• Title/Summary/Keyword: Stored fuel

Search Result 123, Processing Time 0.042 seconds

EXTENDED DRY STORAGE OF USED NUCLEAR FUEL: TECHNICAL ISSUES: A USA PERSPECTIVE

  • Mcconnell, Paul;Hanson, Brady;Lee, Moo;Sorenson, Ken
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.43 no.5
    • /
    • pp.405-412
    • /
    • 2011
  • Used nuclear fuel will likely be stored dry for extended periods of time in the USA. Until a final disposition pathway is chosen, the storage periods will almost definitely be longer than were originally intended. The ability of the important-tosafety structures, systems, and components (SSCs) to continue to meet storage and transport safety functions over extended times must be determined. It must be assured that there is no significant degradation of the fuel or dry cask storage systems. Also, it is projected that the maximum discharge burnups of the used nuclear fuel will increase. Thus, it is necessary to obtain data on high burnup fuel to demonstrate that the used nuclear fuel remains intact after extended storage. An evaluation was performed to determine the conditions that may lead to failure of dry storage SSCs. This paper documents the initial technical gap analysis performed to identify data and modeling needs to develop the desired technical bases to ensure the safety functions of dry stored fuel.

A Viscoelastic Analysis for Spent Pressurized Water Reactor Nuclear Fuel Disposal Canister (가압경수로 고준위폐기물 처분용기에 대한 점탄성 해석)

  • 권영주;하준용
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
    • /
    • 2003.05a
    • /
    • pp.327-330
    • /
    • 2003
  • In this paper, a viscoelastic structural analysis for the spent pressurized water reactor(PWR) nuclear fuel disposal canister is carried out to predict the collapse of the canister while the canister is stored in a deep repository for long time. There may exist some subterranean heat in a deep repository while the nuclear fuel disposal canister is stored for long time. Then, a time-dependent viscoelastic structural deformation may occur in the canister due to the subterrnean heat Hence, the viscoelastic stress variation according to time should be computed to predict the structural strength of the canister. A viscoelastic material model is adopted. Analysis results show that even though some subterrnean heat may exist for quite a long time, the canister structure still endures stresses below the yield strength of the canister. Hence, some subterranean heat cannot seriously affect the structural strength of the canister.

  • PDF

Repurposing a Spent Nuclear Fuel Cask for Disposal of Solid Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste From Decommissioning of a Nuclear Power Plant in Korea

  • Mah, Wonjune;Kim, Chang-Lak
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
    • /
    • v.20 no.3
    • /
    • pp.365-369
    • /
    • 2022
  • Operating and decommissioning nuclear power plants generates radioactive waste. This radioactive waste can be categorized into several different levels, for example, low, intermediate, and high, according to the regulations. Currently, low and intermediate-level waste are stored in conventional 200-liter drums to be disposed. However, in Korea, the disposal of intermediate-level radioactive waste is virtually impossible as there are no available facilities. Furthermore, large-sized intermediate-level radioactive waste, such as reactor internals from decommissioning, need to be segmented into smaller sizes so they can be adequately stored in the conventional drums. This segmentation process requires additional costs and also produces secondary waste. Therefore, this paper suggests repurposing the no-longer-used spent nuclear fuel casks. The casks are larger in size than the conventional drums, thus requiring less segmentation of waste. Furthermore, the safety requirements of the spent nuclear fuel casks are severer than those of the drums. Hence, repurposed spent nuclear fuel casks could better address potential risks such as dropping, submerging, or a fire. In addition, the spent nuclear fuel casks need to be disposed in compliance with the regulations for low level radioactive waste. This cost may be avoided by repurposing the casks.

The Effect of Vitamin {TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} Deficiency on the Utilization and Recuperation of Stored Fuel in Highly Intense Exercised Rats

  • Cho, Youn-Ok
    • Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
    • /
    • v.1 no.1
    • /
    • pp.75-79
    • /
    • 1996
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin {TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} deficiency on the utilization and recuperation of stored fuel in exercising rats. Thirty six rats were fed either a vitamin {TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} deficient diet(-{TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX}) or a control diet(+{TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX}) for 5 weeks, then subdivided into 3 group: non-exercise group(NE), exercise group(EX), exercise and recuperation group(EX). EX group were exercised in treadmill({TEX}$10^{o}${/TEX}, 0.5~0.8km/h)for 2 hours and ER group were recuperated three days with the respective diet after exercise. Glucose(GLU), glycogen(GLY), protein(PRO), trigyceride(TG) and free fatty acid(FFA) were compared in plasma(P), liver(L) and skeletal muscle(M) of rats. Compared to +{TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} rats, in NE group, the level of L-GLY of -{TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} rats was higher, M-TG, L-PRO of -{TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} rats were lower and there were no differences in P-PRO, P-FFA, P-TG, M-GLY, M-PRO and L-TG. In EX group, the levels of P-FFA, L-PRO of -{TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} rats were higher. P-TG, L-TG of -{TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} rats were lower and there was no difference in L-GLY. In EG group, the levels of P-GLU, P-PRO, P-RG, L-PRO of -{TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} rats were lower and there were no differences in L-GLY, L-TG, M-TG and M-GLY. these results suggest that a lowered intake of vitamin {TEX}$B_{6}${/TEX} may impair the recuperation of aminals after exercise related to exercise fuel stores although there is a compensation among stored fuel utilization during exercise.

