• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2010

Uranium deposits from an electrorefining process contain about 30% salt. In order to recover pure uranium and transform it into an ingot, the salts have to be removed from the uranium deposits. Major process variables for the salt distillation process of the uranium deposits are hold temperature and vacuum pressure. Effects of the variables on the salt removal efficiency were studied in the previous study[1]. By applying the Hertz-Langmuir relation to the salt evaporation of the uranium deposits, the evaporation coefficients were obtained at the various conditions. The operational conditions for achieving above 99% salt removal were deduced. The salt distilled uranium deposits tend to form the eutectic melt with iron, nickel, chromium for structural material of salt evaporator. In this study, we investigated the hold temperature limitation in order to prevent the formation of the eutetic melt between urnaium and other metals. The reactions between the uranium metal and stainless steel were tested at various conditions. And for enhancing the evaporation rate of the salt and the efficient recovery of the distilled salt, the thermal analysis of the salt distiller was conducted by using commercial CFX software. From the thermal analysis, the effect of Ar gas flow on the evaporation of the salt was studied.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 2017

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has developed a safeguards technology for pyroprocessing based on the Safeguards-By-Design (SBD) concept. KAERI took part in a Member-State Support Program (MSSP) to establish a pyroprocessing safeguards approach. A Reference Engineering-scale Pyroprocessing Facility (REPF) concept was designed on which KAERI developed its safeguards system. Recently the REPF is being upgraded to the REPF+, a scaled-up facility. For assessment of the nuclear-material accountancy (NMA) system, KAERI has developed a simulation program named Pyroprocessing Material Flow and MUF Uncertainty Simulation (PYMUS). The PYMUS is currently being upgraded to include a Near-Real-Time Accountancy (NRTA) statistical analysis function. The Advanced Spent Fuel Conditioning Process Safeguards Neutron Counter (ASNC) has been updated as Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) equipment for input-material accountancy, and a Hybrid Induced-fission-based Pu-Accounting Instrument (HIPAI) has been developed for the NMA of uranium/transuranic (U/TRU) ingots. Currently, performance testing of Compton-suppressed Gamma-ray measurement, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), and homogenization sampling are underway. These efforts will provide an essential basis for the realization of an advanced nuclear-fuel cycle in the ROK.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.310-316
• /
• 2012

The chromaticity of polyethylene glycol (PEG) generated from the recyling of a silicone slurry waste was improved by using activated carbon powder and a carbon filter. The color change of the PEG waste was investigated by changing the amount of adsorbent, adsorption time and temperature. The surface area of activated carbon did not have a significant impact on improving the color of the PEG waste. According to the results for the APHA color variation of the PEG waste changing the amount of the carbon adsorbent, the optimal usage to achieve the low APHA value was 100~150 mg-C/g-PEG. From the investigatnion on the effect of the adsorption temperature range from $25^{\circ}C$ to $100^{\circ}C$, it was found that the optimal temperatures were $40{\sim}50^{\circ}C$ in terms of achieving the lowest APHA value. The variation of the APHA color was investigated by changing the operation condition of the activated carbon filters. The use of ACF was a good way to enhance the chromaticity of the PEG waste. As a result, the APHA value of the PEG waste (APHA=53 at the initial waste) was reduced to be 10 through the ACF purification. It was also confirmed that the performance of the used carbon adsorbent can be recovered by the washing with purified water.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.62-68
• /
• 2015

The high pure tin production was conducted from crude-tin containing waste solder by electro-refining process. The electro-refining process maintained at 0.2V produced tin with purity of 99.98%, whereas a little increase of voltage to 0.3 V resulted tin purity of 99.92%. The high pure tin of 3N in the present process was produced by fixing the voltage at 0.3V. Considering the high pure tin production, the current density was maintained within $100-120A/m^2$ with current efficiency of 94%. Addition of sulfuric acid of 20 ~ 25 g/L to the electrolyte solution was performed in order to keep Pb (lead) concentration below 100 mg/L in the final tin product. The anode slime generated during electro refining process was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) study to understand the phases of impurities in it. It detected the presence of Cu and Ag in the slime as in the form of $Cu_6Sn_5$, $Ag_3Sn$, whereas Pb occurred as $PbSO_4$ compound.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.465-472
• /
• 2017

The ingot fabrication conditions related with the thermal shock bearing phase and microstructure have investigated for the rare earth zirconate ceramic material, lanthanum gadolinium zirconate, as a thermal barrier coating using electron beam evaporation method. The thermal shock resistance of the prepared ingot was evaluated by high energy electron beam irradiation. The rare earth zirconate ceramic powder was prepared by controlling the raw material powder composition of $La_2O_3$, $Gd_2O_3$ and $ZrO_2$ so as to have a composition of $(La_{0.3}Gd_{0.7})_2Zr_2O_7$ which was selected from the former study. Ingot samples were prepared under two conditions. The first condition is prepared by sintering the prepared powder mixture to form an ingot. The second condition is prepared by calcining the prepared powder mixture to form a composite phase and then sintering to form an ingot. X-ray diffraction(XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) were used to analyze phase forming behavior and microstructure of ingot samples. Nanoindentation method used to obtain elastic modulus and hardness of each ingot specimen. Also the stress distribution of ingot was simulated by using FEM method assuming the ingot surface was exposed to electron beam. As a results, in the case of an ingot having a network-shaped microstructure in which relatively coarse pores are included, it seems that the thermal shock resistance was higher than in the case of an ingot having a microstructure composed of relatively fine grains only or particles with the similar level size when the high energy electron beam irradiation.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.60-65
• /
• 2012

