• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.632-636
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• 2005

In this work, the effect of chemical treatments on surface properties of SiC was investigated in thermal and mechanical interfacial behaviors of SiC/PMMA nanocomposites. The acid/base value, contact angles, and FT-IR analysis were performed for the study of surface characteristics of the SiC studied. The thermal stabilities of the SiC/PMMA nanocomposites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Also the mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were studied in critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$) and critical strain energy release rate ($G_{IC}$) measurements. As a result, the acidically treated SiC (A-SiC) had higher acid value than that of untreated SiC (V-SiC) or basically treated SiC (B-SiC). The acidic solution treatment led to an increase in surface free energy of the SiC, mainly due to the increase of its specific component. Thermal and mechanical interfacial properties of the SiC/PMMA nanocomposites, including initial decomposition temperature (IDT), $K_{IC}$, and $G_{IC}$ had been improved in the acidic treatment on SiC. This was due to the improvement in the interfacial bonding strength, resulting from the acid-base interfacial interactions between the fillers and polymeric matrix.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 1984

Studied are the statistical thermal design (STD) methods that have been developed to satisfy the design basis which protects a pressurized water reactor (PWR) core against departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) during normal operations and anticipated transients. The objective of the statistical thermal design is to quantify the thermal design margin and to remove any excess conservatism from the DNB ratio calculations through statistically combining design parameter uncertainties, while still maintaining a high level of core protection. This report describes and compares the STD methods developed by the two U.S. reactor vendors (Westinghouse and B & W). Included are the characteristics of STD, statistical treatment of uncertainties, DNB design limit development methodology and the sample application of the STD technique to core thermal design analysis. It is observed that the STD methods developed by the two vendors are similiar to each other in principle, but different in the treatment of the uncertainties associated with the design parameters. The statistical thermal design is found to significantly improve the thermal design margin.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2024

Cast austenitic stainless steels (CASS) and austenitic stainless steel weldments with a ferrite-austenite duplex structure are widely used in nuclear power plants, incorporating ferrite phase to enhance strength, stress relief, and corrosion resistance. Thermal aging at 290-325℃ can induce embrittlement, primarily due to spinodal decomposition and G-phase precipitation in the ferrite phase. This study evaluates the effects of thermal aging by collecting and analyzing various mechanical properties, such as Charpy impact energy, ferrite microhardness, and tensile strength, from various literature sources. Different model expressions, including hyperbolic tangent and phase transformation equations, are applied to calculate activation energy (Q) of room-temperature impact energies, and the results are compared. Additionally, predictive models for Q based on material composition are evaluated, and the potential of machine learning techniques for improving prediction accuracy is explored. The study also examines the use of ferrite microhardness and tensile strength in calculating Q and assessing thermal embrittlement. The findings provide insights for developing advanced prediction models for the thermal embrittlement behavior of CASS and the weldments of austenitic steels, contributing to the safety and reliability of nuclear power plant components.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.8
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• pp.2999-3029
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• 2024

To improve the predictive capability of a nuclear thermal hydraulic safety analysis code by developing a better constitutive equation for individual phenomenon has been the general research direction until now. This paper proposes a new method to directly use complex experimental data obtained from integral effect test (IET) to improve constitutive models holistically and simultaneously. The method relies on the sensitivity of a simulation result of IET data to the multiple constitutive equations utilized during the simulation, and the sensitivity of individual model determines the direction of modification for the constitutive model. To develop a robust and generalized method, a clustering algorithm using an artificial neural network, sample space size determination using non-parametric statistics, and sampling method of Latin hypercube sampling are used in a combined manner. The value of the proposed methodology is demonstrated by applying the method to the ATLAS DSP-05 IET experiment. A sensitivity of each observation parameter to the constitutive models is analyzed. The new methodology suggested in the study can be used to improve the code prediction results of complex IET data by identifying the direction for constitutive equations to be modified.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.558-563
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• 1997

A thermal sizing code, named as HSGSA (Helical coil Steam Generator Sizing Analyzer), for a sodium heated helical coil steam generator is developed for KALIMER (Korea Advanced LIquid MEtal Reactor) design. The theoretical modeling of the shell and tube sides is described and relevant correlations are presented. For assessment of HSGSA, a reference plant design case is compared to the calculational outputs from HSGSA simulation.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.284-288
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• 2014

