• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.968-976
• /
• 2019

This paper presents a number of verification case studies for a recently developed sensitivity/uncertainty code package. The code package, ROMUSE (Reduced Order Modeling based Uncertainty/Sensitivity Estimator) is an effort to provide an analysis tool to be used in conjunction with reactor core simulators, in particular the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA) core simulator. ROMUSE has been written in C++ and is currently capable of performing various types of parameter perturbations and associated sensitivity analysis, uncertainty quantification, surrogate model construction and subspace analysis. The current version 2.0 has the capability to interface with the Design Analysis Kit for Optimization and Terascale Applications (DAKOTA) code, which gives ROMUSE access to the various algorithms implemented within DAKOTA, most importantly model calibration. The verification study is performed via two basic problems and two reactor physics models. The first problem is used to verify the ROMUSE single physics gradient-based range finding algorithm capability using an abstract quadratic model. The second problem is the Brusselator problem, which is a coupled problem representative of multi-physics problems. This problem is used to test the capability of constructing surrogates via ROMUSE-DAKOTA. Finally, light water reactor pin cell and sodium-cooled fast reactor fuel assembly problems are simulated via SCALE 6.1 to test ROMUSE capability for uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis purposes.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.21 no.7
• /
• pp.1042-1049
• /
• 1997

LMFBR(Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor) vessel is operated under the high temperatures of 500-550.deg. C. Thus, transient thermal loads were severe enough to cause inelastic deformation due to creep-fatigue and plasticity. For reduction of such inelastic deformations, Y-piece structure in the form of a thermal sleeve is used in LMFBR vessel under repeated start-up, service and shut-down conditions. Therefore, a systematic method for inelastic analysis is needed for design of the Y-piece structure subjected to such loading conditions. In the present investigation, finite element analysis of heat transfer and inelastic thermal stress were carried out for the Y-piece structure in LMFBR vessel under service conditions. For such analysis, ABAQUS program was employed based on the elasto-plastic and Chaboche viscoplastic constitutive equations. Based on numerical data obtained from the analysis, creep-fatigue damage estimation according to ASME Code Case N-47 was made and compared to each other. Finally, it was found out that the numerical predictio of damage level due to creep based on Chaboche unified viscoplastic constitutive equation was relatively better compared to elasto-plastic constitutive formulation.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.140-147
• /
• 2017

In this study, we performed numerical simulation for the catalyst regeneration process of diesel desulfurization reactor. We analyzed the changes in regeneration process according to purge gas flow rate, catalyst permeability, reactor size, and heat loss of reactor. We have found that the regeneration process is very much affected by temperature changes whereas it is hardly affected by catalyst permeability and porosity. We also estimated the regeneration time according to purge gas flow rate and initial temperatures and have found that increasing purge gas temperature is more effect for fast regeneration. The present results can be utilized to design a regeneration process of diesel desulfurization reactor for a fuel cell used in ships. Furthermore, the present work also can be used to design low sulfur diesel supply in oil refineries and therefore contribute to the development of clean petrochemical technology.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.1303-1314
• /
• 2016

This work examines the most viable nuclear technology options for future underwater designs that would meet high safety standards as well as good economic potential, for construction in the 2030-2040 timeframe. The top five concepts selected from a survey of 13 nuclear technologies were compared to a small modular pressurized water reactor (PWR) designed with a conventional layout. In order of smallest to largest primary system size where the reactor and all safety systems are contained, the top five designs were: (1) a lead-bismuth fast reactor based on the Russian SVBR-100; (2) a novel organic cooled reactor; (3) an innovative superheated water reactor; (4) a boiling water reactor based on Toshiba's LSBWR; and (5) an integral PWR featuring compact steam generators. A similar study on potential attractive power cycles was also performed. A condensing and recompression supercritical $CO_2$ cycle and a compact steam Rankine cycle were designed. It was found that the hull size required by the reactor, safety systems and power cycle can be significantly reduced (50-80%) with the top five designs compared to the conventional PWR. Based on the qualitative economic consideration, the organic cooled reactor and boiling water reactor designs are expected to be the most cost effective options.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.1279-1288
• /
• 2019

