• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.161-172
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• 2023

Coal-fired power plants handle large quantities of coal, one of the most prominent NORM, and the coal ash produced after the coal is burned can be tens of times more radioactive than the coal. Workers in these industries may be exposed to internal exposure by inhalation of particles while handling NORM. This study evaluated the size, concentration, particle shape and density, and radioactivity concentrations of airborne suspended particles in the main processes of a coal-fired power plant. Finally, the internal radiation dose to workers from particle inhalation was evaluated. For this purpose, airborne particles were collected by size using a multi-stage particle collector to determine the size, shape, and concentration of particles. Samples of coal and coal ash were collected to measure the density and radioactivity of particles. The dose conversion factor and annual radionuclide inhalation amount were derived based on the characteristics of the particles. Finally, the internal radiation dose due to particle inhalation was evaluated. Overall, the internal radiation dose to workers in the main processes of coalfired power plants A and B ranged from 1.47×10^-5~1.12×10^-3 mSv y^-1. Due to the effect of dust generated during loading operations, the internal radiation dose of fly ash loading processes in both coal-fired power plants A and B was higher than that of other processes. In the case of workers in the coal storage yard at power plants A and B, the characteristic values such as particle size, airborne concentration, and working time were the same, but due to the difference in radioactivity concentration and density depending on the origin of the coal, the internal radiation dose by origin was different, and the highest was found when inhaling coal imported from Australia among the five origins. In addition, the main nuclide contributing the most to the internal radiation dose from the main processes in the coal-fired power plants was thorium due to differences in dose conversion factors. However, considering the external radiation dose of workers in coal-fired power plants presented in overseas research cases, the annual effective dose of workers in the main processes of power plants A and B does not exceed 1mSv y^-1, which is the dose limit for the general public notified by the Nuclear Safety Act. The results of this study can be utilized to identify the internal exposure levels of workers in domestic coal-fired power plants and will contribute to the establishment of a data base for a differential safety management system for NORM-handling industries in the future.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.53-63
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• 2008

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), direct decendant of Korea National Astronomy Observatory, has been publishing Korean Astronomical Almanac since in 1976. The almanac contains essential data in our daily lives such as the times of sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset, conversion tables between luni-solar and solar calendars, and so forth. So, we are planning to register Korean astronomical almanac data for national Standard Reference Data(SRD), which is a scientific/technical data whose the reliablity and the accuracy are authorized by scientific analysis and evalution. To be certificated as national SRD, reference data has to satisfy several criteria such as traceability, consistency, uncertainty, and so on. Based on similarity among calculation processes, we classified astronomical almanac data into three groups: Class I, II, and III. We are planning to register them for national SRD in consecutive order. In this study, we analyzed Class I data which is aimed to register in 2009, and presented the results. Firstly, we found that the traceability and the consistency can be ensured by the usage of NASA/JPL DE405 ephemeris and by the comparsion with international data, respectively. To evaluate uncertainty in Class I data, we solved the mathematical model and determined the factors influencing the calculations. As a result, we found that the atmospheric refraction is the main factor and leads to a variation of ${\pm}16$ seconds in the times of sunrise and sunset. We also briefly review the histories of astronomical almanac data and of standard reference data in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1580-1591
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• 2000

This study was conducted to assess the amount of nursing services for psychiatric inpatients and to estimate psychiatric nursing costs by using the RBRVS. Full details of medical services, including physician and nursing services, for psychiatric inpatients were surveyed and data of general characteristics of hospitals and patients were also collected. The cost of nursing activities was estimated by the multiple conversion factor which was drawn from the Korean RBRVS Development Project to the RBRVS score of each nursing activities, which was drawn from the results of Korean Nurses Association (KNA)'s projects about nursing RBRVS development and cost of nursing activities. The data about 89 inpatients from 3 general hospitals with psychiatric departments were analyzed. The total cost of nursing activities for each patient per admission day was from KRW 22,185 to KRW 27,954 by hospital, and KRW 25,220 in average. The percent of nursing cost to the total cost of medical services was from 36% to 48% by characteristics of patients and 41.4% in average. The cost of nursing activities estimated in this study was between the existing NHI fee schedule and the one suggested by KNA. It is considered as appropriate and acceptable level compared to the total amount of medical services. In the process of KNA's activities to get nursing fee in NHI fee schedule, results of additional studies to estimate the cost of nursing activities balanced with total cost of medical services in every departments should be found and utilized.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.1356-1364
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• 2014

