• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.306-314
• /
• 2015

This paper examines the difference in the value of the nuclear fuel cycle cost calculated by the deterministic and probabilistic methods on the basis of an equilibrium model. Calculating using the deterministic method, the direct disposal cost and Pyro-SFR (sodium-cooled fast reactor) nuclear fuel cycle cost, including the reactor cost, were found to be 66.41 mills/kWh and 77.82 mills/kWh, respectively (1 mill = one thousand of a dollar, i.e., $10^{-3}$ $). This is because the cost of SFR is considerably expensive. Calculating again using the probabilistic method, however, the direct disposal cost and Pyro-SFR nuclear fuel cycle cost, excluding the reactor cost, were found be 7.47 mills/kWh and 6.40 mills/kWh, respectively, on the basis of the most likely value. This is because the nuclear fuel cycle cost is significantly affected by the standard deviation and the mean of the unit cost that includes uncertainty. Thus, it is judged that not only the deterministic method, but also the probabilistic method, would also be necessary to evaluate the nuclear fuel cycle cost. By analyzing the sensitivity of the unit cost in each phase of the nuclear fuel cycle, it was found that the uranium unit price is the most influential factor in determining nuclear fuel cycle costs.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.643-659
• /
• 2022

For the economic analysis of fuel cells, levelized cost of electricity was calculated according to the type, capacity, and annual production of the fuel cells. The cost of every component was calculated through the system component breakdown. The direct cost of the system included stack cost, component cost, assembly, test, and conditioning cost, and profit markup cost were added. The effect of capacity and annual production was analyzed by fuel cell type. Sensitivity analysis was performed according to stack life, capital cost, project period, and fuel cost. As a result, it was derived how much the economic efficiency of the fuel cell improves as the capacity increases and the annual production increases.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
• /
• v.16 no.10
• /
• pp.1287-1295
• /
• 2002

In this work, the fuel economy of a parallel hybrid electric vehicle is investigated. A vehicle control algorithm which yields operating points where operational cost of HEV is minimal is suggested. The operational cost of HEV is decided considering both the cost of fossil fuel consumed by an engine and the cost of electricity consumed by an electric motor. A procedure for obtaining the operating points of minimal fuel consumption is introduced. Simulations are carried out for 3 variations of HEV and the results are compared to the fuel economy of a conventional vehicle in order to investigate the effect of hybridization. Simulation results show that HEV with the vehicle control algorithm suggested in this work has a fuel economy 45% better than the conventional vehicle if braking energy is recuperated fully by regeneration and idling of the engine is eliminated. The vehicle modification is also investigated to obtain the target fuel economy set in PNGV program.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.1063-1070
• /
• 2017

This paper presents a method for forecasting future uranium prices that is used as input data to calculate the uranium cost, which is a rational key cost driver of the nuclear fuel cycle cost. In other words, the statistical autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and existing engineering cost estimation method, the so-called escalation rate model, were subjected to a comparative analysis. When the uranium price was forecasted in 2015, the margin of error of the ARIMA model forecasting was calculated and found to be 5.4%, whereas the escalation rate model was found to have a margin of error of 7.32%. Thus, it was verified that the ARIMA model is more suitable than the escalation rate model at decreasing uncertainty in nuclear fuel cycle cost calculation.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.243-251
• /
• 2015

Nuclear power is currently the second largest power supply method in Korea and the number of nuclear power plants are planned to be increased as well. However, clear management policy for spent fuels generated from nuclear power plants has not yet been established. The back-end fuel cycle, associated with nuclear material flow after nuclear reactors is a collection of technologies designed for the spent fuel management and the spent fuel management policy is closely related with the selection of a nuclear fuel cycle. Cost is an important consideration in selection of a nuclear fuel cycle and should be determined by adding external cost to private cost. Unlike the private cost, which is a direct cost, studies on the external cost are focused on nuclear reactors and not at the nuclear fuel cycle. In this research, external cost indicators applicable to nuclear fuel cycle were derived and quantified. OT (once through), DUPIC (Direct Use of PWR SF in CANDU), PWR-MOX (PWR PUREX reprocessing), and Pyro-SFR (SFR recycling with pyroprocessing) were selected as nuclear fuel cycles which could be considered for estimating external cost in Korea. Energy supply security cost, accident risk cost, and acceptance cost were defined as external cost according to precedent and estimated after analyzing approaches which have been adopted for estimating external costs on nuclear power generation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
• /
• v.9 no.5
• /
• pp.122-130
• /
• 2001

