• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제40권7호
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• pp.581-592
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• 2008

In this study, a conceptual pyroprocess flowsheet has been devised by combining several dry-type unit processes; its applicability as an alternative fuel cycle technology was analyzed. A key point in the evaluation of its applicability to the fuel cycle was the recovery yield of fissile materials from spent fuels as well as the proliferation resistance of the process. The recovery yields of uranium and transuranic elements (TRU) were obtained from a material balance for every unit process composing the whole pyroprocess. The material balances for several elemental groups of interest such as uranium, TRU, rare earth, gaseous fission products, and heat generating elements were calculated on the basis of the knowledge base that is available from domestic and foreign experimental results or technical information presented in open literature. The calculated result of the material balance revealed that uranium and TRU could be recovered at 98.0% and 97.0%, respectively, from a typical PWR spent fuel. Furthermore, the anticipated TRU product was found to emit a non-negligible level of $\gamma$-ray and a significantly higher level of neutrons compared to that of a typical plutonium product obtained from the PUREX process. The results indicate that the product from this conceptual pyroprocessing should be handled in a shielded cell and that this will contribute favorably to retaining proliferation resistance.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.367-376
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• 2013

This study investigated mixing scenarios of the low and high conversion ratios (CRs) of fast reactors (FRs). The fuel cycle was modeled so as to minimize the spent fuel (SF) or transuranics (TRU) inventories. The scenarios were modeled for a single low CR of 0.61 and a high CR of 1.0. The study also investigated the mixing scenario of low-high CR and/or high-low CR. The SF and TRU inventories, associated with different scenarios, were compared to those of the light water reactor (LWR) once-through (OT) case. Also, the important isotope concentration and long-term heat (LTH) load were calculated and compared to those of the OT cycle. As a result, it is known that the deployment of FRs of low CR burns more TRU and results in a reduction of the out-of-pile TRU inventory and LTH with low deployment capacity. This study shows that the mixing strategy of FRs of low and high CR can reduce the SF and TRU inventories with lower deployment capacity as compared with a single deployment of FRs of high CR.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 1999

Pd-ceramic composite membranes and catalytic membrane reactors(CMR) have been studied for hydrogen and its isotopes (deuterium and tritium) purification and recovery in the fusion reactor fuel cycle. Particularly a closed-loop process has been studied for recovering tritium from tritiated water by means of a CMR in which the water gas shift reaction takes place. The development of the techniques for coating micro-porous ceramic tubes with Pd and Pd/Ag thin layers is described : P composite membranes have been produced by electroless deposition (Pd/Ag film of 10-20 $\mu$m) and rolling of thin metal sheets (Pd and Pd/Ag membranes of 50-70 $\mu$m). Experimental results of the electroless membranes have shown a not complete hydrogen selectivity because of the presence of some defects(micro-holes) in the metallic thin layer. Conversely the rolled thin Pd and Pd/ag membranes have separated hydrogen from the other gases with a complete selectivity giving rise to a slightly larger (about a factor 1.7) mass transfer resistance with respect to the electroless membranes. Experimental tests have confirmed the good performances of the rolled membranes in terms of chemical stability over several weeks of operation. Therefore these rolled membranes and CMR are adequate for applications in the fusion reactor fuel cycle as well as in the industrial processes where high pure hydrogen is required (i.e. hydrocarbon reforming for fuel cell)

• 신재생에너지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.61-71
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• 2023

The necessity of energy utilization using livestock manure has been proposed with the decrease in domestic agricultural land. Livestock manure solid fuel has been investigated as a promising energy resource owing to its convenient storage and use in agricultural and livestock fields. Additional electricity production is possible through the integration of a biomass combustion boiler with the organic Rankine cycle (ORC). In this study, a mathematical system model of the cattle manure solid fuel boiler integrated with the ORC was developed to analyze the components' performance under variable operating conditions. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to confirm the electrical efficiency of the ORC turbine and the applicability of this system. The minimum required waste heat recovery rate was derived considering the system marginal price and levelized cost of electricity of the ORC. The simulation results showed that, in Korea, more than 77.98% of waste heat recovery and utilization in ORC turbines is required to achieve economic feasibility through ORC application.

• 에너지공학
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.242-258
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• 2004

한국원자력연구소에서는 기존의 일체형 가연성 독봉과 다른 이중구조로 된 가연성독봉 개념을 제시하였다. 이중구조 가연성독봉(Erbia Duplex BP)은 내부에 Natural U+Gd$_2$O$_3$, 외부에는 Enriched $UO_2$+Er$_2$O$_3$를 배열시킨 구조이다. 이러한 독봉은 장주기 노심에서 기존의 Gadolinia BP과 동일한 반응도제어를 할 수 있을 것이라 예상된다. 이중구조 가연성독봉의 핵적 타당성을 확인하기 위해 24개월 주기용 한국표준형원자로를 비교대상으로 선정하였으며, 기존 연구된 여러 가지 독봉설계안들과 4가지 핵특성에 대하여 비교 분석하였다. 핵특성 평가 결과, 이중구조가연성 독봉은 비교대상보다 무한증배계수, 첨두봉출력인자, 반응도억제가, 감속재온도계수측면에서 모두 유리한 경향을 보였다. 설계변수에 따른 민감도분석을 통해 도출한 최적화된 핵연료집합체를 이용하여 노심적용 타당성을 확인하였다. 주기길이, 첨두출력 및 감속재온도 계수를 비교하였으며 전 노심해석결과 주기길이가 비고대상보다 4-7일 길게 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 등가의 독봉집합체를 설계했음에도 불구하고 노심에 장전되는 우라늄의 양이 서로 달라서 생기는 현상으로 판단된다. 하지만 전체적인 핵특성을 비교해보면 이중구조 가연성독봉을 장전한 노심이 비교대상노심보다 다소 유리하면서도 거의 비슷함을 알 수 있었다. 마지막으로 경제성 평가를 통해 장주기 노심에서의 이중구조 가연성독봉의 제조 가능성 및 적용 타당성이 충분히 확인되었다.

