• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.993-1001
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• 2024

The TANDEM project is a European initiative funded under the EURATOM program. The project started on September 2022 and has a duration of 36 months. TANDEM stands for Small Modular ReacTor for a European sAfe aNd Decarbonized Energy Mix. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can be hybridized with other energy sources, storage systems and energy conversion applications to provide electricity, heat and hydrogen. Hybrid energy systems have the potential to strongly contribute to the energy decarbonization targeting carbon-neutrality in Europe by 2050. However, the integration of nuclear reactors, particularly SMRs, in hybrid energy systems, is a new R&D topic to be investigated. In this context, the TANDEM project aims to develop assessments and tools to facilitate the safe and efficient integration of SMRs into low-carbon hybrid energy systems. An open-source "TANDEM" model library of hybrid system components will be developed in Modelica language which, by coupling, will extend the capabilities of existing tools implemented in the project. The project proposes to specifically address the safety issues of SMRs related to their integration into hybrid energy systems, involving specific interactions between SMRs and the rest of the hybrid systems; new initiating events may have to be considered in the safety approach. TANDEM will study two hybrid systems covering the main trends of the European energy policy and market evolution at 2035's horizon: a district heating network and power supply in a large urban area, and an energy hub serving energy conversion systems, including hydrogen production; the energy hub is inspired from a harbor-like infrastructure. TANDEM will provide assessments on SMR safety, hybrid system operationality and techno-economics. Societal considerations will also be encased by analyzing European citizen engagement in SMR technology safety.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.4066-4076
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• 2023

Pressure resistance welding is usually used to seal the connection between the cladding tube and the end plug made of zirconium alloy. The seal welded joint has a direct effect on the service performance of the fuel rod cladding structure. In this paper, the pressure resistance welded joints of zirconium alloy tube-plug structure were obtained by thermal-mechanical simulation experiments. The microstructure and microhardness of the joints were both analyzed. The effect of processing parameters on the microstructure was studied in detail. The results showed that there was no β-Zr phase observed in the joint, and no obvious element segregation. There were different types of Widmanstätten structure in the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and heat affected zone (HAZ) of the cladding tube and the end plug joint because of the low cooling rate. Some part of the grains in the joint grew up due to overheating. Its size was about 2.8 times that of the base metal grains. Due to the high dislocation density and texture evolution, the microhardnesses of TMAZ and HAZ were both significantly higher than that of the base metal, and the microhardness of the TMAZ was the highest. With the increasing of welding temperature, the proportion of recrystallization in TMAZ decreased, which was caused by the increasing of strain rate and dislocation annihilation.

• Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.907-911
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• 2019

Effects of various friction stir processing (FSP) variables on the microstructural evolution and microhardness of the AZ31 magnesium alloy were investigated. The processing variables include rotational and travelling speed of the tool, kind of second phase (i.e., diamond, Al₂O₃, and ZrO₂) and groove depth (i.e., volume fraction of second phase). Grain size, distribution of second phase particle, grain texture, and microhardness were analyzed as a function of the FSP process variables. The FSPed AZ31 composites fabricated with a high heat input condition showed the better dispersion of particle without macro defect. For all composite specimens, the grain size decreased and the microhardness increased regardless of the grooved depth compared with that of the FSPed AZ31 without strengthening particle, respectively. For the AZ31/diamond composite having a grain size of about 1 ㎛, microhardness (i.e., about 108 Hv) was about two times higher than that of the matrix alloy (i.e., about 52 Hv). The effect of second phase particle on retardation of grain growth and resulting hardness increase was discussed.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1034-1042
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• 1996