A new conjugated copolymer, poly{4,8-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-alt-4,7- bis(5-thiophen-2-yl)-5,6-difluoro-2-(heptadecan-9-yl)-2H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazole} (PTIPSBDT-DFDTBTz), is synthesized by Stille coupling polycondensation. The synthesized polymer has a band gap energy of 1.9 eV, and it absorbs light in the range 300-610 nm. The hole mobility of a solution-processed organic thin-film transistor fabricated using PTIPSBDT-DFDTBTz is $3.8{\times}10^{-3}cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$. Bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells are fabricated, with a conventional device structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:$PC_{71}BM$/Ca/Al ($PC_{71}BM$ = [6,6]-phenyl-$C_{71}$-butyric acid methyl ester); the device shows a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.86% with an open-circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$) of 0.85 V, a short-circuit current density ($J_{sc}$) of 7.60 mA $cm^{-2}$, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.44. Inverted photovoltaic cells with the structure ITO/ethoxylated polyethlyenimine/ polymer:$PC_{71}BM/MoO_3$/Ag are also fabricated; the device exhibits a maximum PCE of 2.92%, with a $V_{oc}$ of 0.89 V, a $J_{sc}$ of 6.81 mA $cm^{-2}$, and an FF of 0.48.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.170-178
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• 2020

Cymbal transducers are often used as an array rather than single because they have a high quality factor and low energy conversion efficiency. When used as an array, there occurs a big change in the frequency characteristics of the array due to the interaction between constituent transducers. In this study, we designed the structure of a cymbal transducer array to have ultra-wideband characteristics using this property. First, cymbal transducers with specific center frequencies were designed. Then, a 2×2 planar array was constructed with the designed transducers, where the cymbal transducers were arranged to have same or opposite polarization directions. For this structure, we analyzed the effect of the difference in the center frequency of and the spacing between the constituent transducers on the acoustical characteristics of the array. Based on the analysis, we designed the structure of the cymbal transducer array to have the widest possible bandwidth.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.793-799
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• 2016

In a hybrid fuel cell system, low-temperature reforming technology, which uses waste heat as a heat source, is applied to improve system efficiency. A low temperature reformer is required to optimize geometry in low thermal conditions so that the reformer can achieve the proper methane conversion rate. This study analyzed internal temperature distributions and the reaction patterns of a reformer by considering the change of the shape factor on the limited heat supply condition. Unlike the case of a high temperature reformer, analysis showed that the reaction of a low temperature reformer takes place primarily in the high temperature region of the reactor exit. In addition, it was confirmed that the efficiency can be improved by reducing the GHSV (gas hourly space velocity) or increasing the heat transfer area in the radial direction. Through reacting characteristic analysis, according to change of the aspect ratio, it was confirmed that a low temperature reformer can improve the efficiency by increasing the heat transfer in the radial direction, rather than in the longitudinal direction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.152-152
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• 2016

We studied the effect of the silver grid size on graphene transparent conducting films for flexible organic solar cells (OSCs). The silver grid was used an assistant layer of the graphene to reduce the sheet resistance of substrates. Silver grid with various graphene sizes for optimizing transmittance and sheet resistance of substrates were fabricated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates to form the hybrid films. The optimized grid geometry on the single layer graphene (SLG) was the grid dimension $200{\mu}m{\times}200{\mu}m{\times}50nm{\times}2{\mu}m$ (length ${\times}$ width ${\times}$ height ${\times}$ linewidth), where the sheet resistance was $55.73{\Omega}/square$ with the average transmittance of ~ 92.83 % at 550 nm. The properties of the OSCs fabricated using SLG with optimized silver grids on PET substrates show a short circuit current of $10.9mA/cm^2$, an open circuit voltage of 0.58 V, a fill factor of 60.8 %, and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.9 %. The PCE was improved about 91% than that of the OSCs using the SLG without the silver grid. These results demonstrate that the optimized grid geometry to the based on the graphene transparent electrodes contribute to improving the performance of OSCs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.308-309
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• 2016

