UO$_{2}$ 펠릿 산화로의 분말 비산 방지를 위한 최종속도 측정

Measurement of Terminal Velocity for Scatter Prevention of Powder in the Voloxidizer for Oxidation of UO$_{2}$ Pellet

실증용 UO$_{2}$ pellet 산화로의 실증을 위한 제한된 핫셀 공간 안에서 사용후 핵 연료를 취급하는 산화로는 소형화 하여야 하고, 사용후 핵 연료 분말은 UO$_{2}$ pellet 산화로 장치로부터 비산되지 않아야 한다. 본 연구에서는 분말의 최종속도를 구하기 위하여 Stokes식과 밀도비식을 제안하였다. U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ 의 최종속도 SiO$_{2}$ 의 최종속도를 사용하여 예측하였고, 비산방지를 할 수 있는 최적유량을 결정하였다. SiO$_{2}$ 의 이론 최종속도 식을 검증하고, U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ 과 관계식을 예측하기 위하여 아크릴 장치를 만들었다. 목업시설 에 설치 된 산화로에서 제안된 이론최종속도식 인 Stokes식 의 20 L/min과 밀도비식의 14.5 L/min을 적용하여 U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ 분말의 필터감지에 의해 검증하였다. 그 결과 밀도비식에 의한 14.5 L/min은 U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ 이전혀 검출되지 않았고, Stokes식의 20 L/min에서는 평균 7$\mu$m 의 입도분말이 검출되었다. 따라서 UO$_{2}$ pellet 산화로에서 U$_{3}$O$_{8}$이 비산되지 않는 최적유량은 14.5L/min임을 알 수 있었고, 제안된 밀도비식이 바람직함을 알 수 있었다.

A voloxidizer for a hot cell demonstration, that handles spent fuels of a high radiation level in a limited space should be small and spent fuel powders should not be dispersed out of the equipment involved. In this study a density rate equation as well as the Stokes'equation has been proposed in order to obtain the theoretical terminal velocity of powders. The terminal velocity of U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ has been predicted by using the terminal velocity of SiO$_{2}$, and then determination has been the optimum air flow rate which is able to prevent powders from scattering. An equation which has shown a relationship between theoretical terminal velocities of U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ and SiO$_{2}$ has been derived with the help of the Stokes'equation, and then an experimental verification made for the theoretical Stokes' equation of SiO$_{2}$ by means of an experimental device made of acryl. The theoretical terminal velocity based on the proposed density rate equation has been verified by detecting U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ powders in a filter installed in the mock-up voloxidizer. As the results, the optimum air flow rates seem to be 20 LPM by the Stokes'equation while they are 14.5 L/min by the density rate equation. At the experiments with the mock-up voloxidizer, a trace amount of U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ seems to be detectable at the air flow rate of 14.5 L/min by the density rate equation, but U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ powders of 7$\mu$m diameter seem detectable at the air flow rate of 20 L/min by the Stokes'equation. It is revealed that 14.5 L/min is the optimum air flowe rate which is capable of preventing U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ powders from scattering in the UO$_{2}$ voloxidizer and the proposed density rate equation is proper to calculate the terminal velocity of U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ powders.