We present tapered nanostructures fabricated on a selective area of gallium phosphide substrates for advanced optoelectronic device applications. A lithography-free fabrication process was accomplished by dry etching of metal nanoparticles. Thermal dewetting of micro-patterned metal thin films provides etch masks for tapered nanostructures. This simple process also allows the formation of plasmonic surfaces with corrugated shapes. Rigorous coupled-wave analysis calculations provide design guidelines for tapered nanostructures on gallium phosphide substrates.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.10
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• pp.3787-3800
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• 2023

Reactivity Initiated Accident (RIA) scenarios require special attention using advanced simulation techniques due to their complexity and importance for nuclear power plant (NPP) safety. While the conservative approach has traditionally been used for safety analysis, it may lead to unrealistic results which calls for the use of best estimate plus uncertainty (BEPU) approach, especially with the current advances in computational power which makes the BEPU analysis feasible. In this work an Uncontrolled Control Element Assembly (CEA) Withdrawal at Full Power accident scenario is analyzed using the BEPU approach by loosely coupling the thermal hydraulics best-estimate system code (RELAP5/SCDAPSIM/MOD3.4) to the statistical analysis software (DAKOTA) using a Python interface. Results from the BEPU analysis indicate that a realistic treatment of the accident scenario yields a larger safety margin and is therefore encouraged for accident analysis as it may enable more economic and flexible operation.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.797-801
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• 2001

In this study, the solution combustion method was employed to synthesize stoichiometric mullite, and hence the attrition process was employed to prepare ultrafine mullite particles with nano size. The thermal decomposition behavior and partial pressure of equilibrium species of both oxidizer and fuel were considered during solution combustion process. The synthesized product was mullite phase with 40 nm crystalline size, and the alumina contents of the product by TEM/EDS quantity analysis was 3.12$\pm$04 mole. The result showed that the synthesized mullite was almost close to the it's stoichiometric composition. For attrition process, the dispersion behavior of the mullite suspension was controlled and was comminuted with the condition of 800 rpm for 4 hours using 0.3 mm zirconia ball media. As a result of comminution, the mean particle size was 80 nm.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.181-188
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• 2006

In this study, the characteristics of the experimentally produced high N-high Cr bearing stainless steels are discussed as a part of applications of materials for FGD (Fuel Gas Desulfurization) system of thermal power plants or for power plants using seawater as coolant. Corrosion resistance of developed alloys is especially investigated in detail. Corrosion characteristics of vacuum melted cast are shown to be superior to that of air melted one. From the viewpoint of CPT, It is estimated that the differences of corrosion resistance are $21.8^{\circ}C{\sim}24.6^{\circ}C$ at PRE 40 and $8^{\circ}C{\sim}12.4^{\circ}C$ at PRE 50, and the gaps becomes bigger as the PRE values are lower. In the evaluation of corrosion resistance in alloy A2501, Z3101, and A3301 according to Cr concentration, alloy A3301 shows a deviation from the general tendency in chloride solutions. It has relatively high PRE value as 48.6, but it has relatively poor pitting resistance. It is, however, difficult to observe a specific phase except ferrite in microstructure analysis and neither detects special phase such as sigma phase.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.356-365
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• 2015

This paper presents a new single phase front-end ac-dc bridgeless power factor correction (PFC) rectifier topology. The proposed converter achieves a high efficiency over a wide range of input and output voltages, a high power factor, low line current harmonics and both step up and step down voltage conversions. This topology is based on a non-inverting buck-boost (Zeta) converter. In this approach, the input diode bridge is removed and a maximum of one diode conducts in a complete switching period. This reduces the conduction losses and the thermal stresses on the switches when compare to existing PFC topologies. Inherent power factor correction is achieved by operating the converter in the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) which leads to a simplified control circuit. The characteristics of the proposed design, principles of operation, steady state operation analysis, and control structure are described in this paper. An experimental prototype has been built to demonstrate the feasibility of the new converter. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the improved power quality at the AC mains and the lower conduction losses of the converter.