• Title/Summary/Keyword: Radioactive corrosion products

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Comparison of Quantitative Analysis of Radioactive Corrosion Products Using an EPMA and X-ray Image Mapping

  • Jung, Yang Hong;Choo, Young Sun
    • Corrosion Science and Technology
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    • v.19 no.5
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    • pp.231-238
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    • 2020
  • Radioactive corrosion product specimens were analyzed using an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and X-ray image mapping. It is difficult to analyze the composition of radioactive corrosion products using an EPMA due to the size and rough shape of the surfaces. It is particularly challenging to analyze the composition of radioactive corrosion products in the form of piled up, small grains. However, useful results can be derived by applying a semi-quantitative analysis method using an EPMA with X-ray images. A standard-less, semi-quantitative method for wavelength dispersive spectrometry. EPMA analysis was developed with the objective of simplifying the analytical procedure required. In this study, we verified the reasonable theory of semi-quantitative analysis and observed the semi-quantitative results using a sample with a good surface condition. Based on the validated results, we analyzed highly rough-surface radioactive corrosion products and assessed their composition. Finally, the usefulness of the semi-quantitative analysis was reviewed by verifying the results of the analysis of radioactive corrosion products collected from spent nuclear fuel rods.

Application of Electromagnetic Fields to Improve the Removal Rate of Radioactive Corrosion Products

  • Kong, Tae-Young;Lee, Kun-Jai;Song, Min-Chul
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.36 no.6
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    • pp.549-558
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    • 2004
  • TTo comply with increasingly strict regulations for protection against radiation exposure, many nuclear power plants have been working ceaselessly to reduce and control both the radiation sources within power plants and the radiation exposure experienced by operational and maintenance personnel. Many research studies have shown that deposits of irradiated corrosion products on the surfaces of coolant systems are the main cause of occupational radiation exposure in nuclear power plant. These corrosion product deposits on the fuel-clad surface are also known to be main factors in the onset of axial offset anomaly (AOA). Hence, there is a great deal of ongoing research on water chermistry and corrosion processes. In this study, a magnetic filter with permanent magnets was devised to remove the corrosion products in the coolant stream by taking advantage of the magnetic properties of the corrosion products demonstrated a removal efficiency of over 90% for particles above 5${\mu}m$. This finding led to the construction of an electromagnetic device that causes the metallic particulates to flocculate into larger aggregates of about 5${\mu}m$ in diameter by using a novel application of electromagnetic flocculation on radioactive corrosion products.

A Study on the Method for the Removal of Radioactive Corrosion Produce Using Permanent and Electric Magnets

  • Kong Tae-Young;Song Min-Chul;Lee Kun-Jai
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.113-123
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    • 2005
  • The removal of radioactive corrosion products from the reactor coolant through a magnetic filter system is one of the many approaches being investigated as a means to reduce radiation sources and exposures to the operational and maintenance personnel in a nuclear power plant. Many research activities in water chemistry, therefore, have been performed to provide a filtration system with high reliability and feasibility and are still in process. In this study, it was devised the magnetic filter system with permanent and electric magnets to remove the corrosion products in the coolant stream taking an advantage of the magnetic properties of corrosion particles. Permanent magnets were used for separation of corrosion products and electric magnets were utilized for flocculation of colloidal particles to increase in their size. Experiments using only permanent magnets, in the previous study, displayed the satisfactory outcome of filtering corrosion products and indicated that the removal efficiency was more than 90 $\%$ for above 5 $\mu$m particles. Experiments using electric magnets also showed the good performance of flocculation without chemical agents and exhibited that most corrosion particles were flocculated into larger aggregates about 5 $\mu$m and over in diameter. It is, thus, expected that the magnetic filter system with the arrangement of permanent and electric magnets will be an effective way for the removal of radioactive corrosion products with considerably high removal efficiency.

