectrometric mapping, and two-dimensional measurements of the plate thickness and oxide thickness. Destructive PIE work was also carried out, focusing on characterization of the microstructural behavior using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Electron probe microanalysis was also used to measure the elemental concentrations in the interaction layer formed between the U-Mo kernels and the matrix. A blistering threshold test and a bending test were performed on the irradiated HAMP-1 miniplates that were saved from the destructive tests. Swelling evaluation of the U-Mo fuel was also conducted using two methods: plate thickness measurement and meat thickness measurement.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.291-299
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• 2018

파이로 공정에서는 사용후핵연료 관리 공정 개발의 일환으로 산화 우라늄을 고온 용융염 전해질계에서 전기화학적 방법으로 환원시키기 위한 전해환원 공정이 개발되고 있다. 이에 따른 전해환원 공정의 반응기 설계를 위해서는 전기화학적 이론에 기초한 모델이 요구되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 상 분리를 설명하는 phase-field 이론에 기초하여 우라늄 산화물의 전해환원 모사를 위한 1차원 모델이 개발되었다. 모델은 우라늄 산화물 내 산소 원소의 확산과 펠렛 표면에서 전기화학 반응 속도를 나타내는 매개변수를 사용하여 외부로부터 내부로 진행되는 전해환원을 잘 모사하고 있으며 계산 결과 전체 전류는 산소원소의 내부 확산에 크게 의존하는 것으로 나타났다. 전해환원 반응에 대한 모델은 대용량 장치 설계에 최적화된 조건 도출에 활용될 것으로 예상되며 장치 설계가 완료되면 공정 연계 모사에 직접 사용될 것으로 기대된다.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.169-177
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• 2020

Here, the stability of stainless steel 316 (SS-316) was investigated to identify its applicability in the oxide reduction process, as a component in related equipment, to produce a complicated gas mixture composed of O₂ and Cl₂ under an argon (Ar) atmosphere. The effects of the mixed gas composition were investigated at flow rates of 30 mL/min O₂, 20 mL/min O₂ + 10 mL/min Cl₂, 10 mL/min O₂ + 20 mL/min Cl₂, and 30 mL/min Cl₂, each at 600℃, during a constant argon flow rate of 170 mL/min. It was found that the corrosion of SS-316 by the chlorine gas was suppressed by the presence of oxygen, while the reaction proceeded linearly with the reaction time regardless of gas composition. Surface observation results revealed an uneven surface with circular pits in the samples that were fed mixed gases. Thermodynamic calculations proposed the combination of Fe and Ni chlorination reactions as an explanation for this pit formation phenomenon. An exponential increase in the corrosion rate was observed with an increase in the reaction temperature in a range of 300 ~ 600℃ under a flow of 30 mL/min Cl₂ + 170 mL/min Ar.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.416-423
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• 2009

High-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) using solid oxide cell is a challenging method for highly efficient large-scale hydrogen production as a reversible process of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The overall efficiency of the HTSE hydrogen and synthesis gas production system was analyzed thermo-electrochemically. A thermo-electrochemical model for the hydrogen and synthesis gas production system with solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) and very high temperature gas-cooled reactor (VHTR) was established. Sensitivity analyses with regard to the system were performed to investigate the quantitative effects of key parameters on the overall efficiency of the production system. The overall efficiency with SOEC and VHTR was expected to reach a maximum of 58% for the hydrogen production system and to 62% for synthesis gas production system by improving electrical efficiency, steam utilization rate, waste heat recovery rate, electrolysis efficiency, and thermal efficiency. Therefore, overall efficiency of the synthesis production system has higher efficiency than that of the hydrogen production system.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.225-231
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• 2021

The reaction between Li₂CO₃ and Cl₂ was investigated to verify its occurrence during a carbon-anode-based oxide reduction (OR) process. The reaction temperature was identified as a key factor that determines the reaction rate and maximum conversion ratio. It was found that the reaction should be conducted at or above 500℃ to convert more than 90% of the Li₂CO₃ to LiCl. Experiments conducted at various total flow rate (Q) / initial sample weight (W_i) ratios revealed that the reaction rate was controlled by the Cl₂ mass transfer under the experimental conditions adopted in this work. A linear increase in the progress of reaction with an increase in Cl₂ partial pressure (pCl₂) was observed in the pCl₂ region of 2.03-10.1 kPa for a constant Q of 100 mL·min^-1 and W_i of 1.00 g. The results of this study indicate that the reaction between Li₂CO₃ and Cl₂ is fast at 650℃ and the reaction is feasible during the OR process.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.465-469
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• 2009