The vortex-type fluidic diode (FD) is a key safety component for inherent safety in various advanced reactors such as the sodium fast reactor (SFR) and the molten salt reactor (MSR). In this study, topology optimization is conducted to optimize the design of the vortex-type fluidic diode. The optimization domain is simplified to 2-dimensional geometry for a tangential port and chamber. As a result, a design with a circular chamber and a restrictor at the tangential port is obtained. To verify the new design, experimental study and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis were conducted for inlet Reynolds numbers between 2000 and 6000. However, the results show that the performance of the new design is no better than the original reference design. To analyze the cause of this result, detailed analysis is performed on the velocity and pressure field using flow visualization experiments and 3-D CFD analysis. The results show that the discrepancy between the optimization results in 2-D and the experimental results in 3-D originated from exclusion of an important pressure loss contributor in the optimization process. This study also concludes that the junction design of the axial port and chamber offers potential for improvement of fluidic diode performance.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
• /
• 2012.11a
• /
• pp.31-32
• /
• 2012

This paper presents a new design of magnetic bearing structure for application in Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The proposed design includes so-called saturated coils which is used to generate the bias flux for bearing almost the whole mass of the rotor, and so-called linear auxiliary coil controlled to stabilize the suspension. The saturated coil is considered as an special electromagnet which is controlled to operate in the region of magnetic saturation in order to minimize the bias current as well as to enhance the magnetic flux density. This strategy will result in a very compact size of magnetic bearing as well as increasing the speed of the response of the current controller. The novel structure is expected to be applied to design very high power gas turbine generator of next generation of fast reactor in which the mass of rotor can reach 50 tons. The total power of the NPP can reach 2,000 MW. Moreover, the issue of arc occurrence between coils is also discussed and two solutions are proposed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.1135-1144
• /
• 2024

With the increasing ratio of renewables in the grid, a low-carbon and stable base load source that also is capable of load tracking is in demand. Sodium cooled fast reactors (SFRs) coupled to thermal heat storage system (THS) is a strong candidate for the need. This research focuses on the designing and performance validation of a two-tank THS based on molten salt to integrate with a 280 MW_th sodium cooled fast reactor. Designing of the THS includes the vital component, sodium-to-salt heat exchanger which is a technology gap that needs to be filled, and designing and parameter selection of the tanks and related pumps. Modeling of the designed THS is conducted followed by the description of operation strategies and control logics of the THS. Finally, the dynamic simulation of the designed THS is conducted based on Fortran. Results show, the proposed power system meets the need of the design requirements to store heat for 18 h during a day and provide 500 MW_th for peak demand for the rest of the day.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.490-499
• /
• 1989

These days the closed cycle gas turbine attracts considerable attention due to : (1) The possibility of directly coupling the closed cycle gas turbine with a high temperature gas cooled reactor ; (2) the economical use of dry coolers to reduce the thermal charge of the environment ; and (3) the reduction of pollution and energy consumption, by replacing the domestic hearth by a central heating and power station. In this paper, we selected the optimal cycle from the characteristic of thermodynamic cycle for the optimal design of closed CO$_{2}$ gas turbine cycle usuable in nuclear energy power plant. Also the effects of between the parameters and thermal efficiency were investigated by computer simulation. These results and design data will be added to basics in optimal designing closed CO$_{2}$ cycle gas turbine plant.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.678-699
• /
• 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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.418-426
• /
• 2009

The effect of an inertia moment of a pump flywheel on the thermal-hydraulic behaviors of the KALIMER-600(Korea Advanced LIquid MEtal Reactor) reactor pool during an early-phase of a loss of normal heat sink accident was investigated. The thermal-hydraulic analyses for a steady and a transient state were made by using the COMMIX-1AR/P code. In the present analysis a quarter of the reactor geometry was modeled in a cylindrical coordinate system, which includes a quarter of a reactor core and a UIS, a half of a DHX and a pump and a full IHX. In order to evaluate the effects of an inertia moment of the pump flywheel, a coastdown flow whose flow halving time amounts to 3.69 seconds was supplied to a natural circulation flow in the reactor vessel. Thermal-hydraulic behaviors in the reactor vessel were compared to those without the flywheel equipment. The numerical results showed a good agreement with the design values in a steady state. It was found that the inertia moment contributes to an increase in the circulation flow rate during the first 40 seconds, however to a decrease of it there after. It was also found that the flow stagnant region induced by a core exit overcooling decelerated the flow rate. The appearance of the first-peak temperature was delayed by the flow coastdown during the initial stages after a reactor trip.