In this paper, an operational algorithm for a 2-shaft parallel hybrid electric vehicle is suggested for the minimization of operation cost. The operation cost is obtained as a summation of the engine fuel cost and the motor electricity cost. The electrical cost function is estimated in case of motoring, and generating when the recuperation is carried out during the braking. In addition, weight function is introduced in order to maintain the battery state of charge. Based on the operation algorithm, the optimal engine operation point that minimizes the operation cost is obtained with respect to the required vehicle power for every state of charge of battery. The optimal operation point provides the optimal power distribution of the engine and the motor for a required vehicle power Simulation was performed and the fuel economy of the hybrid vehicle was compared to that of the conventional vehicle. Simulation results showed that hybrid vehicle's fuel economy can be improved as much as 45∼48% compared to the conventional vehicle's.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.105-108
• /
• 2006

The fuel cell is one of the promising environment-friendly energy sources for the next generation. The fuel cell provides good energy efficiency above 40% without pollution or noise. Different fuel cell types are usually distinguished by the kind of electrolyte. Among these, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has advantages of high power density. low operating temperature, relatively quick start-up, and rapid response to varying loads. The bipolar plate is a major component of the PEM fuel cell stack, and it takes a large portion of stack volume, weight and cost. In this study, as alternative materials for bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells, graphite composites were fabricated by compression molding and by machining. Graphite particles mixed with epoxy resin were used as the main substance to provide electric conductivity. Flow channels were fabricated by compression molding with design of experiments (DOE) to evaluate moldability. The cost for compression molding of graphite-composite bipolar plate was compared with machining cost to make the same bipolar plate.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.205-210
• /
• 2014

The micro grid considered in this paper consists of a diesel generator, a photovoltaic array, a wind turbine, a fuel cell, and a energy storage system. This paper explains and simulates the micro grid components in terms of accuracy and efficiency of having a system model based on the costs of fuel as well as operation and maintenance. For operational efficiency, the objective function in a diesel generator consists of the fuel cost function similar to the cost functions used for the conventional fossil-fuel generating plants. The wind turbine generator is modeled by the characteristics of variable output. The optimization is aimed at minimizing the cost function of the system while constraining it to meet the customer demand and safety of micro grid. The operating cost in fuel-cell system includes the fuel costs and the efficiency for fuel to generate electric power. To develop the overall system model gives a possibility to minimize of the total cost of micro grid. The application of optimal operation can save the interruption costs as well as the operating costs, and improve reliability index in micro grid.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.104-115
• /
• 2009

In case of residential fuel cell system, it is significant to stably supply heat and power to a house with high efficiency and low cost for the successful commercialization. In this paper, the control strategy analysis has been performed to minimize the total cost including capital and operating cost of the residential fuel cell system. The proposed analysis methodology is based on the simulator including the efficiency models as well as the cost data for fuel cell components. The load control strategy is the key factor to decide the system efficiency and thus the cost analysis is performed when the fuel cell system is operated for several different load control logics. Additionally, annual efficiency of the system based on the seasonal load data is calculated since system efficiency is changeable according to the electric and heat demand change. As a result, the hybrid load control combined electricity oriented control and heat oriented control has the most economical operation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.295-310
• /
• 1975

A system of model price data for the fuel cost estimation of the Go-ri plant is developed. With the application of MITCOST-II computer code the levelized unit fuel costs over the entire lifetime of the plant are evaluated. It is found that the overall levelized unit fuel cost is 7.332 mills/Kwhe and that the uranium ore and enrichment service represent more than 85% of the unit cost, assuming a simple once-through fuel cycle process with no reprocessing of the spent fuel. The effects of the cost fluctuations in these fuel cycle elements and the capacity factor changes are also evaluated. The results indicate that the fuel costs are most sensitive to the variation of uranium ore price. Efforts must, therefore, be employed for the arrangement of cheap and timely supply of uranium ore in order to achieve the economic generation of nuclear power.