• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.1109-1112
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• 2017

The precise prediction of radiation embrittlement of aged reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) is a prerequisite for the long-term operation of nuclear power plants beyond their original design life. The expiration of the operation licenses for Korean reactors the RPVs of which are made from SA533B-1 plates and welds is imminent. Korean regulatory rules have adopted the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's transition temperature shift (TTS) models to the prediction of the embrittlement of Korean reactor pressure vessels. The applicability of the TTS model to predict the embrittlement of Korean RPVs made of SA533B-1 plates and welds was investigated in this study. It was concluded that the TTS model of 10 CFR 50.61a matched the trends of the radiation embrittlement in the SA533B-1 plates and welds better than did that of Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.99 Rev. 2. This is attributed to the fact that the prediction performance of 10 CFR 50.61a was enhanced by considering the difference in radiation embrittlement sensitivity among the different types of RPV materials.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.979-988
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• 2017

The feasibility of cooling in a pressurized heavy water reactor after a large break loss-of-coolant accident has been analyzed using Multidimensional Analysis of Reactor Safety-KINS Standard code during the recirculation phase. Through evaluation of sensitivity of the fuel channel temperature to various effective recirculation flow areas, it is determined that proper cooling of the fuel channels in the broken loop is feasible if the effective flow area remains above approximately 70% of the nominal flow area. When the flow area is reduced by more than approximately 25% of the nominal value, however, incipience of boiling is expected, after which the thermal integrity of the fuel channel can be threatened. In addition, if a dramatic reduction of the recirculation flow occurs, excursions and frequent fluctuations of temperature in the fuel channels are likely to be unavoidable, and thus damage to the fuel channels would be anticipated. To resolve this, emergency coolant supply through the newly installed external injection path can be used as one alternative means of cooling, enabling fuel channel integrity to be maintained and permanently preventing severe accident conditions. Thus, the external injection flow required to guarantee fuel channel coolability has been estimated.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.300-311
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• 2021

Background: So far there is no confidence in the basics of acupoint/meridian phenomena, specifically in spatial and temporal electrical manifestations in the skin. Methods: Using the skin electrodynamic introscopy, the skin areas of 32 × 64 mm² were monitored for spectral electrical impedance landscape with spatial resolution of 1 mm, at 2 kHz and 1 MHz frequencies. The detailed baseline and 2D test-induced 2 kHz-impedance phase dynamics and the 4-parameter time plots of dozens of individual points in the St32-34 regions were examined in a healthy participant and a patient with mild gastritis. Non-thermal stimuli were used: (1) (for the sick subject), microwaves and ultraviolet radiation applied alternately from opposite directions of the meridian; and (2) (for the healthy one) microwaves to St17, and cathodic/anodic stimulation of the outermost St45, alternately. Results: In both cases, the following phenomena have been observed: emergence of in-phase and/or antiphase coherent structures, exceeding the acupoint conditional size of 1 cm; collective movement along the meridian; reversible with a reversed stimulus; counter-directional dynamics of both whole structures and adjacent points; local abnormalities in sensitivity and dynamics of the 1 MHz and 2 kHz parameters indicating existence of different waveguide paths. Conclusion: It is assumed that these findings necessitate reconsideration of some basic methodological issues regarding neurogenic/acupuncture points as spatial and temporal phenomena; this requires development of an appropriate approach for identifying the acuzones patterns. These findings may be used for developing new approaches to personalized/controlled therapy/treatment.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.169-174
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• 2010

A micro gas sensor for formaldehyde (HCHO) gas was fabricated by using MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology and the sol-gel process. The sensing materials of the $SnO_2$-ZnO system were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The crystal structure and thermal analysis of the $SnO_{2}$-ZnO were characterized by XRD and DSC-TGA. The fabricated gas sensors were tested at various gas concentrations (0.5~5.0 ppm) and different operation temperatures ($350{\sim}550^{\circ}C$). The $SnO_2$-10 mol%ZnO sensor showed the highest sensitivity ($R_s=0.24$) for 1.0 ppm-formaldehyde at $500^{\circ}C$ and response time (90% saturation time) was within 20 seconds.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권8호
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• pp.2999-3005
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• 2022

The new experimental setup has been built at the 11b channel of the IBR-2 research reactor at FLNP, JINR, to study the elemental composition of samples by registration of prompt gamma emission during thermal neutron capture. The setup consists of a curved mirror neutron guide and a radiation-resistant HPGe high-purity germanium detector. The detector is surrounded by lead shielding to suppress the natural background gamma level. The sample is placed in a vacuum channel and surrounded by a LiF shield to suppress the gamma background generated by scattered neutrons. This work presents characteristics of the experimental setup. An example of hydrogen concentration determining in a diamond powder made by detonation synthesis is given and on its basis, the sensitivity of the setup is calculated being ~4 ㎍.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.1024-1029
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• 2022

