• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.2147-2157
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• 2023

The aggregate-forming minerals in concrete undergo volume swelling and microstructure change under neutron irradiation, leading to degradation of physical and mechanical properties of the aggregates and concrete. A comprehensive investigation of volume change and elastic property variation of major aggregate-forming minerals is still lacking, so molecular dynamics simulations have been employed in this paper to improve the understanding of the degradation mechanisms. The results demonstrated that the densities of the selected aggregate-forming minerals of similar atomic structure and chemical composition vary in a similar trend with deposited energy due to the similar amorphization mechanism. The elastic tensors of all silicate minerals are almost isotropic after saturated irradiation, while those of irradiated carbonate minerals remain anisotropic. Moreover, the elastic modulus ratio versus density ratio of irradiated minerals is roughly following the density-modulus scaling relationship. These findings could further provide basis for predicting the volume and elastic properties of irradiated concrete aggregates in nuclear facilities.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권7호
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• pp.2697-2711
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• 2023

In this study, the validity of reducing the number of gas turbine stages designed for a nitrogen Brayton cycle coupled to a sodium-cooled fast reactor was assessed. The turbine performance was evaluated through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations under different off-design conditions controlled by a reduced flow rate and reduced rotational speed. Two different multistage gas turbines designed to extract almost the same specific work were selected: two- and three-stage turbines (mid-span stage loading coefficient: 1.23 and 1.0, respectively). Real gas properties were considered in the CFD simulation in accordance with the Peng-Robinson's equation of state. According to the CFD results, the off-design performance of the two-stage turbine is comparable to that of the three-stage turbine. Moreover, compared to the three-stage turbine, the two-stage turbine generates less entropy across the shock wave. The results indicate that under both design and off-design conditions, increasing the stage loading coefficient for a fewer number of turbine stages is effective in terms of performance and size. Furthermore, the Ellipse law can be used to assess off-design performance and increasing exponent of the expansion ratio term better predicts the off-design performance with a few stages (two or three).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권7호
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• pp.2454-2465
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• 2023

Film boiling may lead to burnout of the heating element. Even though burnout does not occur, the heating element is subject to deformation because it is not sufficiently strong to withstand external loads. In particular, the ballooning and rupture of a tube under film boiling are important phenomena in the field of nuclear reactor safety. If the tube-type cladding of nuclear fuel ruptures owing to high internal pressure and thermal load, radioactive materials inside the cladding are released to the coolant. Therefore, predicting the ballooning and rupture is important. This study presents numerical simulations to predict the ballooning behavior and rupture time of a horizontal tube at high internal pressure under saturated film boiling. To do so, a multi-step coupled simulation of conjugated film boiling heat transfer and ballooning using creep model is adopted. The numerical methods and models are validated against experimental values. Two different nonuniform heat flux distributions and four different internal pressures are considered. The three-step simulation is enough to obtain a convergent result. However, the single-step simulation also successfully predicts the rupture time. This is because the film boiling heat transfer characteristics are slightly affected by the tube geometry related to creep ballooning.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권12호
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• pp.4678-4684
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• 2023

Using the Monte Carlo method, the impact of the angular distribution of the electron source on the dose distribution for the 2.5 MeV ELV electron accelerator was explored. The experiment measured the 3-D dose distribution in the irradiation chamber for electron energies of 1.0 MeV and 2.5 MeV. The simulation used the MCNP6.2 code to evaluate three angular distribution models of the source: a mono-directional beam, a cone shape, and a triangular shape. Of the three models, the triangular shape with angles θ = 30°, φ = 0° best represents the angle of the scan hood through which the electron beam exits. The MCNP6.2 simulation results demonstrated that the triangular model is the most accurate representation of the angular distribution of the electron source for the 2.5 MeV ELV electron accelerator.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.2099-2112
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• 2024

This study examined the effects of CRUD on reflood heat transfer behaviors of nuclear fuel rods during a loss-of-coolant-accident (LOCA) in a pressurized water reactor using a best-estimate thermal-hydraulic analysis code. Changes in thermal properties and boiling heat transfer characteristics of the CRUD layer were extensively reviewed, and a set of correction factors to reflect the changes was implemented into the code. A heat structure layer reflecting the effects of CRUDs on the properties was added to the outer surface of the fuel cladding. Numerical simulations were conducted to examine the effects of CRUDs on reflood cooling of overheated fuel rods for representative separate and integral effect tests, FLECHT-SEASET and LOFT. In LOFT analysis, the average cladding temperature was increased due to the low thermal conductivity of CRUD during steady-state operation; however, in both analyses, the peak cladding temperature decreased, and the quenching time was reduced. Obtained results revealed that when the porous CRUD layer is deposited on the fuel cladding, two opposite effects appear. Low thermal conductivity of the CRUD layer always increases fuel temperature during normal operation; however, its hydrophilic porous structures may contribute to accelerated reflood cooling of fuel rods during a LOCA.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.1754-1761
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• 2024

