• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권6호
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• pp.2077-2083
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• 2022

In the unlikely event of core disruptive accident in sodium cooled fast reactors, the reactor containment building would be bottled up with sodium and fission product aerosols. The behavior of these aerosols is crucial to estimate the in-containment source term as a part of nuclear reactor safety analysis. In this work, the evolution of sodium aerosol characteristics (mass concentration and size) is simulated using HAARM-S code. The code is based on the method of moments to solve the integro-differential equation. The code is updated to FORTRAN-77 and run in Microsoft FORTRAN PowerStation 4.0 (on Desktop). The sodium aerosol characteristics simulated by HAARM-S code are compared with the measured values at Aerosol Test Facility. The maximum deviation between measured and simulated mass concentrations is 30% at initial period (up to 60 min) and around 50% in the later period. In addition, the influence of humidity on aerosol size growth for two different aerosol mass concentrations is studied. The measured and simulated growth factors of aerosol size (ratio of saturated size to initial size) are found to be matched at reasonable extent. Since sodium is highly reactive with atmospheric constituents, the aerosol growth factor depends on the hygroscopic growth, chemical transformation and density variations besides coagulation. Further, there is a scope for the improvement of the code to estimate the aerosol dynamics in confined environment.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.132-140
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• 2024

In the event of a severe accident in Sodium Cooled Fast Reactors (SFR), the sodium combustion aerosols along with fission product aerosols would migrate to the environment through leak paths of the Reactor Containment Building (RCB) concrete wall under positive pressure. Understanding the characteristics of sodium aerosol transport through concrete leak paths is important as it governs the environmental source term. In this context, experiments are conducted to study the influence of various parameters like pressure, initial mass concentration, leak path diameter, humidity etc., on the transport and deposition of sodium aerosols in straight leak paths of concrete. The leak paths in concrete specimens are prepared by casting and the diameter of the leak path is measured using thermography technique. Aerosol transport experiments are conducted to measure the transported and plugged aerosol mass in the leak paths and corresponding plugging times. The values of differential pressure, aerosol concentration and relative humidity taken for the study are in the ranges 10-15 kPa, 0.65-3.04 g/m³ and 30-90% respectively. These observations are numerically simulated using 1-Dimensional transport equation. The simulated values are compared with the experimental results and reasonable agreement among them is observed. From the safety assessment view of reactor, the approach presented here is conservative as it is with straight leak paths.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권7호
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• pp.2728-2735
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• 2022

The research on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of lead bismuth(LBE) is significant for the thermal-hydraulic calculation, safety analysis and practical application of lead-based fast reactors(LFR). In this paper, a new CFD model is proposed to solve the thermal-hydraulic analysis of LBE. The model includes two parts: turbulent model and turbulent Prandtl, which are the important factors for LBE. In order to find the best model, the experiment data and design of 19-pin hexagonal rod bundle with spacer grid, undertaken at the Karlsruhe Liquid Metal Laboratory (KALLA) are used for CFD calculation. Furthermore, the turbulent model includes SST k - 𝜔 and k - 𝜀; the turbulent Prandtl includes Cheng-Tak and constant (Pr_t =1.5,2.0,2.5,3.0). Among them, the combination between SST k - 𝜔 and Cheng-Tak is more suitable for the experiment. But in the low Pe region, the deviation between the experiment data and CFD result is too much. The reason may be the inlet-effect and when Pe is in a low level, the number of molecular thermal diffusion occupies an absolute advantage, and the buoyancy will enhance. In order to test and verify versatility of the model, the NCCL performed by the Nuclear Thermal-hydraulic Laboratory (Nuthel) of Xi'an Jiao tong University is used for CFD to calculate. This paper provides two verification examples for the new universal model.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.264-276
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• 1981

TRIGA Mark-III 원자로의 핵특성을 실제운전상태와 유사하게 모사할 수 있는 해석절차를 개발하였다. 계산에 사용한 전산코드는 다군중성자확산 연소계산코드인 CITATION이고 채택한 중성자에너지군의 수는 TRIGA형 원자로에서 일반적으로 사용하는 7군(고속영역 3, 열영역 4)이다. 직접적인 3차원 계산이 현실적으로 불가능하므로 평면 2차원계산과 원통형 2차원 계산으로 3차원 효과를 기하였다. 연구로와 같이 노심이 작은 원자로에 대하여는 중성자평형에서 buckling에 의한 효과가 매우 크기 때문에 이를 정확하게 나타내는 방법의 개발에 중점을 두었다. 본 연구에서는 에너지군 또는 영역에 무관한 buckling을 중성자 수송이론으로 산출하는 전형적인 방법을 사용하지 않고 중성자 확산이론으로서 에너지군별, 영역별 buckling을 산출하였으며, 이를 이용하여 수행한 노심계산의 결과는 만족스러웠다. 계산시 노심은 원자로수조의 중앙부에 있는 것으로 하고 제어봉은 완전히 인출되었으며 동위원생산용 조사시료는 없는 것으로 가정하였다. 계산결과로서 연소에 따른 초과반응도가의 변화, 운전이력에 따른 Xe-135 독작용의 변화, 회전조사시료대의 반응도가를 산출하고 이를 실제 운전자료와 비교하였다. 또한 중성자속 및 출력분포, 노심 각 조사시설에서의 중성자 스펙트럼등에 대한 계산결과도 제시하였다.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 1996년도 춘계학술발표회논문집(2)
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• pp.233-240
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• 1996