Composite scintillation screens on a base of Gd_1.2Y_1.8Ga_2.5Al_2.5O₁₂:Ce (GYAGG) scintillator have been evaluated for neutron detection. Besides the powdered scintillator, the composite includes ⁶LiF particles; both are merged with a binder and deposited onto the light-reflecting aluminum substrate. Results obtained demonstrates that screens are suitable for use with a silicon photomultiplier readout to create a prospective solution for a compact and low-cost thermal neutron sensor. Composite GYAGG/⁶LiF scintillation screen shows a pretty matched sensitivity and γ-background rejection with a widely used ZnS/⁶LiF screens however, possesses forty times faster response.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 1996년도 춘계학술발표회논문집(2)
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• pp.429-434
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• 1996

K-REM［1］, which is under development as a realistic evaluation model of large break LOCA, is applied to the analysis of cold leg guillotine break of Ulchin 3&4. Fuel parameters on which statistical analysis of their effects on the peak cladding temperature (PCT) are made and system parameters on which the concept of limiting value approach (LVA) are applied, are determined from the single parameter sensitivity study. 3 parameters of fuel gap conductance, fuel thermal conductivity and power peaking factor are selected as fuel related ones and 4 parameters of axial power shape, reactor power, decay heat and the gas pressure of safety injection tank (SIT) are selected as plant system related ones. Response surface of PCT is generated from the plant calculation results and on which Monte Carlo sampling is made to get plant application uncertainty which is statistically combined with code uncertainty to produce the 95th percentile PCT. From the break spectrum analysis, blowdown PCT of 1350.23 K and reflood PCT of 1195.56 K are obtained for break discharge coefficients of 0.8 and 0.5, respectively.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.223-232
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• 2023

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has transformed conventional manufacturing processes by offering unprecedented opportunities for design innovation, reduced lead times, and cost-effective production. Aluminum alloy, a material used in metal 3D printing, is a representative lightweight structural material known for its high specific strength and corrosion resistance. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for 3D printed aluminum alloy components across industries, including aerospace, transportation, and consumer goods. To meet this demand, research on alloys and process conditions that satisfy the specific requirement of each industry is necessary. However, 3D printing processes exhibit different behaviors of alloy elements owing to rapid thermal dynamics, making it challenging to predict the microstructure and properties. In this study, we gathered published data on the relationship between alloy composition, processing conditions, and properties. Furthermore, we conducted a sensitivity analysis on the effects of the process variables on the density and hardness of aluminum alloys used in additive manufacturing.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.873-879
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• 2024

A sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) core has a potential of prompt criticality due to a change of core material distribution during a severe accident, and the resultant energy release has been one of the safety issues of SFRs. In this study, the safety assessment of an unprotected loss-of-flow (ULOF) in a small SFR (SSFR) has been performed using the SIMMER-IV computer code, which couples the models of space- and time-dependent neutronics and multi-component, multi-field thermal hydraulics in three dimensions. The code, therefore, is applicable to the simulations of transient behaviors of extended disrupted core material motion and its reactivity effects during the transition phase (TP) of ULOF, including a potential of prompt-criticality power excursions driven by fuel compaction. Several conservative assumptions are used in the TP analysis by SIMMER-IV. It was found out that one of the important mechanisms that drives the reactivity-inserting fuel motion was sodium vapor pressure resulted from a fuel-coolant interaction (FCI), which itself was non-energetic local phenomenon. The uncertainties relating to FCI is also evaluated in much conservative way in the sensitivity analysis. From this study, the ULOF characteristics in an SSFR have been understood. Occurrence of recriticality events under conservative assumptions are plausible, but their energy releases are limited.

• 한국압력기기공학회 논문집
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.66-74
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• 2024

This study investigates the effects of temperatures and strain rates on the strength and ductility of Gr.91 (ASME Grade 91) steel which is widely being used as a heat-resistant material in Generation IV nuclear and super critical thermal power plants. The tensile behavior of modified 9Cr-1Mo (Gr.91) steel was studied for the three strain rates of 6.67×10^-5/s, 6.67×10^-4/s and 6.67×10-3/s over the temperature range from room temperature (RT) to 650℃. Experimental results showed that at specific combinations of temperatures (300~400℃) and strain rates, serrations appeared in the stress-strain curves. Concurrently, abnormal behaviors such as a plateau in yield strength and tensile strength, a minimum in ductility and negative strain rate sensitivity were observed. These phenomena were analyzed as significant characteristics of dynamic strain aging (DSA). Since this abnormal behavior in Gr.91 steel affects the material strength, it is judged that a correlation analysis between DSA and material strength should be crucial in the design and integrity evaluation of Gr. 91 steel pressure vessel and piping subjected to high-temperature loading.