In hadrontherapy, secondary fragments are generated by nuclear interactions of the incident heavy ion beam with the atomic nuclei of the target. It is important to determine the yield of production and the dose contribution of these secondary fragments in order to determine the radiobiological effectiveness more accurately. This work aims to fully identify the secondary fragments generated by nuclear interactions of proton and helium (⁴He) ion beams in a High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) target and to investigate the dose contributions by secondary fragments. Incident protons with energies of 55.90 MeV and 105.20 MeV and helium ions with energies of 52.55 MeV/u and 103.50 MeV/u in the HDPE phantom have been investigated by the means of Geant4 Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Simulated results were validated using NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) Bragg curves experimental data. The results showed that the dose contribution of secondary fragments deriving from helium ion beams is three times higher than in the case of proton beams. This is due to a higher production of nuclear fragments in the case of helium ion beams. This work contributes to a better understanding of secondary fragments generated by protons and helium ions in the HDPE target.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.21-29
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• 2014

삼축분광장치는 물질을 이루고 있는 자성 원소들의 거동, 즉 스핀 동역학을 측정하는데 적합한 장치로, 연구용 원자로 '하나로'에는 국내 유일의 냉중성자 삼축분광장치가 최근 설치되었다. 삼축분광장치는 중성자 빔을 제어하는 중성자광학 부품과 중성자 빔으로 인해 발생하는 방사선에 대한 차폐체로 이루어지며 이러한 부품은 수십 톤 중량의 기계구조물을 이룬다. 방사선 차폐는 중성자 빔 경로 이외의 방향으로 진행하는 중성자와 감마선을 효과적으로 막아 신호대 잡음비를 향상시키는 역할을 하며 구조물 내부의 방사화된 부품으로부터 발생하는 감마선을 차폐하여 장치 이용자의 피폭선량을 최소화한다. 그런데 설치된 냉중성자 삼축분광장치의 차폐체 중 전면부의 고하중으로 인해 장치 운영상 여러 가지 문제점이 발생, 전면 세그먼트 차폐체의 하중을 줄이는 구조개선이 불가피하였다. 이에 MCNPX 모의계산을 통해 냉중성자 삼축분광장치의 차폐체 최적화에 필요한 개선방향을 검토하였다. 상부 차폐체의 폴리에틸렌과 납의 추가 설치를 통해 전면 블록 차폐체 하중을 줄일 수 있는 최적 길이를 확인하였다. 그 결과, 전면 블록 차폐체의 높이 20%가 제거된 경우, 구조변경 전 대비 차폐체 상부에서 70% 수준의 감마선속이 나타남을 확인하였다. 하지만 높이를 줄일수록 전면 블록 차폐체의 하중을 줄일 수 있기 때문에, 차폐블록을 추가 제거하고 이에 대한 차폐능을 보상해 줄 방안으로 상부 납 차폐체의 위치 변화에 따른 중성자속과 감마선속을 예측해 보았다. 전면 블록 차폐체 높이의 35% 제거하고 상부 납 차폐체를 최하단부에서 10 cm에 설치한 경우, 전면 블록 차폐체 상부에서 감마선속이 각각 25%, 18% 증가하였다. 증가한 감마선속의 영향을 파악하기 위해 MCNPX 모의계산을 통해 공간의 감마선속 분포를 가시화하였다. 증가한 감마선속은 상부로 향하는 방향성을 띄며 이동하면서 소멸하여 검출기에 이르기 전에 낮아져 검출기와 실험자의 위치에 영향을 끼칠 수 없다고 판단하였다. 그래서 중성자속 및 감마선속과 고하중 문제를 동시에 해결할 수 있는 최적화 조건으로 차폐체 높이가 35% 제거되고 상부 납 차폐체가 10 cm 위치에 있는 경우를 선정하였다. 이 결과를 바탕으로 구조개선 작업을 실시하였으며 열형광선량계를 이용하여 콘크리트 차폐블록 외부에서 중성자와 감마선량을 측정하였다. 측정된 중성자 선량은 0.21 ${\mu}Svhr^{-1}$, 감마선량은 3.69 ${\mu}Svhr^{-1}$로 설계기준을 만족하였으며 피폭으로부터 실험자의 안전성을 확인하였다.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2000년도 제18회 학술발표회 논문개요집
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• pp.174-174
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• 2000