The Ti-6Al-4V alloys were prepared by recycling of dental Ti pure scraps using vacuum arc melting process, and their physical properties were evaluated the Ti-6Al-4V alloys with different oxygen concentrations. For the preparation of Ti-6Al-4V alloys, Ti pure scraps used for dental implant were utilized as a raw material, and their different oxygen concentrations were ranged from G1 to G4 grade in ASTM standards. It was confirmed that the weight loss of Al in the composition of Ti-6Al-4V alloy could be controlled under the Ar pressure of 875 torr during the melting of alloy. The oxygen concentrations of the Ti-6Al-4V alloys were ranged from 1170 to 3340 ppm. The vickers hardness change of the Ti-6Al-4V alloys showed a similar behavior with that of pure Ti. As a result, we confirmed a possibility of preparation of Ti-6Al-4V alloy by recycling of dental Ti scraps using vacuum arc melting process in this study.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.3-14
• /
• 2020

Titanium sponge is industrially produced by the Kroll process. In order to understand the importance of the emerging smelting and recycling process, it is necessary to review the conventional production process of titanium. Therefore this paper provides a general overview of the conventional titanium manufacturing system mainly by the Kroll process. The Kroll process can be divided into four sub-processes as follows: (1) Chlorination of raw TiO₂ with coke, by the fluidized bed chlorination or molten salt chlorination (2) Magnesium reduction of TiCl₄ and vacuum distillation of MgCl₂ and Mg by reverse U-type or I-type with reduction-distillation integrated retorts (3) Electrolysis process of MgCl₂ by monopolar cells or multipolar cells to electrolyze into chlorine gas and Mg. (4) Crushing and melting process in which sponge titanium is crushed and then melted in a vacuum arc furnace or an electron beam furnace Although the apparatus and procedures have improved over the past 80 years, the Kroll process is the costly and time-consuming batch operation for the reduction of TiCl₄ and the separation of MgCl₂.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.128-135
• /
• 2022

The inside of a quartz glass crucible for semiconductor processing, called a transparent layer, is manufactured using synthetic silica powder. Bubbles existing in the transparent layer of the crucible cause a problem of reducing the quality of the crucible as well as the yield of the silicon ingot. Therefore, the main goal of the synthetic silica powder, which is the raw material of the transparent layer, is to minimize the bubble generation factor. For this purpose, in the case of synthetic silica powder, it is necessary to minimize silanol groups, carbon and pores. In this study, synthetic silica gel was prepared using the sol-gel method, and changes in carbon content and specific surface area were investigated according to calcination temperature and dwelled time in a two-stage calcination process. The first-stage calcination process was performed between 500℃ and 600℃ and the second-stage calcination process was performed between 1000℃ and 1100℃. The dwelled time was carried out from 10 minutes to a maximum of 12 hours. The carbon content of the powder calcined at 1000℃ for 1 hour was 0.0031 wt.%, and the specific surface area of the powder calcined at 1100℃ for 12 hours was 16.6 m²/g.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.435-440
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to enhance the thermal conductivity of B₄C/Al composite materials, commonly used in transport/storage containers for spent nuclear fuel, by incorporating both boron carbide (B₄C) and cubic boron nitride(cBN) as reinforcing agents in an aluminum (Al) matrix. The composite materials were successfully manufactured through a stir casting process and practical neutron-absorbing materials were obtained by rolling the fabricated composite ingot. The evaluation of the thermal conductivity of the fabricated composites was carried out because thermal conductivity is critical for neutron absorbing materials. The thermal conductivity measurement results indicated an approximately 3% increase in thermal conductivity under the same volume fraction when compared to composite materials using only B₄C particles. Through neutron absorption cross-sectional area calculations, it was confirmed that the neutron absorption capability decreased to a negligible level. Based on the findings of this study, new design approaches for neutron absorption materials are proposed, contributing to the development of high-performance transport/storage containers.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.21-32
• /
• 2014

This study has analyzed whether the virtuous cycle of value-added between the processes within the company has formed and whether the virtuous ecosystem between the processes within the industry has been built through the analysis of value chain(VC) and value system(VS) targeting the Korean photovoltaic companies. For a study method, after conducting a survey on the companies, a regression analysis was performed on the causal relationship between the process within the VC and VS. Based on the results of the analysis, for the VC of the Korean photovoltaic industry, an increase in the R&D support from the government has led to the increase in the investment of R&D for the related industry, and the increase in the investment of R&D has contributed to the increase in the growth of its productivity, and the growth in the productivity of R&D has influenced the increase in the production of solar products. In addition, the reduction of photovoltaic production cost for the company has influenced the increase of recurring profit margin compared to the sales. However it was shown that the increase in the company's production volume does not contribute to the reduction of production cost. Meanwhile, the increase in recurring profit margin compared to the sales were influencing the increase in the production volume but it was shown that the increase in the company's investment of R&D was not a contributing factor thus it was not included in the virtuous cycle. It was analyzed that the VS was shown not to influence all other processes within the industry except for the module companies where the increase in the recurring profit margin compared to the sales was influenced by the increase in the recurring profit margin compared to the sales of solar cell companies. This shows that the virtuous industrial ecosystem which should be made under the mutual cooperation by the ingot, wafer, solar cell, module and system companies are yet incomplete.