Reducing surface recombination is a critical factor for high efficiency silicon solar cells. The passivation process is for reducing dangling bonds which are carrier. Tunnel oxide layer is one of main issues to achieve a good passivation between silicon wafer and emitter layer. Many research use wet-chemical oxidation or thermally grown which the highest conversion efficiencies have been reported so far. In this study, we deposit ultra-thin tunnel oxide layer by PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) using $N_2O$ plasma. Both side deposit tunnel oxide layer in different RF-power and phosphorus doped a-Si:H layer. After deposit, samples are annealed at $850^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour in $N_2$ gas atmosphere. After annealing, samples are measured lifetime and implied Voc (iVoc) by QSSPC (Quasi-Steady-State Photo Conductance). After measure, samples are annealed at $400^{\circ}C$ for 30 minute in $Ar/H_2$ gas atmosphere and then measure again lifetime and implied VOC. The lifetime is increase after all process also implied VOC. The highest results are lifetime $762{\mu}s$, implied Voc 733 mV at RF-power 200 W. The results of C-V measurement shows that Dit is increase when RF-power increase. Using this optimized tunnel oxide layer is attributed to increase iVoc. As a consequence, the cell efficiency is increased such as tunnel mechanism based solar cell application.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.159-159
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• 2016

Vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (VCNT) have attracted much attention due to their unique structural, mechanical and electronic properties, and possess many advantages for a wide range of multifunctional applications such as field emission displays, heat dissipation and potential energy conversion devices. Surface modification of the VCNT plays a fundamental role to meet specific demands for the applications and control their surface property. Recent studies have been focused on the improvement of the electron emission property and the structural modification of CNTs to enable the mass fabrication, since the VCNT considered as an ideal candidate for various field emission applications such as lamps and flat panel display devices, X-ray tubes, vacuum gauges, and microwave amplifiers. Here, we investigate the effect of surface morphology of the VCNT by water vapor exposure and coating materials on field emission property. VCNT with various height were prepared by thermal chemical vapor deposition: short-length around $200{\mu}m$, medium-length around $500{\mu}m$, and long-length around 1 mm. The surface morphology is modified by water vapor exposure by adjusting exposure time and temperature with ranges from 2 to 10 min and from 60 to 120oC, respectively. Thin films of SiO2 and W are coated on the structure-modified VCNT to confirm the effect of coated materials on field emission properties. As a result, the surface morphology of VCNT dramatically changes with increasing temperature and exposure time. Especially, the shorter VCNT change their surface morphology most rapidly. The difference of field emission property depending on the coating materials is discussed from the point of work function and field concentration factor based on Fowler-Nordheim tunneling.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.35-40
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• 2007

The vertical drain method recently being used in Korea is divided into the sand drain method, the pack drain method, the paper drain method, and the PBD method according to the drainage. However, these methods generate the disturbed zone called the smear zone when the drainage is penetrated into the in-situ ground. The characteristics of the smear zone generated cause the problems that the coefficient of permeability decreases and the consolidation time becomes longer than expected in the design. Although the size of the smear zone is a very important factor directly influencing the degree of consolidation, in the existing studies, the general value for the size of the smear zone proposed has been used in the design. However, the size of the smear zone proposed by the existing studies cause a loss of economical efficiency because of the inaccuracy of the design. Hence, in this study, the characteristics on the size of the smear zone were analyzed by carrying out the three dimensional numerical analysis and the method to determine the conversion size of the smear zone considering the change of the coefficient of permeability was proposed in order to consider the change of the coefficient of permeability in the actual design.