• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.281-299
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• 2017

The inventory management of radionuclides is essential for the safe management of disposal facilities. In this study, we compared the activity of dry active waste predicted using the generated waste data and that measured for the accepted waste in the disposal facility. For very low level waste, the measured activity was higher than the predicted activity for $^{137}CS$, $^{90}Sr$, $^{99}Tc$ and $^{129}I$. In low level waste, the predicted activity was higher than the measured activity for all radionuclides. We also evaluated the variation in the predicted quantity and total activity of each level of dry active waste through a sensitivity analysis on a scaling factor. This result will contribute to the construction of a Safety Case and safe operation of disposal facilities.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.313-317
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• 2018

Licenses for the storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and vitrified highly active waste in casks under dry conditions are limited to 40 years and have to be renewed for prolonged storage periods. If such a license renewal has to be expected since as in accordance with the new site selection procedure a final repository for spent fuel in Germany will not be available before the year 2050. For transport and possible unloading and loading in new casks for final storage, the integrity and the maintenance of the geometry of the cask's inventory is essential because the SNF rod cladding and the cladding of the vitrified highly active waste are stipulated as a barrier in the storage concept. For SNF, the cladding integrity is ensured currently by limiting the hoop stress and hoop strain as well as the maximum temperature to certain values for a 40-year storage period. For a prolonged storage period, other cladding degradation mechanisms such as inner and outer oxide layer formation, hydrogen pick up, irradiation damages in cladding material crystal structure, helium production from alpha decay, and long-term fission gas release may become leading effects driving degradation mechanisms that have to be discussed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.2418-2426
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• 2022

The grouping analysis is a method guided by the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency for efficient analysis of radioactive waste for disposal. In this study, experiments to verify the adequacy of grouping analysis were conducted with radioactive soil, concrete, and dry active waste in similar environments. First, analysis results of the major radionuclide concentrations in individual waste samples were reviewed to evaluate whether wastes from similar environments correspond to a single waste stream. As a result, the soil and concrete waste were identified as a single waste stream because the distribution range of radionuclide concentrations was "within a factor of 10", the range that meet the criterion of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a single waste stream. On the other hand, the dry active waste was judged to correspond to distinct waste streams. Second, after analyzing the composite samples prepared by grouping the individual samples, the population means of the values of "composite sample analysis results/individual sample analysis results" were estimated at a 95% confidence level. The results showed that all evaluation values for soil and concrete waste were within the set reference values (0.1-10) when five-package and ten-package grouping analyses were conducted, verifying the adequacy of the grouping analysis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.355-364
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• 2001

In order to evaluate and finally optimize the vitrification condition for combustible dry active waste (DAW), dust and gas generation characteristics were investigated for PE, cellulose, and mixed waste Tests were conducted by varying the operation variables such as melter configuration, excess oxygen amount, and waste feeding rate. Results showed that dust generation characteristics were affected by the operation parameters and the melter＇s configuration is the dominant one. For all tested DAWs, dust generation was reduced by increasing the waste feeding rate and the excessive oxygen amount in the melter. Among waste types, dust amount was decreased by the order of mixed wastes, PE, and cellulose. Other parameters such as temperature variation and operation time have also affected the dust generation. The optimum condition for the DAW vitrification was determined as the melter＇s configuration equipped for minimizing the waste dispersion with 20 kg/h of waste feeding rate and 100% of excessive oxygen supply. CO gas concentration in the off-gas was immediately influenced by the combustion state in the melter, but showed similar trend as the dust generation. For the NOx production during the vitrification process, thermal NOx, which is generated from the Post Combustion Chamber (PCC), rather than fuel NOx was assumed to be dominant. The gas cleaning of efficiencies of the PCC, wet scrubber, and Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) were found to be high enough to keep the concentration of pollutants (CO, NOx, SOx, HCI) in the stack below their relevant emission limits.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2017.10a
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• pp.177-178
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• 2017

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 2004

In order to vitrify the combustible dry active waste (DAW) generated from Korean Nuclear Power Plants, a glass formulation development based on waste composition was performed. A borosilicate glass, DG-2, was formulated to vitrify the DAW in an induction cold crucible melter (CCM). The processability, product performance, and volume reduction effect of the candidate glass were evaluated using a computer code and were measured experimentally in the laboratory and CCM. The glass viscosity and electrical conductivity as the process parameters were in the desired ranges. Start-up and maintaining glass melt of the candidate glass were favorable in the CCM. The product of the glass product such as chemical durability, phase stability, and density was satisfactory. The vitrification process using the candidate glass was also evaluated assuming that it was operated as economically as possible.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.267-270
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• 2021

