• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.379-382
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• 1999

Background: There are several advantages to the ministernotomy approach. The skin incision is much smaller than the traditional median sternotomy incision. This approach allows the patients to return to normal life more quickly and provide them with good self-image. Material and Method: From April to July 1998, we performed a ministernotomy via lower half sternum in 25 patients. There were 10 males(40%) and 15 females(60%) with a mean age of 30${\pm}$16 years(range 3 to 55 years). The body surface area ranged from 0.58 to 1.9 m2(mean 1.5 to 0.4 m2). A vertical skin incision of 11cm in mean length was made in the midline over the sternum extending inferiorly from the third intercostal space. The sternum was divided vertically in the midline from the xyphoid process to the level of second intercostal space using a standard saw and then transversely to the left(n=17) or to both sides(n=4) of the second intercostal space using an oscillating saw. The sternum was divided vertically only in children (n=4). Result: The ministernotomy was used in 25 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve replacement(n=10), repair of ventricular septal defect(n=4) and atrial septal defect(n=11). There was no significant complication related to ministernotomy. The mean ICU stay time 20 hours. Patient and family acceptance was very high. Conclusion: We concluded that minimally invasive cardiac surgery via ministernotomy can be done safely. These methods may benefit the patients with lesser discomfort, smaller incision, and earlier ICU discharge than the traditional incision.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.733-742
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• 2016

In recent years, gas engines fueled with LNG or synthetic gas have been attracting considerable attention for marine use owing to their potential to facilitate better fuel economy and to reduce emissions. It has been confirmed that gas engines using the Otto cycle, which involves premixed combustion, can satisfy Tier III regulations without the EGR or SCR system. The objective of this study is to acquire simulation technologies for predicting gas engine performances in industrial fields. Using the commercial software BOOST, the simulation is conducted on a gasoline engine rather than a marine engine due to the gasoline engine's easier accessibility. This study consists of two stages. In the first stage published previously, the optimal modeling techniques for representing the behavior of the gas in the intake and exhaust systems were determined. In the current study, we formulated a method to evaluate the combustion and heat transfer processes in the cylinder and to ultimately determine the major performance parameters, given that the analytical model derived from the previous stage has been applied. Through this study, we were able to determine a combustion and heat transfer model and a valve discharge coefficient that are less reliant on empirical data: we were also able to formulate a methodology through which relevant constants are decided. We confirmed that the values of transient cylinder pressure variation, indicated mean effective pressure, and air supply can be successfully predicted using our modeling techniques.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.455-461
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• 2015

A high-pressure fuel pump is a key component in a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine; thus, understanding its flow characteristics is essential for improving the engine power and fuel efficiency. In this study, AMESim, which is a hydraulic analysis program, was used to analyze the performance of the high-pressure fuel pump. However, since AMESim uses a one-dimensional model for the system analysis, it does not accurately analyze the complicated flow characteristics. Thus, Fluent, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, was used to calculate the flow rates and net forces at the intake and discharge ports of the high-pressure fuel pump where turbulent flow occurs. The CFD analysis results for various pressure conditions and valve lifts were used as look-up tables for the AMEsim model. The CFD analysis results complemented the AMEsim results, and thus, improved the accuracy of the performance analysis results for the high-pressure fuel pump.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2008

A thermal-hydraulic integral effect test facility, ATLAS (Advanced Thermal-hydraulic Test Loop for Accident Simulation), has been constructed at KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute). Recently several integral effect tests for the reflood period of a LBLOCA (Large Break LOss of Coolant Accident) of the APR1400 have been performed with the ATLAS. In the APR1400 a high flow condition is changed to a low flow condition due to an fluidic device during an operation of the SIT. As the self-controlled fluidic device was not installed in the ATLAS, a set of characterization tests was performed to simulate its injection capability from the SIT for the APR1400 simulation. In the ATLAS the required SIT flow rate in the high flow condition was acquired by installing orifices with an optimized flow area to throttle the SIT discharge line and the low flow condition was achieved by changing the opening of the flow control valve in the SIT injection line. The test results showed that the safety injection systems of the ATLAS could simulate the required high and low flow rates of the SIT for the APR1400 simulation efficiently.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.356-367
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• 2018