Analyses of the viscous and end effects on electromagnetic (EM) pumps of annular linear induction type for the sodium coolant circulation in Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactors have been carried out based on the MHD laminar flow analysis and the electromagnetic field theory. A one-dimensional MHD analysis for the liquid metal flowing through an annular channel has been performed on the basis of a simplified model of equivalent current sheets instead of three-phase currents in the discrete primary windings. The calculations show that the developed pressure difference resulted from electromagnetic and viscous forces in the liquid metal is expressed in terms of the slip, and that the viscous loss effects are negligible compared with electromagnetic driving forces except in the low-slip region where the pumps operate with very high flow velocities comparable with the synchronous velocity of the electromagnetic fields, which is not applicable to the practical EM pumps. A two-dimensional electromagnetic field analysis based on an equivalent current sheet model has found the vector potentials in closed form by means of the Fourier transform method. The resultant magnetic fields and driving forces exerted on the liquid metal reveal that the end effects due to finiteness of the pump length are formidable. In addition, a two-dimensional numerical analysis for vector potentials has been performed by the SOR iterative method on a realistic EM pump model with discretely-distributed currents in the primary windings. The numerical computations for the distributions of magnetic fields and developed pressure differences along the pump axial length also show considerable end effects at both inlet and outlet ends, especially at high flow velocities. Calculations of each magnetic force contribution indicate that the end effects are originated from the magnetic force caused by the induced current ( u x B ) generated by the liquid metal movement across the magnetic field rather than the one (E) produced by externally applied magnetic fields by three-phase winding currents. It is concluded that since the influences of the end effects in addition to viscous losses are extensive particularly in high-velocity operations of the EM pumps, it is necessary to find ways to suppress them, such as proper selection of the pump parameters and compensation of the end effects.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권11호
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• pp.2452-2459
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• 2020

Neutron spectrum is essential to the safe operation of reactors. Traditional online neutron spectrum measurement methods still have room to improve accuracy for the application cases of wide energy range. From the application of artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm in spectrum unfolding, its accuracy is difficult to be improved for lacking of enough effective training data. In this paper, an adaptive deviation-resistant neutron spectrum unfolding method based on transfer learning was developed. The model of ANN was trained with thousands of neutron spectra generated with Monte Carlo transport calculation to construct a coarse-grained unfolded spectrum. In order to improve the accuracy of the unfolded spectrum, results of the previous ANN model combined with some specific eigenvalues of the current system were put into the dataset for training the deeper ANN model, and fine-grained unfolded spectrum could be achieved through the deeper ANN model. The method could realize accurate spectrum unfolding while maintaining universality, combined with detectors covering wide energy range, it could improve the accuracy of spectrum measurement methods for wide energy range. This method was verified with a fast neutron reactor BN-600. The mean square error (MSE), average relative deviation (ARD) and spectrum quality (Qs) were selected to evaluate the final results and they all demonstrated that the developed method was much more precise than traditional spectrum unfolding methods.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.678-699
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• 2015

Although the harsh space environment imposes many severe challenges to space pioneers, space exploration is a realistic and profitable goal for long-term humanity survival. One of the viable and promising options to overcome the harsh environment of space is nuclear propulsion. Particularly, the Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) is a leading candidate for nearterm human missions to Mars and beyond due to its relatively high thrust and efficiency. Traditional NTR designs use typically high power reactors with fast or epithermal neutron spectrums to simplify core design and to maximize thrust. In parallel there are a series of new NTR designs with lower thrust and higher efficiency, designed to enhance mission versatility and safety through the use of redundant engines (when used in a clustered engine arrangement) for future commercialization. This paper proposes a new NTR design of the second design philosophy, Korea Advanced NUclear Thermal Engine Rocket (KANUTER), for future space applications. The KANUTER consists of an Extremely High Temperature Gas cooled Reactor (EHTGR) utilizing hydrogen propellant, a propulsion system, and an optional electricity generation system to provide propulsion as well as electricity generation. The innovatively small engine has the characteristics of high efficiency, being compact and lightweight, and bimodal capability. The notable characteristics result from the moderated EHTGR design, uniquely utilizing the integrated fuel element with an ultra heat-resistant carbide fuel, an efficient metal hydride moderator, protectively cooling channels and an individual pressure tube in an all-in-one package. The EHTGR can be bimodally operated in a propulsion mode of $100MW_{th}$ and an electricity generation mode of $100MW_{th}$, equipped with a dynamic energy conversion system. To investigate the design features of the new reactor and to estimate referential engine performance, a preliminary design study in terms of neutronics and thermohydraulics was carried out. The result indicates that the innovative design has great potential for high propellant efficiency and thrust-to-weight of engine ratio, compared with the existing NTR designs. However, the build-up of fission products in fuel has a significant impact on the bimodal operation of the moderated reactor such as xenon-induced dead time. This issue can be overcome by building in excess reactivity and control margin for the reactor design.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권10호
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• pp.3874-3897
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• 2023