산소-공융염(LiCl-KCl) 기포탑에서 4종의 희토류염화물($Ce/Nd/Pr/EuCl_3$)의 산화반응 특성에 대한 연구를 수행하였다. HSC Chemistry software를 이용한 모델링 결과 산소 및 희토류염화물이 존재하는 계에서 가장 안정된 화합물은 옥시염화물(EuOCl, NdOCl, PrOCl)과 산화물($CeO_2$, $PrO_2$)이었으며, 이러한 결과는 옥시염화물 및 산화물이 형성되는 반응의 Gibbs 자유에너지 경향성과도 일치하였다. 실험결과 공융염 내에서 산소와 희토류염화물과의 반응으로 산소분산 시간 및 공융염 온도와 상관없이 Eu, Nd, Pr은 옥시염화물로, Ce, Pr은 산화물형태의 침전물로 형성되었으며, 이러한 결과는 열역학적 데이터를 이용한 모델링 결과와 일치하였다. 4종의 복합희토류 침전물은 등방형태와 정방형태의 침전물로 구분되었는데 주사전자현미경(SEM-EDS) 분석결과 등방구조(cubic structure) 형태의 침전물은 산화물이었고, 정방형 구조(tetragonal structure)의 침전물은 옥시염화물이었다. 실험에 사용된 4종의 희토류염화물의 공융염에 불용성인 침전물로의 전환효율은 온도 및 분산시간이 증가하면 증가하였으며, Ce가 가장 빠른 반응특성을 나타내었다. $650^{\circ}C$의 공융염 온도 및 420분의 산소분산시간 조건에서 4종의 희토류염화물의 산화효율은 모두 99% 이상이었다.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.707-714
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• 2022

Hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) is a promising technology because of its efficiency, cleanness, and scalability. Especially, high-power SOEC system has received a lot of attention from researchers. This study compared and analyzed the low-power and high-power SOEC system in term of economic. By using revenue requirement method, levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) was calculated for comparison. In addition, the sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the dependence of hydrogen cost on input variables. The results indicated that high-power SOEC system is superior to a low-power SOEC system. In the capital cost, the stack cost is dominant in both systems, but the electricity cost is the most contributed factor to the hydrogen cost. If the high-power SOEC system combines with a nuclear power plant, the hydrogen cost can reach 3.65 $/kg when the electricity cost is 3.28 ¢/kWh and the stack cost is assumed to be 574 $/kW.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2010

Pyroprocessing에 의한 사용후핵연료 처리 과정에서 방사성 희토류 염화물이 포함된 폐용융염이 발생된다. 이러한 폐 용융염 내에 존재하는 방사성 희토류 염화물을 산화물로 침전시켜 회수함으로서 용융염을 재생할 수 있다. 최종적으로 발생되는 방사성 희토류 산화물의 저장과 처분에 적합한 monolithic 고화체를 제조하기 위한 연구를 수행하였다. 본 연구에서는 고상 소결에 의해 붕규산 유리에 의한 고화체 제조, 희토류 산화물을 모나자이트로 합성한 후 붕규산 유리에 의한 고화체 제조를 수행하였다. 또한 zinc titanate 세라믹이 주요성분인 고화 매질(ZIT)을 개발하여 고화체를 제조하였으며 각각의 고화체에 대한 침출 및 물리화학적 특성을 비교 평가하였다. 고상 소결에 의해 제조된 ZIT 매질 고화체는 내 침출성이 크며 밀도가 크고 열전도도가 우수한 특성을 나타내었다.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 2004년도 추계학술발표회 발표논문집
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• pp.911-912
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• 2004

1. Cathodic hydrogen charging considerably reduced the tensile ductility of ODS steels and a 9Cr-2W RMS. The hydrogen embrittlement of ODS steels was strongly affected by specimen sampling orientation, showing significant embrittlement in the T-direction. This comes from the microstructural anisotropy caused by elongated grains of ODS steels in L-direction. 2. The ODS steels contained a higher concentration of hydrogen than 9Cr-2W RMS at the same cathodic charging condition, and the critical hydrogen concentration required to transition from ductile to brittle fracture was in the range of $10{\sim}12$ wppm, which approximately 10 times larger than that of a 9Cr-2W martensitic steel. 3. The ODS steels showed a typical ductile to brittle transition behavior and it strongly depended on the specimen sampling direction, namely L- and T-direction. In T-direction, the SP-DBTT was about 170 L, irrespective of the ODS materials, and L-direction showed a lower SP-DBTT than that of T-direction.