Various $TiO_2-SiO_2$ composite powders were prepared by the modified sol-gel method using 1-dodecanol as DCCA (Dryng Control Chemical Additive ). Their characterizations were carried out and their photocatalytic catalysis was examined on the evolution reaction of hydrogen. The weight losses at $500^{\circ}C$ of only $TiO_2$ and $SiO_2$ powders were 33. 0wt% and 42.5wt%, respectively, and those of the $TiO_2/SiO_2$ powders ($TiO_2/SiO_2=25/75$, 50/50 and 75/25) were about $70.0{\pm}3.0wt%$. The released substances from the powders were almost organic matters. The as-prepared powders except only $TiO_2$ powder were amorphous. Transformation of anatase to rutil was hindered by $SiO_2$ component and the crystallinity of anatase was decreased with increasing $SiO_2$ contents. The as-prepared powders were bulky states. By heating at $600^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr $TiO_2-SiO_2$ powders ($TiO_2=100%$, $TiO_2/SiO_2=75/25,\;50/50$) showed agglomerates consisted of particles in submicron, but those of $TiO_2/SiO_2=25/75$ and $SiO_2=100%$ were still bulky states. Specific surface area of the powders heat-treated at $600^{\circ}C$ for 1hr was increased with $SiO_2$ concents and their pore sizes were also depended on $SiO_2$ contents. The photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2/SiO_2=75/25$ heat-treated at $600^{\circ}C$ for 1hr was 0.240mo1/h.g-cat as $H_2$ evolution rate. This value was about 2.0 times that of P-25(Degussa P-25) as a standard photocatalyst.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.103-110
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• 2018

The effects of a heat treatment on the carbide formation behavior and mechanical properties of the cobalt-based superalloy X-45 were investigated here. Coarse primary carbides formed in the interdendritic region in the as-cast specimen, along with the precipitation of fine secondary carbides in the vicinity of the primary carbides. Most of the carbides formed in the interdendritic region were dissolved into the matrix by a solution treatment at $1274^{\circ}C$. Solutionizing at $1150^{\circ}C$ led to the dissolution of some carbides at the grain boundaries, though this also caused the precipitation of fine carbides in the vicinity of coarse primary carbides. A solution treatment followed by an aging treatment at $927^{\circ}C$ led to the precipitation of fine secondary carbides in the interdendritic region. Very fine carbides were precipitated in the dendritic region by an aging heat treatment at $927^{\circ}C$ and $982^{\circ}C$ without a solution treatment. The hardness value of the alloy solutionized at $1150^{\circ}C$ was somewhat higher than that in the as-cast condition; however, various aging treatments did not strongly influence the hardness value. The specimens as-cast and aged at $927^{\circ}C$ showed the highest hardness values, though they were not significantly affected by the aging time. The specimens aged only at $982^{\circ}C$ showed outstanding tensile and creep properties. Thermal exposure at high temperatures for 8000 hours led to the precipitation of carbide at the center of the dendrite region and an improvement of the creep rupture lifetimes.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.2 s.285
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• pp.98-105
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• 2006

YBCO film was synthesized by using a new approach to the TFA-MOD method. In the fabrication process, $Y_2Ba_1Cu_1O_x\;and\;Ba_3Cu_5O_8$ powders were used as precursors (the so called '211 process'), instead of Y-, Ba-, and Cu-based acetates, and dissolved in trifluoroacetic acid followed by calcining and firing heat treatment. Consequently, we successfully fabricated YBCO film and evaluated the phase formation, texture evolution, and critical properties as a function of the calcining and firing temperature and humidity, in order to explore its possible application in coated conductor fabrication. The films were calcined at $430-460^{\circ}C$ and then fired at $750-800^{\circ}C\;in\;a\;0-20\%$ humidified $Ar-O_2$ atmosphere. We observed that $BaF_2$ phase was effectively reduced and that a sharp and strong biaxial texture formed under humidified atmosphere leading to increased critical properties. In addition, we found that the microstructure varied significantly with the firing temperature: the grain grew further, the film became denser, and the degree of texture and phase purity varied as the firing temperature increased. For the film fired at $775^{\circ}C$ after calcining at $460^{\circ}C$, the critical current was obtained to be 39 A/cm-width (corresponding critical current density is $2.0\;MA/cm^2$ which was probably attributed to such factors as the enhanced phase purity and out-of-plane texture, the moderate film density and grain size, and crack-free surface.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.315-320
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• 2002