A series of tests dedicated to station blackout (SBO) accident scenarios have been recently performed at the $Prim{\ddot{a}}rkreislauf-Versuchsanlage$ (primary coolant loop test facility; PKL) facility in the framework of the OECD/NEA PKL-3 project. These investigations address current safety issues related to beyond design basis accident transients with significant core heat up. This work presents a detailed analysis using the best estimate thermal-hydraulic code TRACE (v5.0 Patch4) of different SBO scenarios conducted at the PKL facility; failures of high- and low-pressure safety injection systems together with steam generator (SG) feedwater supply are considered, thus calling for adequate accident management actions and timely implementation of alternative emergency cooling procedures to prevent core meltdown. The presented analysis evaluates the capability of the applied TRACE model of the PKL facility to correctly capture the sequences of events in the different SBO scenarios, namely the SBO tests H2.1, H2.2 run 1 and H2.2 run 2, including symmetric or asymmetric secondary side depressurization, primary side depressurization, accumulator (ACC) injection in the cold legs and secondary side feeding with mobile pump and/or primary side emergency core coolant injection from the fuel pool cooling pump. This study is focused specifically on the prediction of the core exit temperature, which drives the execution of the most relevant accident management actions. This work presents, in particular, the key improvements made to the TRACE model that helped to improve the code predictions, including the modeling of dynamical heat losses, the nodalization of SGs' heat exchanger tubes and the ACCs. Another relevant aspect of this work is to evaluate how well the model simulations of the three different scenarios qualitatively and quantitatively capture the trends and results exhibited by the actual experiments. For instance, how the number of SGs considered for secondary side depressurization affects the heat transfer from primary side; how the discharge capacity of the pressurizer relief valve affects the dynamics of the transient; how ACC initial pressure and nitrogen release affect the grace time between ACC injection and subsequent core heat up; and how well the alternative feeding modes of the secondary and/or primary side with mobile injection pumps affect core quenching and ensure stable long-term core cooling under controlled boiling conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Among the flare systems that handle discharged substances from safety valves, the knockout drum was a key facility for safety, but the installation standards were not clear, so it was necessary to review the standards acceptable to the workplace and regulatory agencies. After investigating the domestic and foreign technical standards of knockout drums and the deficiencies of previous studies, research was first conducted on the degree of mass discharge, the installation location of the intermediate knockout drum, and the effect of changes in the composition of the discharged material. As a result of the study under the process simulation conditions, the gas-liquid separation of the knockout drum was completed in a small amount of less than 7,500kg/hr. However, when more than that was released, the gas-liquid separation effect was small even with the addition of an intermediate knockout drum. In addition, when the composition ratio of the material easily condensed was increased (molar fraction 10%), the gas-liquid separation effect of the knockout drum increased in the case of mass release. The gas-liquid separation effect was analyzed to be greater when the knockout drum was installed adjacent to the stack than the knockout drum was installed adjacent to the process equipment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.6 s.275
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• pp.407-413
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• 2007

Background: The brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level has been reported in some studies to be associated with the occurrence of atrial fbrillation (AF). The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential usefulness of the BNP level as a predictor of the occurrence of postoperative (postop) AF and to assess the relationship of the BNP level with the onset of AF and the restoration of sinus rhythm. Material and Method: From January 1, 2005 to February 28, 2006, 82 patients without a history of atrial arrhythmia that had undergone cardiac surgery were enrolled in the study. Blood samples for plasma BNP were drawn daily for all these patients from the preoperative (preop) day to the 7th postop day. The patient records were reviewed and postop EKGs were checked daily for AF until the time of discharge. Result: Patients were divided into two groups based on development of postop AF. Postoperative AF developed in 26 patients (31.7%). There was no significant statistical difference in age, sex distribution, preop left ventricle ejection fraction, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, or the use of beta blockers between the non-postop AF and postop AF group. More patients in the AF group had undergone valve surgery (39.3% versus 76.9%, p=0.002). The preop left atrium size was significantly larger in the AF patients ($43.8{\pm}10.3 mm$ versus $49.8{\pm}11.5 mm$, p=0.029). The preop plasma BNP levels were higher in the postop AF patients ($144.1{\pm}20.8 pg/mL$ versus $267.5{\pm}68 pg/mL$, p=0.034). In the postop AF group, the plasma BNP level was the highest on the 3rd postop day. Postop AF developed in most patients by the 3rd postop day; restored sinus rhythm developed by the 7th postop day. Conclusion: Elevated plasma BNP levels may lead to the occurrence of postop AF in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Patients who have a high risk of postop AF should be considered for aggressive prophylactic antiarrhythmic therapy.