• 동력기계공학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.57-61
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• 2017

The vehicle label fuel economy is used as an energy management indicator nationwide. It induces technology development of automobile manufacturers and plays a role of providing information when purchasing a consumer vehicle. However, consumers who purchase a new vehicle continued to complain that the label fuel economy is different from the mandatory fuel economy rate. The domestic fuel economy measurement method is the same as the North American measurement method. The results of the two test modes (urban (FTP-75 mode), highway (HWFET mode)) are calculated in five test modes reflecting various environmental conditions and driving patterns 5-cycle correction formula is used which is equivalent to the fuel efficiency value. In this study, to solve the consumers' curiosity about the fuel economy of new vehicle, we use domestic fuel economy measurement method to measure the new car condition within 150 km of driving distance and the cumulative driving distance condition of domestic label fuel economy test vehicle. A comparative evaluation of fuel economy was carried out for a durability vehicle of $6,500{\pm}1,000km$. A result, mean value of the fuel economy of the four gasoline vehicles increased by 2.7 % in the city center mode and by 2.5 % in the highway mode in the durable vehicle compared new vehicle. And in the case of the diesel vehicle it increased by 2.5 % and 3.9 % respectively. The harmful exhaust gas emitted from the vehicle also resulted in more emissions of both gasoline and diesel vehicles in new vehicles. It is considered that the increase of the frictional force of the vehicle driving system and the lubricating oil system would have an effect on the reduction of the fuel economy of the new vehicle, and it was found that the fuel economy and the exhaust gas were improved by proper cumulative distance (domesticate) to the new vehicle.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.167-179
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• 2024

This study explores the feasibility of employing (U, Th)-based accident tolerant fuels (ATFs), specifically (_0.8UO₂, _0.2ThO₂), (_0.8UN, _0.2ThN), and (_0.8UC, _0.2ThC). The investigation assesses the overall performance of these proposed fuel materials in comparison to the conventional UO₂, focusing on deep neutronic and thermal-hydraulic (Th) analyses. Neutronic analysis utilized the MCNPX code, while COMSOL Multiphysics was employed for thermal-hydraulic analysis. The primary objective of this research is to overcome the limitations associated with traditional UO₂ fuel by exploring alternative fuel materials that offer advantages in terms of abundance and potential improvements in performance and safety. Given the limited abundance of UO₂, long-term sustainable nuclear energy production faces challenges. From a neutronic standpoint, the U-Th based fuels demonstrated remarkable fuel cycle lengths, except (_0.8UN, _0.2ThN), which exhibited the minimum fuel cycle length and, consequently, the lowest fuel burn-up. Regarding thermal-hydraulic performance, (_0.8UN, _0.2ThN) exhibited outstanding performance with significant margins against fuel melting compared to the other materials. Overall, when considering the integrated performance, the most favourable results were obtained with the use of the (_0.8UC, _0.2ThC) fuel configurations. This study contributes valuable insights into the potential benefits of (U, Th)-based ATFs as a promising avenue for enhanced nuclear fuel performance.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.647-661
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• 2015

The supercritical $CO_2$ (S-$CO_2$) Brayton cycle has recently been gaining a lot of attention for application to next generation nuclear reactors. The advantages of the S-$CO_2$ cycle are high efficiency in the mild turbine inlet temperature region and a small physical footprint with a simple layout, compact turbomachinery, and heat exchangers. Several heat sources including nuclear, fossil fuel, waste heat, and renewable heat sources such as solar thermal or fuel cells are potential application areas of the S-$CO_2$ cycle. In this paper, the current development progress of the S-$CO_2$ cycle is introduced. Moreover, a quick comparison of various S-$CO_2$ layouts is presented in terms of cycle performance.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.93-101
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• 2001

Distribution of fuel-air mixture has a strong influence on performance and emissions of a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine. In this paper, parametric study is performed by KIVA-3V to investigate fuel-air mixture with respect to injection timing, cycle equivalence ratio and engine speed. With open-valve injection intensive mixing during intake and compression stroke results in relatively homogeneous mixture in the cylinder. Sequential induction of fuel-air mixture and fresh air results in stratification in the cylinder among the test cases at closed-valve injection. There is close similarity in the calculated distributions of the mixture in the cylinder with different cycle equivalence ratios and engine speeds. The results are compared against pressure traces and flame images obtained in a single cylinder engine converted from a 11L six-cylinder heavy duty diesel engine.

• 한국유기농업학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.531-547
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• 2014

This study analyzed the effect of Greenhouse of wood pellet fuel conversing from Diesel. Analyzed through a life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide for the environmental assessment, In evaluation of the Ministry of the Environment, analyzed through the life cycle assessment of carbon dioxide emissions of the greenhouse gas and, In the case of economic evaluation, we analyzed the investment payback period to the total revenue generated by each of the calculated incentive based on the RHI and institutions reduction projects a reduction of costs associated with the reduction of fuel costs.