Treatment effects of dilute hydrofluoric acid (6 wt% HF) on the surface properties of $Al(OH)_3$ were investigated at the molar ratio of F/Al(fluoride/aluminum)=0.15. Temperature and pH variations in the reaction system were recorded to analyze reaction mechanism between $Al(OH)_3$ and aqueous Hf. The reaction of HF to the surface of $Al(OH)_3$ accompanied with a quantity of heat evolution, resulting in increasing temperature of a reactionsystem. And also the reaction was proceeded as transitional state which metastable ${\alpha}-form\;AlF_3{\cdot}3H_2O$ was transferred to insoluble ${\beta}$-form. The resulting ${\beta}-form\;AlF_3{\cdot}3H_2O$ formed by a surface treatment was identified by FT-IR and X-ray diffractormetry. The formation of ${\beta}$-form aluminum fluoride hydrates with diameter less than $1{\mu}m$ on the surface of $Al(OH)_3$ could be visulaized by SEM imgae, making up a coating layer as precipitate-like. The surface whiteness of $Al(OH)_3$ treated with aqueous HF was furthermore increased approximately 6.6% due to the formation of surface hydrates.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.601-606
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• 2000

Nickel mono-silicide(NiSi) shows no increase of resistivity as the line width decreases below 0.15$\mu\textrm{m}$. Furthermore, thin silicide can be made easily and restrain the redistribution of dopants, because NiSi in created through the reaction of one nickel atom and one silicon atom. Therefore, we investigated the deposition condition of Ni films, heat treatment condition and basic properties of NiSi films which are expected to be employed for sub-0.15$\mu\textrm{m}$ class devices. The nickel silicide film was deposited on the Si wafer by using a dc-magnetron sputter, then annealed at the temperature range of $150~1000^{\circ}C$. Surface roughness of each specimen was measured by using a SPM (scanning probe microscope). Microstructure and qualitative composition analysis were executed by a TEM-EDS(transmission electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscope). Electrical properties of the materials at each annealing temperature were measured by a four-point probe. As the results of our study, we may conclude that; 1. SPM can be employed as a non-destructive process to monitor NiSi/NiSi$_2$ transformation. 2. For annealing temperature over $800^{\circ}C$, oxygen pressure $Po_2$ should be kept below $1.5{\times}10^{-11}torr$ to avoid oxidation of residual Ni. 3. NiSi to $NiSi_2$ transformation temperature in our study was $700^{\circ}C$ from the four-point probe measurement.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.178-183
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• 2002

Zinc fluosilicate ($ZnSiF_6$, 15% aqueous solution) was prepared using zinc oxide (ZnO) and fluosilicic acid ($H_2SiF_6$) by soluiton synthetic method. The fluidity and hydration properties of cement which was added $ZnSiF_6$ (aq.) as an additive for cement were studied. At water to cement ratio (W/C) equals to 0.45, the initial fluidity and slump loss of cement paste which the addition of $ZnSiF_6$ (aq.) was increased from 1.0% to 4.0% based on cement weight were investigated. Initial fluidity of cement paste was measured by mini-slump test and slump loss was examined by measuring the fluidity variation of cement paste with time elapsed from 0 min to 120 min at intervals 30 min. Also, the effect of $ZnSiF_6$ addition on the setting and hydration of cement paste when $ZnSiF_6$ increased in the addition range 1.0% to 3.0% were investigated. The fluidity of cement paste which was added 2.1% $ZnSiF_6$ (aq.) presented the highest value among all addition ranges. The setting time of cement paste was retarded gradually and the heat evolution of hydrated cement was reduced with the increasing of $ZnSiF_6$ addition.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2013

Properties of $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis reaction using Co-P-B/FeCrAlloy catalyst and the catalyst durability were studied. Co-P-B/FeCrAlloy catalyst showed low activation energy such as 25.2 kJ/mol in 5 wt% $NaBH_4$ solution, which was similar that of noble metal catalyst. The activation energy increased as the $NaBH_4$ concentration increased. Formation of gel at high concentration of $NaBH_4$ seriously affected hydrogen evolution rate and the catalyst durability. The catalyst loss decreased as reaction temperature increased due to lower gel formation when the concentration of $NaBH_4$ was over 20 wt%. Considering hydrogen generation rate and durability of catalyst, the catalyst supported with FeCrAlloy heat-treated at $1,000^{\circ}C$ without ultra vibration during dipping and calcination after catalyst dipping was best catalyst. To use catalyst more than three times in 25 wt% $NaBH_4$ solution, it should be reacted at higher temperature than $60^{\circ}C$.