Long-term experiments have been conducted on two important safety issues: long-term durability of a concrete barrier with the steel reinforcements and gas generation from low-and intermediate-level wastes in an underground research tunnel of a radioactive waste disposal facility. The gas generation and microbial communities were monitored from waste packages (200 L and 320 L) containing simulated dry active wastes. In the concrete experiment, corrosion sensors were installed on the steel reinforcements which were embedded 10 cm below the surface of concrete in a concrete mock-up, and groundwater was fed into the mock-up at a pressure of 2.1 bars to accelerate groundwater infiltration. No clear evidence was observed with respect to corrosion initiation of the steel reinforcement for 4 years of operation. This is attributed to the high integrity and low hydraulic conductivity of the concrete. In the gas generation experiment, significant levels of gas generation were not measured for 4 years. These experiments are expected to be conducted for a period of more than 10 years.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.523-530
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• 2005

In this study, maximum exposure rate at DAW(Dry Active Waste) drum surface which is satisfying regulation limit was calculated for conceptual design of IP(Industrial Package). DAW can be classified as combustible and non-combustible waste and the calculation was conducted for single and mixed radionuclide for each type of waste. In case of combustible waste that mixed radionuclide is uniformly distributed, the maximum exposure rates at drum surface were 3.60E-01, 8.85E-01 and 1.27E+01 mSv/hr for IP Type 1, 2-a and 2-b, respectively. and 3.60E-01, 8.85E-01, 1.27E+01 mSv/hr for single radionuclide(Co-60). In case of non-combustible waste that mixed radionuclide is uniformly distributed, the maximum exposure rates at drum surface were 7.14E-01, 1.83E+00, 2.69E+01 mSv/hr for IP Type 1, 2-a and 2-b, respectively. and 7.13E-01, 1.81E-01, 2.62E+01 mSv/hr for single radionuclide(Co-60). Through this study, the maximum amount of DAW can be transported by IP was suggested as maximum exposure rate at drum surface and the calculation for the other types of waste will be conducted.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.218-228
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• 1997

Correlations between the amount of DAW (Dry Active Waste) generated from present Korean PWRs and their operating parameters were analyzed. As the result of multi-variable linear regressions, a model predicting the volume of DAW using the number of shutdowns ( $f_{FS}$ ) and total personnel exposure ( $P_{\varepsilon}$) was derived. Considering one standard error bound, the model could successfully simulate about 8575 of the real data. In order to predict the amount of DAW to be generated from a KNGR another model was derived by taking into account the additional volume reduction by supercompaction system. In addition, the volume of WAW (Wet Active Waste) to be generated from KNGR (Korean Next Generation Reactor) was calculated by considering conceptual design data and replacement effect of radwaste evaporator with selective ion exchangers. Finally, total volume of SRW (Solid Radioactive Waste) to be generated from KNGR was predicted by inserting design goal values of $f_{FS}$ and $P_{\varepsilon}$ into the model. The result showed that the expected amount of SRW to be generated from KNGR would be in the range of 33~44㎥. $y^{-1}$ . It was proved that the value would meet the operational target of KNGR proposed by KEPCO, that is, 50㎥. $y^{-1}$ .

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.411-417
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• 2023

During the operation of a nuclear power plant (NPP), the generation of radioactive waste, including dry active waste (DAW), concentrates, spent resin, and filters, mandates the implementation of appropriate disposal methods to adhere to Korea's waste acceptance criteria (WAC). In this context, this study investigates the potential use of polymer concrete (PC) as a high-integrity container (HIC) material for solidifying and packaging these waste materials. PC is a versatile composite material comprising binding polymers, aggregates, and additives, known for its exceptional strength and chemical stability. A comprehensive analysis of PC's long-term integrity was conducted in this study. First, its compressive strength, which is crucial for ensuring the structural stability of HICs over extended periods, was evaluated. Subsequently, the resilience of PC was tested under various stress conditions, including biological, radiological, thermal, and chemical stressors. The findings of this study indicate that PC exhibits remarkable long-term properties, demonstrating exceptional stability even when subjected to diverse stressors. The results therefore underscore the potential viability of PC as a reliable material for constructing high-integrity containers, thus contributing to the safe and sustainable management of radioactive waste in NPPs.