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Conceptual Design of the Filter using Electromagnet and Permanent Magnets for Removal of Radioactive Corrosion Products (방사성 부식생성물 제거를 위한 전자석 및 영구자석을 이용한 필터의 개념설계)

  • 송민철;공태영;이건재
    • Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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    • 2003.11a
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    • pp.38-42
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    • 2003
  • In a pressurized water reactor, radioactive corrosion products (CRUD) in primary coolant system are one of the major sources for the occupational radiation exposure of the personnel in a nuclear power plant. Through the recent trend of long term fuel cycle in a nuclear power plant, radioactive corrosion products deposited in reactor core for a long time are also the cause of Axial Offset Anomaly (AOA) having an effect on reactor power by the hideout of boron. CRUD consist primarily of magnetite, nickel ferrite, cobalt ferrite, and so on. They have the characteristic of strong magnetism. Therefore it is peformed the conceptual design to develop the filter which removes the CRUD by magnetic field that is generated by an arrangement of permanent and electric magnets. Contrary to the conventional filter, the proposed filter does not interrupt the fluid flow, so there is little pressure drop and it can be used continuously. It is expected to be applied as one of the technologies for removal of the CRUD.

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A Study on the Removal Method of Radioactive Corrosion Product using its Magnetic Property (방사성 부식생성물의 자기적 성질을 이용한 제거방법에 대한 연구)

  • 송민철;공태영;이건재
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.73-79
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    • 2003
  • In a pressurized water reactor, radioactive corrosion products (CRUD) in primary coolant system are one of the major sources for the occupational radiation exposure of the personnel in a nuclear power plant. Through the recent trend of long term fuel cycle in a nuclear power Plant, radioactive corrosion products deposited in reactor core for a long time are also the cause of Axial Offset Anomaly (AOA) having m effect on reactor power by the hideout of boron. CRUD consist primarily of magnetite, nickel ferrite, cobalt ferrite, and so on. They have the characteristic of strong magnetism. Therefore it is performed the conceptual design to develop the filter which removes the CRUD by magnetic field that is generated by an arrangement of permanent and electric magnets. Contrary to the conventional filter, the proposed filter does not interrupt the fluid flow, so there is little pressure drop and it can be used continuously. It is expected to be applied as one of the technologies for removal of the CRUB.

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A Study on Corrosion Properties of Reinforced Concrete Structures in Subsurface Environment (지중 환경하에서의 철근콘크리트 구조물의 부식 특성 연구)

  • Kwon, Ki-jung;Jung, Haeryong;Park, Joo-Wan
    • The Journal of Engineering Geology
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.79-85
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    • 2016
  • A concrete silo plays an important role in subsurface low- and intermediate-level waste facilities (LILW) by limiting the release of radionuclides from the silo geosphere. However, due to several physical and chemical processes the performance of the concrete structure decreases over time and consequently the concrete loses its effectiveness as a barrier against groundwater inflow and the release of radionuclides. Although a number of processes are responsible for degradation of the silo concrete, it is determined that the main cause is corrosion of the reinforcing steel. Therefore, the time it takes for the silo concrete to fail is calculated based on two factors: the initiation time of corrosion, defined as the time it takes for chloride ions to penetrate through the concrete cover, and the propagation time of corrosion. This paper aims to estimate the time taken for concrete to fail in a LILW disposal facility. Based on the United States Department of Energy (DOE) approach, which indicates that concrete fails completely once 50% of the volume of the reinforcing steel corrodes, the corrosion propagation time is calculated to be 640 years, which is the time it takes for corrosion to penetrate 0.640 cm into the reinforcing steel. In addition to the corrosion propagation time, a diffusion equation is used to calculate the initiation time of corrosion, yielding a time of 1284 years, which post-dates the closure time of the LILW disposal facility if we also consider the 640 years of corrosion propagation. The electrochemical conditions of the passive rebar surface were modified using an acceleration method. This is a useful approach because it can reduce the test time significantly by accelerating the transport of chlorides. Using instrumental analysis, the physicochemical properties of corrosion products were determined, thereby confirming that corrosion occurred, although we did not observe significant cracks in, or expansion of, the concrete. These results are consistent with those of Smartet al., 2006 who reported that corrosion products are easily compressed, meaning that cracks cannot be discerned by eye. Therefore, it is worth noting that rebar corrosion does not strongly influence the hydraulic conductivity of the concrete.