• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2014

This paper concerns estimating uncertainties of the core neutronics design parameters of power reactors by direct sampling method (DSM) calculations based on the two-step McCARD/MASTER design system in which McCARD is used to generate the fuel assembly (FA) homogenized few group constants (FGCs) while MASTER is used to conduct the core neutronics design computation. It presents an extended application of the uncertainty propagation analysis method originally designed for uncertainty quantification of the FA FGCs as a way to produce the covariances between the FGCs of any pair of FAs comprising the core, or the covariance matrix of the FA FGCs required for random sampling of the FA FGCs input sets into direct sampling core calculations by MASTER. For illustrative purposes, the uncertainties of core design parameters such as the effective multiplication factor ($k_{eff}$), normalized FA power densities, power peaking factors, etc. for the beginning of life (BOL) core of Yonggwang nuclear unit 4 (YGN4) at the hot zero power and all rods out are estimated by the McCARD/MASTER-based DSM computations. The results are compared with those from the uncertainty propagation analysis method based on the McCARD-predicted sensitivity coefficients of nuclear design parameters and the cross section covariance data.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1996.05d
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• pp.283-288
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• 1996

Core support barrel (CSB) assembly is one of the most important reactor internals structures supporting and protecting the nuclear core during normal operation and faulted events. For Yonggwang 3 and 4 (YGN 3&4), the adequacy of the analytical response prediction of reactor internals for flow induced vibration was demonstrated through the comprehensive vibration assessment program (CVAP) performed during hot functional test. Besides, the vibration characteristics of the CSB of operating nuclear power plant can be examined via the excore neutron noise monitoring signal. In this paper data from YGN 4 analyses, CVAP, and neutron noise monitoring system are compared and evaluated. In general, the results are comparable each other and conservative enough to ensure sufficient design margin and structural integrity. Further investigations on the modelling and analyses procedure are recommended to utilize the experimental results to the maximum extent. And collection of the neutron noise data is desired to serve as a baseline information.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.404-410
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• 1998

In Yonggwang nuclear units 3 and 4 currently under commercial operation, the cold leg temperature was very close to the technical specification limit of 298$^{\circ}C$ during initial startup testing, which was caused by the higher-than-expected reactor coolant system flow. Accordingly, the reference temperature (Tref) program needed to be revised to allow more flexibility for plant operations. In this study, the method of a specific test performed at Yonggwang nuclear unit 4 to revise the Tref program was described and the test results were discussed. In addition, the modified Tref program was evaluated on its potential impacts on system performance and safety. The methods of changing the Tref program and the associated pressurizer level setpoint program were also explained. Finally, for Ulchin nuclear unit 3 and 4 currently under initial startup testing, the effects of reactor coolant system flow rate on the coolant temperature were evaluated from the thermal hydraulic standpoint and an optimum Tref program was recommended.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1995.05a
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• pp.1001-1007
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• 1995

A Comprehensive Vibration Assessment Program (CVAP) has been performed for Yonggwang Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 (YGN 4) in order to verify the structural integrity of the reactor internals for flow induced vibrations prior to commercial operation. The theoretical evidence for the structural integrity of the reactor internals and the basis for measurement and inspection are provided by the analysis. Flow induced hydraulic loads and reactor internals vibration response data were measured during pre-core hot functional testing in YGN 4 site. Also, the critical areas in the reactor internals were inspected visually to check any existence of structural abnormality before and after the pre-core hot functional testing. Then, the measured data have been analyzed and compared with the predicted data by analysis. The measured stresses are less than the predicted values and the allowable limits. It is concluded that the vibration response of the reactor internals due to the flow induced vibration under normal operation is acceptable for long term operation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.74-83
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• 1995

The accurate determination of the fast neutron flux/fluence onto the pressure vessel is an essential part of the reactor pressure vessel surveillance program. It has been reported recently that the iron cross section data in ENDF/B versions III through V might underestimate the flux/fluence of fast neutrons in steel structures such as reactor pressure vessel. In this study, for the comparison of iron data of ENDF/B-IV and VI we produced two 47-group cross section sets, CXFe-IV and CXFe-Ⅵ, which are based on Yonggwang nuclear unit-3/4 model and the iron data of ENDF/B-IV and VI, respectively. A comparison was made of the results obtained from DOT4.3 calculation using CXFe-IV and CXFe-VI. From the results, it was found that the fast flux(E 〉 1.0 MeV), which is important for the pressure vessel embrittlement analysis, increases by about 7.6％ at the inner wall and 20％ at the outer wall of the vessel, if the iron data are used from ENDF/B-VI instead of ENDF/B-IV.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.1071-1083
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• 2023

