• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.2743-2759
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• 2020

A detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation analysis model was developed using ANSYS CFX 16.1 and analyzed to simulate the basic design and internal flow characteristics of a 180 MW small modular reactor (SMR) with a natural circulation flow system. To analyze the natural circulation phenomena without a pump for the initial flow generation inside the reactor, the flow characteristics were evaluated for each output assuming various initial powers relative to the critical condition. The eddy phenomenon and the flow imbalance phenomenon at each output were confirmed, and a flow leveling structure under the core was proposed for an optimization of the internal natural circulation flow. In the steady-state analysis, the temperature distribution and heat transfer speed at each position considering an increase in the output power of the core were calculated, and the conceptual design of the SMR had a sufficient thermal margin (31.4 K). A transient model with the output ranging from 0% to 100% was analyzed, and the obtained values were close to the T_hot and T_cold temperature difference value estimated in the conceptual design of the SMR. The K-factor was calculated from the flow analysis data of the CFX model and applied to an analysis model in RELAP5/MOD3.3, the optimal analysis system code for nuclear power plants. The CFX analysis results and RELAP analysis results were evaluated in terms of the internal flow characteristics per core output. The two codes, which model the same nuclear power plant, have different flow analysis schemes but can be used complementarily. In particular, it will be useful to carry out detailed studies of the timing of the steam generator intervention when an SMR is activated. The thermal and hydraulic characteristics of the models that applied porous media to the core & steam generators and the models that embodied the entire detail shape were compared and analyzed. Although there were differences in the ability to analyze detailed flow characteristics at some low powers, it was confirmed that there was no significant difference in the thermal hydraulic characteristics' analysis of the SMR system's conceptual design.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.1280-1286
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• 2023

MgF₂ as a moderator material has been extensively used in the beam shaping assembly (BSA) that plays an important role in the boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Regarded as important for applications, the thermal neutron scattering data of MgF₂ were calculated, based on the phonon expansion model. The structural properties of MgF₂ were researched by the VASP code based on the ab-initio methods. The PHONOPY code was employed to calculate the phonon density of states. Furthermore, the NJOY code was used to calculate the thermal neutron scattering data of MgF₂. The calculated inelastic cross sections plus absorption cross sections are in agreement with the available experimental data. The neutron transport in the BSA has been simulated by using a hybrid Monte-Carlo-Deterministic code NECP-MCX. The results indicated that compared with the calculation of the free gas model, the thermal neutron flux and epithermal neutron flux at the BSA exit port calculated by using the thermal neutron scattering data of MgF₂ were reduced by 27.7% and 8.2%, respectively.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.52-62
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• 2009

This research was carried out to formulate environmentally friendly wood preservatives with okara and to investigate the effects of the acid concentration used for the hydrolysis of okara and salt type on the decay resistance of the preservatives. Okara-based preservatives were formulated with okara hydrolyzates, which were prepared with 0, 1%, and 2% sulfuric acid at $25^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr, and salts such as copper chloride and/or sodium borate. The preservatives were treated into wood blocks by vacuum-pressure method, and then the treated wood blocks were leached in $70^{\circ}C$ hot water for 72 hrs. The fungal treatments of the leached wood blocks were conducted by brown-rot fungus, Tyromyces palustris, and white-rot fungus, Trametes versicolor, to examine the decay resistance of the preservatives. As the acid concentration used for hydrolysis of okara increased, the treat-ability and decay resistance of the preservatives were improved, which the leachability was decreased. Wood blocks treated with the okara/copper or okara/copper/borax, showed very good decay resistance against T. palustris and T. versicolor. However, wood blocks treated with the okara/borax and okara-free preservative solutions, were observed the fungal decay by T. palustris. The optimal conditions for the preparation of okara-based wood preservatives were formulated with okara hydrolyzed with 1% sulfuric acid, copper chloride and borax.