A strong antiferromagnetic coupling in Fe/Si multilayered films (MLF) had been recently discovered and much consideration has been given to whether the coupling in the Fe/Si MLF system has the same origin as the metal/metal MLF. Nevertheless, the nature of the interfacial ron silicide is still controversial. On one hand, a metal/ semiconductor structure was suggested with a narrow band-gap semiconducting $\varepsilon$-FeSi spacer that mediates the coupling. However, some features show that the nature of coupling can be well understood in terms of the conventional metal/metal multilayered system. It is well known that both magneto-optical (MO) and optical properties of a metal depend strongly on their electronic structure that is also correlated with the atomic and chemical ordering. In this study, the nature of the interfacial regions is the Fe/Si multilayers has been investigated by the experimental and computer-simulated MO and optical spectroscopies. The Fe/Si MLF were prepared by rf-sputtering onto glass substrates at room temperature with the number of repetition N=50. The thickness of Fe sublayer was fixed at 3.0nm while the Si sublayer thickness was varied from 1.0 to 2.0 nm. The topmost layer of all the Fe/Si MLF is Fe. In order to carry out the computer simulations, the information on the MO and optical parameters of the materials that may constitute a real multilayered structure should be known in advance. For this purpose, we also prepared Fe, Si, FeSi2 and FeSi samples. The structural characterization of Fe/Si MLF was performed by low- and high -angle x-ray diffraction with a Cu-K$\alpha$ radiation and by transmission electron microscopy. A bulk $\varepsilon$-FeSi was also investigated. The MO and optical properties were measured at room temperature in the 1.0-4.7 eV energy range. The theoretical simulations of MO and optical properties for the Fe/Si MLF were performed by solving exactly a multireflection problem using the scattering matrix approach assuming various stoichiometries of a nonmagnetic spacer separating the antiferromagnetically coupled Fe layers. The simulated spectra of a model structure of FeSi2 or $\varepsilon$-FeSi as the spacer turned out to fail in explaining the experimental spectra of the Fe/Si MLF in both intensity and shape. Thus, the decisive disagreement between experimental and simulated MO and optical properties ruled out the hypothesis of FeSi2 and $\varepsilon$-FeSi as the nonmagnetic spacer. By supposing the spontaneous formation of a metallic ζ-FeSi, a reasonable agreement between experimental and simulated MO and optical spectra was obtained.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권7호
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• pp.1386-1395
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• 2020

High fidelity nuclear reactor fuel assembly simulation using CFD method is an effective way for the structure design and optimization. The validated models and user practice guidelines play critical roles in achieving reliable results in CFD simulations. In this paper, the international benchmark MATiS-H is studied carefully and the best user practice guideline is achieved for the rod bundles simulation. Then a 5 × 5 rod bundles model in the advanced pressurized water reactor (PWR) is established and the detailed three-dimensional thermal-hydraulic characteristics are investigated. The influence of spacer grids and mixing vanes on the flow and hear transfer in rod bundles is revealed. As the coolant flows through the spacer grids and mixing vanes in the rod bundles, the drastic lateral flow would be induced and the pressure drop increases significantly. In addition, the heat transfer is enhanced remarkably due to the strong mixing effects. The calculation results could provide meaningful guidelines for the design of advanced PWR fuel assembly.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.2335-2347
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• 2023

As medical facilities are usually built at urban areas, special concrete aggregates and evaluation methods are needed to optimize the design of concrete walls by balancing density, thickness, material composition, cost, and other factors. Carbon treatment rooms require a high radiation shielding requirement, as the neutron yield from carbon therapy is much higher than the neutron yield of protons. In this case study, the maximum carbon energy is 430 MeV/u and the maximum current is 0.27 nA from a hybrid particle therapy system. Hospital or facility construction should consider this requirement to design a special heavy concrete. In this work, magnetite is adopted as the major aggregate. Density is determined mainly by the major aggregate content of magnetite, and a heavy concrete test block was constructed for structural tests. The compressive strength is 35.7 MPa. The density ranges from 3.65 g/cm³ to 4.14 g/cm³, and the iron mass content ranges from 53.78% to 60.38% from the 12 cored sample measurements. It was found that there is a linear relationship between density and iron content, and mixing impurities should be the major reason leading to the nonuniform element and density distribution. The effect of this nonuniformity on radiation shielding properties for a carbon treatment room is investigated by three groups of Monte Carlo simulations. Higher density dominates to reduce shielding thickness. However, a higher content of high-Z elements will weaken the shielding strength, especially at a lower dose rate threshold and vice versa. The weakened side effect of a high iron content on the shielding property is obvious at 2.5 µSv=h. Therefore, we should not blindly pursue high Z content in engineering. If the thickness is constrained to 2 m, then the density can be reduced to 3.3 g/cm³, which will save cost by reducing the magnetite composition with 50.44% iron content. If a higher density of 3.9 g/cm³ with 57.65% iron content is selected for construction, then the thickness of the wall can be reduced to 174.2 cm, which will save space for equipment installation.