  • PDF

A Study on the Power Conditioning System for the Fuel Cell Powered Off-Road Vehicle (연료전지를 이용하는 비도로용 자동차를 위한 전력변환시스템에 관한 연구)

  • Kang, Ho-Hyun;Kim, Wang-Rae;Choi, Woo-Jin;Jeon, Hee-Jong
    • Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
    • /
    • 2005.07a
    • /
    • pp.343-346
    • /
    • 2005
  • In this paper a power conditioning system suitable for the fuel cell powered off-road vehicle is proposed. The proposed system employs a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell stack combined with boost converter, a super capacitor module combined with hi-directional buck-boost converter, a 4-quadrant DC chopper and a permanent magnet DC motor. The momentary overload condition occurring during the motor starting is handled by the energy stored in the supercapacitor module. Also, the regenerative energy can be stored in the supercapacitor module by operating the system in either buck or boost mode. This capability gives the system designer the higher flexibility in designing the system and assures the lower cost of the system. The validity and feasibility of the proposed system is proven by the computer simulation.

  • PDF

Technology Trends in Spent Nuclear Fuel Cask and Dry Storage (사용후핵연료 운반용기 및 건식저장 기술 동향)

  • Shin, Jung Cheol;Yang, Jong Dae;Sung, Un Hak;Ryu, Sung Woo;Park, Yeong Woo
    • Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
    • /
    • v.16 no.1
    • /
    • pp.110-116
    • /
    • 2020
  • As the management plan for domestic spent nuclear fuel is delayed, the storage of the operating nuclear power plant is approaching saturation, and the Kori 1 Unit that has reached its end of operation life is preparing for the dismantling plan. The first stage of dismantling is the transfer of spent nuclear fuel stored in storage at plants. The spent fuel management process leads to temporary storage, interim storage, reprocessing and permanent disposal. In this paper, the technical issues to be considered when transporting spent fuel in this process are summarized. The spent fuels are treated as high-level radioactive waste and strictly managed according to international regulations. A series of integrity tests are performed to demonstrate that spent fuel can be safely stored for decades in a dry environment before being transferred to an intermediate storage facility. The safety of spent fuel transport container must be demonstrated under normal transport conditions and virtual accident conditions. IAEA international standards are commonly applied to the design of transport containers, licensing regulations and transport regulations worldwide. In addition, each country operates a physical protection system to reduce and respond to the threat of radioactive terrorism.

Development of WT-FC Hybrid System for Off-Grid (오프그리드용 풍력-연료전지 하이브리드 시스템 개발)

  • Choi, Jong-Pil;Kim, Kwang-Soo;Park, Nae-Chun;Kim, Sang-Hun;Kim, Byeong-Hee;Yu, Neung-Su
    • New & Renewable Energy
    • /
    • v.3 no.2 s.10
    • /
    • pp.60-67
    • /
    • 2007
  • This paper describes the design and integration of the wind-fuel cell hybrid system. The hybrid system components included a wind turbine, an electrolyzer (for generation of H2), a PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell), hydrogen storage tank and BOP (Balance of Plant) system. The energy input is entirely provided by a wind turbine. A DC-DC converter controls the power input to the electrolyzer, which produces hydrogen and oxygen form water. The hydrogen used the fuel for the PEMFC. Hydrogen may be produced and stored in high pressure tank by hydrogen gas booster system. Wind conditions are changing with time of day, season and year. So, wind power is a variable energy source. The main purpose with these WT-FC hybrid system is to store hydrogen by electrolysis of water when wind conditions are good and release the stored hydrog en to supply the fuelcell when wind is low.

  • PDF

FRAPCON analysis of cladding performance during dry storage operations

  • Richmond, David J.;Geelhood, Kenneth J.
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.50 no.2
    • /
    • pp.306-312
    • /
    • 2018
  • There is an increasing need in the United States and around the world to move used nuclear fuel from wet storage in fuel pools to dry storage in casks stored at independent spent fuel storage installations or interim storage sites. Under normal conditions, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission limits cladding temperature to $400^{\circ}C$ for high-burnup (>45 GWd/mtU) fuel, with higher temperatures allowed for low-burnup fuel. An analysis was conducted with FRAPCON-4.0 on three modern fuel designs with three representative used nuclear fuel storage temperature profiles that peaked at $400^{\circ}C$. Results were representative of the majority of US light water reactor fuel. They conservatively showed that hoop stress remains below 90 MPa at the licensing temperature limit. Results also show that the limiting case for hoop stress may not be at the highest rod internal pressure in all cases but will be related to the axial temperature and oxidation profiles of the rods at the end of life and in storage.

Acid Functionalized Poly(arylene ether)s for Proton-conducting Membranes

  • Shin, Chong-Kyu;Gerhard Maier;Gunther G. Scherer
    • Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
    • /
    • 2004.05a
    • /
    • pp.70-73
    • /
    • 2004
  • Fuel Cells are clean and efficient electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy stored in a fuel with oxygen from air directly into usable electricity without using a conventional combustion process. Because of the great importance of proton conducting membranes in fuel cells for certain applications as mobile power generators, significant research efforts have been devoted to these membranes during the last 30 years.(omitted)

  • PDF

Simulation Study on the Fuel Economy of Plug-in Type Hybrid Electric Vehicle (외부충전 방식 하이브리드 전기자동차의 연비 시뮬레이션)

  • 최득환;김현수
    • Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
    • /
    • v.10 no.5
    • /
    • pp.121-128
    • /
    • 2002
  • In this paper, the fuel economy of plug-in type hybrid electric vehicle is investigated through simulation. For the simulation study, 2 shaft type parallel hybrid powertrain is chosen and its operation modes are described. The operation algorithm which yields operation points of minimal fuel cost is suggested. Dynamic model fur operation of HEV and simulation procedure is described. Simulation results of fuel economy is compared to non plug-in type HEV as well as conventional vehicle. With total driving distance of 37km and full usage of 2kwh of electric energy stored in battery pack, plug-in type HEV shows 28-30% improved fuel economy compared to non plug-in type HEV and 86-93% improved fuel economy compared to conventional vehicle.