A high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model for the lower plenum of the High-Temperature Test Facility (HTTF), a ¼ scale test facility of the modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor (MHTGR) managed by Oregon State University. In most next-generation nuclear reactors, thermal stress due to thermal striping is one of the risks to be curiously considered. This is also true for HTGRs, especially since the exhaust helium gas temperature is high. In order to evaluate these risks and performance, organizations in the United States led by the OECD NEA are conducting a thermal hydraulic code benchmark for HTGR, and the test facility used for this benchmark is HTTF. HTTF can perform experiments in both normal and accident situations and provide high-quality experimental data. However, it is difficult to provide sufficient data for benchmarking through experiments, and there is a problem with the reliability of CFD analysis results based on Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes to analyze thermal hydraulic behavior without verification. To solve this problem, high-fidelity 3-D CFD analysis was performed using the LES model for HTTF. It was also verified that the LES model can properly simulate this jet mixing phenomenon via a unit cell test that provides experimental information. As a result of CFD analysis, the lower the dependency of the sub-grid scale model, the closer to the actual analysis result. In the case of unit cell test CFD analysis and HTTF CFD analysis, the volume-averaged sub-grid scale model dependency was calculated to be 13.0% and 9.16%, respectively. As a result of HTTF analysis, quantitative data of the fluid inside the HTTF lower plenum was provided in this paper. As a result of qualitative analysis, the temperature was highest at the center of the lower plenum, while the temperature fluctuation was highest near the edge of the lower plenum wall. The power spectral density of temperature was analyzed via fast Fourier transform (FFT) for specific points on the center and side of the lower plenum. FFT results did not reveal specific frequency-dominant temperature fluctuations in the center part. It was confirmed that the temperature power spectral density (PSD) at the top increased from the center to the wake. The vortex was visualized using the well-known scalar Q-criterion, and as a result, the closer to the outlet duct, the greater the influence of the mainstream, so that the inflow jet vortex was dissipated and mixed at the top of the lower plenum. Additionally, FFT analysis was performed on the support structure near the corner of the lower plenum with large temperature fluctuations, and as a result, it was confirmed that the temperature fluctuation of the flow did not have a significant effect near the corner wall. In addition, the vortices generated from the lower plenum to the outlet duct were identified in this paper. It is considered that the quantitative and qualitative results presented in this paper will serve as reference data for the benchmark.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제28권11호
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• pp.1180-1185
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• 2006

오염된 퇴적물로부터 인 용출 저감을 위한 최적의 capping 소재를 개발하기 위해 lab-scale 실험을 25 L 아크릴 컬럼을 이용하여 실시하였다. 실험에 사용된 퇴적물 내 입도는 8.8 $\Phi$로 매우 세립한 clay로 조성되어 있으며, 유기탄소 함량($C_{org}$)은 2%로 높다. Batch 실험에 사용된 capping 소재는 Brucite($Mg(OH)_2$), Sea sand($SiO_2$), Granular-gypsum($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$), Double layer(brucite+sand)와 Control을 30일 동안 비교 평가하였다. 실험기간 동안 용출된 인의 flux는 14.6 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 9.5 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 5.2 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 4.2 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 3.1 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$로 Control>Sea sand>Granular-gypsum>Double layer>Brucite 순으로 각각 나타났다. Brucite를 적용한 컬럼의 경우, 인 용출 제어 효율이 70% 이상 높게 나타났으며, Sea sand를 적용한 경우에는 35%의 효율만을 보였다. 특히, Brucite를 적용한 컬럼의 표층 퇴적물내 pH는 $8.0{\sim}9.5$로 다소 높게 유지되었으며, 이러한 효과는 퇴적물을 약알카리성으로 유지하여 황산염환원균이 증식할 수 없는 환경을 조성하여 생물에 독성이 있는 $H_2S$ 발생을 억제시킬 수 있다. Gypsum을 적용할 경우, 퇴적물내 빠른 초기 속성화작용의 진행과 충분한 $SO_4^{2-}$-의 공급으로 methanogenesis 진행를 저하시킬 수 있다. 따라서 Brucite와 Gypsum을 적용할 경우, 퇴적물 내 인의 존재형태가 광물(mineral)의 형태인 $Mg_5(OH)(PO_4)_3$, pyrite, apatite-mineral의 형태로 진행되어 퇴적물로부터 인의 용출을 줄일 수 있다.