• 한국정밀공학회지
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• 제32권9호
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• pp.815-824
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• 2015

In this study, we conducted the approximate multi-objective optimization of gap sizes of pressurized-water reactor (PWR) annular fuels. To determine the contacting tendency of the inner-outer gaps between the annular fuel pellets and cladding, thermoelastic-plastic-creep (TEPC)analysis of PWR annular fuels was performed, using in-house FE code. For the efficient heat transfer at certain levels of stress, we investigated the tensile, compressive hoop stress and temperature, and optimized the gap sizes using the non-dominant sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). For this, response surface models of objective and constraint functions were generated, using central composite (CCD) and D-optimal design. The accuracy of approximate models was evaluated through $R^2$ value. The obtained optimal solutions by NSGA-II were verified through the TEPC analysis, and we compared the obtained optimum solutions and generated errors from the CCD and D-optimal design. We observed that optimum solutions differ, according to design of experiments (DOE) method.

• 대한기계학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한기계학회 2000년도 춘계학술대회논문집B
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• pp.795-800
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• 2000

A CCFL(Counter Current Flow Limit) test have been performed in narrow annular gaps with large diameter, because it has been confirmed that the CCFL phenomena affected the critical power in hemispherical narrow gap geometries from the SONATA(Simulation Of Naturally Arrested Thermal Attack)-IV (In-Vessel)/VISU(Visualization)-II experiments. The objectives of the CCFL experiments are to investigate the small gap sizes(1, 2mm) effect on CCFL under the large diameter condition and to confirm the findings of the VISU-II study that global dryout in hemispherical narrow gaps was induced by the CCFL. The test section was made of acrylic resin to allow visual observation on the two-phase flow behaviors inside annular gaps. It was observed from visualization that a part of water supplied was accumulated in the upper plenum and a significant increase in the differential pressure across the gap was occurred, which was the definition of the CCFL occurrence in this experimental study. From the experimental results in annular gap with large diameter it can be known that an increase in the differential pressure was not big at small air flow-rates. When the CCFL was occurred, the differential pressure across gaps was increased significantly and a water accumulated in the upper plenum. The occurrence of CCFL was correlated using the Wallis parameter.

• 한국압력기기공학회 논문집
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.36-43
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• 2023

Lots of researches have been conducted on in-vessel retention (IVR) to prevent or mitigate severe accident in nuclear power plants. Various methodologies were proposed and the external reactor vessel cooling was selected as a part of promising IVR strategy. In this study, the strategy is strengthened by enhancing the natural circulation performance through the adoption of insulation in the reactor cavity. A thermal analysis was carried out based on an assumed accident scenario and its results were used as boundary conditions for subsequent seven flow analysis cases. By comparing the natural circulation performance, effects of annular gaps and insulation shapes on the mass flow rate and flow velocity were quantified. The improvement in cooling performance can be reflected in actual design via detailed assessment.