• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 2011

This paper describes several current research activities and the field techniques for the prevention of human errors during the operation of nuclear power plants(NPPs). The human aspects such as 'fitness for the duties', 'job competence and suitability', 'types of communication', 'behaviors of field workers', 'teamwork of main control room crews', 'task procedures', etc. have been investigated for improving the performance of operating personnel in NPPs. We decide to develop a set of the complementary techniques for the reduction of human errors. The set of techniques developed includes teamwork criteria, jobs fitness analysis, procedure enhancement guide, 3-way communication, campaign posters, a behavior based safety program, a procedure guideline, and a task hazard identification method for the field practitioners in NPPs. These can offer a set of significant human error countermeasures to be considered for analyzing and reducing human error in NPPs as well as other fields of industry.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.59-68
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• 2015

PURPOSES : This study suggests the application of glow line marking technology for reducing traffic accidents at nighttime. METHODS : In this study, using a statistical analysis, we analyzed the characteristics of traffic accidents occurring at nighttime. Next, the strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) factors were derived based on a current-status analysis of glow line marking technology and road environments. An SO strategy, ST strategy, WO strategy, and WT strategy were established in accordance with the four SWOT factors. RESULTS : This study suggests that the following strategies should be promoted to apply glow line marking technology to a road environment: 1) an activation strategy for the technological development of glow line markings for a new paradigm in reducing traffic accidents, 2) a benefit enhancement strategy applying glow line marking technology in places where nighttime traffic accidents frequently occur, 3) a strategy for the expansion of glow line marking by replacing streetlights, and 4) a strategy for enhancing road applications through the development of various line marking methods in consideration of both performance and costs. CONCLUSIONS : The application of glow line markings in a road environment can contribute to a reduction of traffic accidents at nighttime, and aid energy savings from the replacement of streetlights.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.158-163
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• 2013

While job stress evaluations are reported in the recent surveys upon the nuclear power plants(NPPs), any significant advance in the types of questionnaires is not currently found. There are limitations to their usefulness as analytic tools for the management of safety resources in NPPs. Data mining(DM) has emerged as one of the key features for data computing and analysis to conduct a survey analysis. There are still limitations to its capability such as dimensionality associated with many survey questions and quality of information. Even though some survey methods may have significant advantages, often these methods do not provide enough evidence of causal relationships and the statistical inferences among a large number of input factors and responses. In order to address these limitations on the data computing and analysis capabilities, we propose an advanced procedure of survey analysis incorporating the DM method into a statistical analysis. The DM method can reduce dimensionality of risk factors, but DM method may not discuss the robustness of solutions, either by considering data preprocesses for outliers and missing values, or by considering uncontrollable noise factors. We propose three steps to address these limitations. The first step shows data mining with response surface method(RSM), to deal with specific situations by creating a new method called response surface data mining(RSDM). The second step follows the RSDM with detailed statistical relationships between the risk factors and the response of interest, and shows the demonstration the proposed RSDM can effectively find significant physical, psycho-social, and environmental risk factors by reducing the dimensionality with the process providing detailed statistical inferences. The final step suggest a robust stress management system which effectively manage job stress of the workers in NPPs as a part of a safety resource management using the surrogate variable concept.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.276-285
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• 2010

Recently the Korean government has tried to cut down the $PM_{10}$ concentration by the Special Law for Air Quality Improvement. But the concentrations of $PM_{10}$ have exceeded the air quality standard at most monitoring stations. Primary $PM_{10}$ emitted from various sources and emission data have large uncertainty. The biomass burning is one of the major sources of $PM_{10}$ emission. The biomass burning is composed of wood stove usage, meat cooking and agricultural combustion etc.. Activity data and emission factors for the biomass burning are limited, and it is hard to calculate the air pollution emissions from these sources. In this study, we tried to estimate the air pollution emission from residential wood stove usage. The number of total wood stoves is estimated by the survey of wood stove manufacturer. And air pollution emission factors for the wood stove are investigated using the flue gas measurement by U.S. EPA particulate test method (Method 5G). As the results, the $PM_{10}$ and CO emission factors of wood stove are estimated as 7.7 g/kg-wood and 78.8 g/kg-wood respectively. The annual $PM_{10}$ and CO emissions from wood stove are calculated as 1,200~3,600 ton/year and 12,600~36,400 ton/year in Korea. It is confirmed that wood stove is the one of major sources of biomass burning, and the survey for activity data and the measurement for emission factors are needed for reducing the uncertainty of these emission data.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.114-128
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• 2016

