• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.929-936
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• 2018

A basic characterization of uranium samples was performed using gamma- and X-ray spectroscopy. The studied uranium samples were eight types of certified reference materials with $^{235}U$ enrichments in the range of 1-97%, and the measurements were performed over 24 h using a high-resolution and high-purity planar germanium detector. A general peak analysis of the spectrum and the $XK_{\alpha}$ region of the uranium spectra was carried out by using HyperGam and HyperGam-U, respectively. The standard reference sources were used to calibrate the spectroscopy system. To obtain the absolute detection efficiency, an effective solid angle code, EXVol, was run for each sample. Hence, the peak activities and isotopic activities were determined, and then, the total U content and $^{234}U$, $^{235}U$, and $^{238}U$ isotopic contents were determined and compared with those of the certified reference values. A new method to determine the model age based on the ratio of the activities of $^{223}Ra$ and $^{235}U$ in the sample was studied, and the model age was compared with the known true age. In summary, the present study developed a method for basic characterization of uranium samples by nondestructive gamma-ray spectrometry in 24 h and to obtain information on the sample age.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.233-240
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• 1991

수동적 감마선분석에 의해 U-235의 농축도를 비파괴적으로 측정하였다. 측정차상이 되는 선원은 U-235의 알파붕괴시 방출되는 185.7 keV 감마선이다. 농축도 측정에 영향을 미치는 인자, 즉 시료구성, 시료용기의 두께변화에 따른 감쇠효과, 감마선의 집속 및 검출효율 등을 평가하였다. 최적계측시스템하에서 측정된 상대오차는 95%신뢰구간에서 Tag값과 비교했을 때 감손 UF$_{6}$ 실린더에 대해서는 ~8%, 감손 및 천연 $UO_2$분말에 대해서는 ~8%, ~1%로 각각 나타났다.

• 분석과학
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.460-467
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• 2007

자연계에 존재하는 $^{238}U$, $^{235}U$, $^{232}Th$ 그리고 $^{40}K$의 감마선과 베타선에 대해 토양의 흡수선량을 평가하기 위한 유효 흡수선량 환산인자를 계산하였다. 이 때 감마선과 베타선에 대한 붕괴당 에너지, 반감기, 분기율등의 핵자료들은 National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC)의 최근 자료들을 이용하였다. 본 연구에서 계산한 흡수선량 인자 및 이를 이용하여 얻은 $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ 그리고 $^{40}K$의 베타선과 감마선에 유효흡수선량은 1998년 Aitken의 결과와 비교적 잘 일치하였지만, $^{235}U$의 경우는 많은 차이가 있음을 확인하였다. 한국 충북 청원군 오성에 있는 선사유적지(만수리) 내의 토양에 대해 고 분해능 감마선 분광 분석 장치(HP Ge 검출기)로 지각 방사선의 감마선 스펙트럼을 측정하고, 계산된 유효 흡수선량 환산인자를 이용하여 연간방사선량을 평가하였는데, 연간방사선량이 3.8~5.9 mGy/year으로 평가되었다. 또한 Rn 이하의 붕괴 핵종을 포함하여 연간방사선량을 평가하는 경우와, 이를 포함하지 않고 연간방사선량을 평가하는 경우는 9~30 % 차이를 나타내었다. 이 흡수선량 환산인자로 토양에 존재하는 자연 방사성 동위원소들의 베타선과 감마선에 대한 유효 흡수선량 평가법이 확립하였다.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 1997년도 춘계학술발표회논문집(1)
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• pp.108-113
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• 1997

하나로(HANARO)를 이용하여 핵분열 방법으로 진단용 방사선원인 $^{99m}$ Tc의 모핵종인 Mo-99를 생산할 경우, HEU 및 LEU UO2 표적이 사용될 수 있다. 표적연료로서 HEU(93w/o $^{235}$ U)가 LEU(19.75w/o $^{235}$ U)에 비해 생성수율(Ci/gU)이 높게 나타났으며 제품의 질(quality)을 좌우하는 비방사능(Ci$^{99}$Mo/gMo)은 같게 나타났다. HEU가 같은 Mo-99의 방사능량을 얻기 위해서는 우라늄 장전량이 적어지므로 폐기물측면과 용해측면에서 이득이나 농축도를 고려하면, 큰 이득이 발생하지 않으므로 하나로에 LEU를 사용하는 것도 타당하다 할 수 있다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권2호
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• pp.637-643
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• 2022

Uranium and plutonium are required to be accounted in spent fuel head-end and major recovery area in pyro-process for safeguards purpose. The possibility of neutron resonance technique, as a nondestructive analysis, was simulated on isotopic fissile analysis for large scale process. Neutron resonance technique has advantage to distinguish uranium from plutonium directly in mixture. Simulation was performed on U235 and Pu239 assay in spent fuel and for scoping examination of assembly type. The resonance energies were determined for U235 and Pu239. The linearity in the neutron transmission was examined for the selected resonance energies. In addition, the limit for detection was examined by changing sample density, thickness and content for actual application. Several factors were proposed for neutron production and the moderated neutron source was simulated for effective and efficient transmission measurement. From the simulation results, neutron resonance technique is promising to analyze U235 and Pu239 for spent fuel assembly. An accurate fissile assay will contribute to an increased safeguards for the pyro-processing system and international credibility on the reuse of fissile materials in the fuel cycle.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.444-450
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• 2024