The on-the-fly energy release per fission (OTFK) model is implemented in STREAM to continuously update the Kappa values during the depletion calculation. The explicit neutron and photon energy distribution, which has not been considered in previous STREAM versions, is incorporated into the existing on-the-fly model. The impacts of the modified OTFK model with explicit neutron and photon heating in STREAM on the power distribution, fuel temperature, and other core parameters during depletion with feedback calculations are studied using several problems from the VERA benchmark suit. Overall, the explicit heating calculation provides a better power map for the feedback calculations particularly when strong gamma emitters are present. Generally, the fuel temperature decreases when neutron and photon heating is employed because fission neutrons and gamma rays are transported away from their points of generation. This energy release model in STREAM indicates that gamma energy accounts for approximately 9.5%-10% of the total energy released, and approximately 2.4%-2.6% of the total energy released will be deposited in the coolant for the VERA 5, NuScale, and Yonggwang Unit 3 2D cores.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 1996

Among those tests performed during the Yonggwang Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 (YGN 3&4) Power Ascension Test period, the Loss of a Main Feedwater Pump test at l00% power is one of the major test which characterize the capability of YGN 3&4. In this event, one of the two normally operating main feedwater pumps is tripped resulting in a 50% reduction in the feedwater flow. Unless the NSSS and Turbine/Generator control systems actuate properly, the reactor will be tripped on low SG water level or high pressurizer pressure. The test performed at Unit 3 was successful by meeting all acceptance criteria, and the plant was stabilized at a reduced power level without reactor trip. The measured test data for the major plant parameters are compared with the predictions made by the KISPAC computer code, an updated best-estimate plant performance analysis code, to verify and validate its applicability. The comparison results showed good agreement in the magnitude as well as the trends of the major plant parameters. Therefore, the KISPAC code can be utilized for the best-estimate nuclear power plant design and simulation tool after a further verification using other plant test data.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.384-389
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• 2004

As the increase of the operation year of nuclear power plants, the probabilities of the degradation of the major facilities and materials in the nuclear power plants are increased. The integrity of those facilities shall be monitored and verified by the non-destructive examination methods with the regulation codes, so called inservice inspection(ISI). The ISI of Yonggwang unit 6 was performed in four different parts, 1) non-destructive examinations for the components, piping weldments and structures, 2) automated ultrasonic examinations for pressure vessels, 3) visual examinations for the interior structures of the reactor, 4) eddy current examinations for the steam generator tubes. As the results, there was no severe indication and all detected indications were evaluated as non-relavent. Especially for the examinations of the piping weldments, PD(Performance Demonstration) was applied as a W examination method defined in the 1995 edition of ASME Code Sec. XI. The implementation of the PD for the piping weld results in an improvement of the reliability of the UT examinations.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.555-561
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• 1994

The program of performing a fast and automatic analysis of gamma ray spectra obtained by a Multi-Channel Analyzer (MCA) is developed for the surveillance of the nuclear fuel integrity. The integrity of the nuclear fuel is confirmed by the measurement of the radiation level of the reactor coolant through the real time monitoring and the periodic sampling analysis. In Yonggwang nuclear power plane 3 and 4, the Process Radiation Monitoring System (PRMS), which is a real time monitoring system, provides a measure of the fuel integrity. Currently, its spectrometer channel can identify only one radionuclide at a time since the signal processing unit of the spectrometer channel is a Single Channel Analyzer (SCA). To improve the PRMS, it is necessary to substitute the MCA for the SCA The program is operated in a real time mode and an on-demand mode, and automatically performed for all procedures. The test results by using the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) mixed standard source are in good agreement with those from Canberra System 100 which is a commercial MCA Consequently, the developed program seems to be employed for automatic monitoring of gamma rays in nuclear power plants.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.2606-2611
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• 2008

The high energy fluid leakage from the high temperature and high differential pressure drop system of NPPs (Nuclear Power Plants) decreases efficiency and consequently leads to considerable economic loss due to less power production. Also, the leakage possibly damages critical parts of components such as valve and trim with the effect of cavitation, flashing, and erosion, etc. and deteriorates its performance. Thus, in this study, we diagnosed the as-is leakage for four (4) main steam drain valves and two (2) steam traps of Yonggwang 1,2 units during normal operation by using multi-measuring technique and observed the occurrence of fine leakage. In the course of measuring fluid leakage, the sign of fine leakage is estimated to be the leakage from orifice. By converting the leakage to energy loss, it is equivalent to the amount of several hundred thousand won per each unit, which supports the basis for the justification of fine leakage.