The development of operational performance indicators is of utmost importance for nuclear power plants, since they measure, track, and trend plant operation. Leading indicators are ideal for reducing the likelihood of consequential events. This paper describes the operational data analysis of the information contained in the Corrective Action Program. The methodology considers human error and organizational factors because of their large contribution to consequential events. The results include a tool developed from the data to be used for the identification, prediction, and reduction of the likelihood of significant consequential events. This tool is based on the resilience curve that was built from the plant's operational data. The stress is described by the number of unresolved condition reports. The strain is represented by the number of preventive maintenance tasks and other periodic work activities (i.e., baseline activities), as well as, closing open corrective actions assigned to different departments to resolve the condition reports (i.e., corrective action workload). Beyond the identified resilience threshold, the stress exceeds the station's ability to operate successfully and there is an increased likelihood that a consequential event will occur. A performance indicator is proposed to reduce the likelihood of consequential events at nuclear power plants.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.892-897
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• 2017

Until now, it has been for choosing most economic result to be generally used for designing remote MicroGrid (MG) system. It is able to make economic benefit by reducing operation cost, but proportion of renewable energy will be minimum. In other words, it is difficult to get an effect by renewable energy because economic feasibility is an only consideration. Therefore, various factors should be considered and design objectives should be are diversified to design proper remote MG system. In this paper, remote MG system is classified into two types according to design objectives, and they are analysed through case study based on economic evaluation. In addition, economic feasibility for each type is analysed through sensitivity analysis according to various factors that affect the design results of the system.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2015

Pipe vibration caused great threat to the safety in production. Strong pipeline vibration will line accessories, especially the joints and pipe fittings etc. pipe joints loosening and rupture, causing serious accidents. By the action of the compressor constant fluid flow within the pipe, this process produces pulsating fluid flow may cause vibration of the pipe, thereby reducing the efficiency of the pipeline, structural vibration induced fatigue, thereby resulting in even piping structural damage. This paper studies on the vibration problems caused by fluid, by analyzing the causes of pipeline vibration and factors affecting pipeline vibrations, FEM (Finite Element Method) analysis of modal and enforced vibration.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.663-672
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• 2007

The mutual separation behavior of actinides and rare earths in a countercurrent multistage reductive extraction system was predicted by computer calculation. The distribution information for actinides and rare earths in the reductive extraction systems of LiCl-KCl/Cd and LiCl-KCl/Bi was collected from literature and then it was used for the calculation of a multistage extraction. The results of the concentration profiles throughout the extraction cascade, recovery yields of various metal solutes, and separation factors between the actinides and rare earths were calculated. The effects of the major process parameters, such as reducing agent content in the metal phase, number of stages, and salt/metal flow ratio, etc., on the extraction behavior were also examined.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.120-130
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• 2023

PEMFC has high potential for future development due to its high energy density, eco-friendliness, and high energy efficiency. When it becomes small, light and flexible, it can be competitive as an energy source for portable devices or flexible electronic devices. However, the use of hard and heavy materials for structural rigidity and uniform contact pressure transmission has become an obstacle to reducing the weight and flexibility of PEMFCs. This review intends to provide an example of the application of a new structure and material for lightweight and flexibility. As a lightweight PEMFC, a tubular design is presented and structural advantages through numerical modeling are explained. Manufacturing methods to realize the structural advantages and possibilities of tubular PEMFCs are discussed. In addition, the materials and manufacturing processes used to fabricate lightweight and flexible PEMFCs are described and factors affecting performance are analyzed. Strategies and structural improvements of light and flexible movements are discussed according to the component parts.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.11-23
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• 2020

The application of the high-performance insulation materials for buildings seems to be an essential measure for reducing energy use in buildings. Phenolic foam is a readily available insulation material with thermal conductivity of about 0.018 to 0.020 W/(mK). It has the advantage of higher thermal resistance and better fire resistance compared to other conventional building insulation materials. Insulation material used for building envelope is regarded as one of the decisive factors for building's energy load. Furthermore, the degradation of its thermal performance over time increasingly affects the building's energy use demand. Generally, the life span of conventionally built buildings is expected to be more than 50 years, so the long-term performance of insulation materials is critical. This paper aims to evaluate the long-term performance of phenolic form boards through an accelerated aging test. The tests were conducted according to BS EN 13166 and KS M ISO 11561. Based on the results of the accelerated aging test, the thermal performance variation of the material was analyzed, and then its aged value after 25 years was computed. Also, the characteristics of the phenolic foam board's long-term performance were also examined based on the standard testing methods adopted.