Based on multiple measurements of ionization loss, the Time Projection Chamber (TPC) combines strong tracking ability with particle identification ability in a large momentum range, which is an important advantage of TPC detection technology over traditional ionization measurement technology. According to these two characteristics of TPC, applying it to the measurement of fission cross-section can greatly improve the measurement accuracy. During the measurement of the fission cross-section, the number of target nuclei is required to be accurately measured. So this paper introduces a method for measuring the number of ²³⁵U target nuclei using a fission TPC system. The measurement result agrees with the reference value, and relative error is around 1 %.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.235-246
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• 2023

Neutron resonance transmission technique was applied for assaying isotopic fissile materials produced in the pyro-process. In each process of the pyro-process, a different composition of the fissile material is produced. Simulation was basically performed on ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu assay for TRU-RE product, hull waste, and uranium addition. The resonance energies were evaluated for uranium and plutonium in the simulation, and the linearity in the detection response was examined on the fissile content variation. The linear resonance energies were determined for the analysis of ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu on the different fissile materials. For enriched TRU-RE assay, the sample condition was suggested; The sample density, content, and thickness are the key factors to obtain accurate fissile content. The detection signal is discriminated for uranium and plutonium in neutron resonance technique. The transmitted signal for fissile resonance has a direct relation with the content of fissile. The simulation results indicated that the neutron resonance technique is promising to analyze ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu for various types of the pyro-process material. An accurate fissile assay will contribute toward safeguarding the pyro-processing system.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.53-59
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• 2004

방사성핵종의 특성, 섭취형태 그리고 내부피폭 감시주기는 작업자의 방사성핵종 섭취량 및 내부피폭선량 평가 결과에 중요한 영향을 줄 수 있다. 따라서 방사성핵종이 흡입섭취 될 경우 섭취형태(급성 또는 만성) 및 내부피폭 감시주기에 따른 섭취량 평가 오차를 계산하였다. 섭취 핵종으로는 $^{125}$/I(Type F), $^{137}$Cs(Type F), $^{235}$ U(Type M, Type S)를 고려하였고, 방사능입자크기(AMAD)는 1 $\mu\textrm{m}$와 5 $\mu\textrm{m}$를 고려하였다. 섭취형태에 따라 평가된 섭취량의 상대오차는 방사성핵종, 흡수형태 그리고 내부피폭 감시주기에 따라 달랐으나, 입자크기에 의한 영향은 거의 없었다. 섭취형태 가정에 따른 섭취량 평가 오차를 10% 미만으로 줄일 수 있는 내부피폭 최대감시주기는 $^{125}$/I(Type F)에 대해 60일, $^{137}$Cs(Type F)에 대해 180일, $^{235}$ U(Type M)에 대해 90일, 그리고 $^{235}$ U(Type S)에 대해 360일로 나타났다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권12호
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• pp.2867-2873
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• 2020

In reprocessed uranium, derived from an impoverished fuel of light-water moderated reactors, there are isotopes of ^{232, 234, 236}U, which make its recycling remarkably difficult. A method of concentration of ²³⁵U target isotope in cascade's additional product was proposed to recover the isotopic composition of reprocessed uranium. A general calculation procedure is presented and a parameters' optimization of multi-flow cascades with additional products. For the first time a numeric model of a cascade that uses the cuts of partial flows of stages with relatively high separation factors was applied in this procedure. A novel computing experiment is carried out on separation of reprocessed uranium hexafluoride with providing a high concentration of ²³⁵U in cascade's additional product with subsequent dilution. The parameters of cascades' stages are determined so as to allow reducing the ^{232, 234, 236}U isotope content up to the acceptable. It was demonstrated that the dilution of selected products by the natural waste makes it possible to receive a low enriched uranium hexafluoride that meets the ASTM C996-15 specification for commercial grade.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.899-906
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• 2018

The irradiation performance of $U_3Si$ dispersion fuel in an Al matrix, $U_3Si-Al$, under the Hi-Flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor (HANARO) design full-power condition of 30 MW was tested for full-power qualification of the fuel. A test assembly was fabricated containing 18 fuel rods made with atomized $U_3Si$ powder manufactured at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The test assembly was irradiated for 188 full-power operation days in the HANARO subject to the normal fuel-loading scheme and achieved about 60 at% U-235 average burnup and 75 at% U-235 peak burnup. The maximum linear power of the test assembly was 98 kW/m. Nondestructive and destructive postirradiation examinations were conducted. The measured postirradiation examination data were compared with data from previous irradiations and the design criteria required for HANARO fuel. Consequently, it was concluded that in-pile performance was acceptable and fuel integrity was maintained, and the behavior satisfied the fuel design requirements.