• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.1004-1012
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• 2021

High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe has many advantages over metallic pipe, and has been used in non-safety related application for years in some nuclear power plants (NPPs). Recently, HDPE pipe was introduced into safety related applications. The main difference between safety-related and non-safety-related pipes in NPPs is the design method of extra loadings such as gravity, temperature, and earthquake. In this paper, the mechanical behavior of HDPE pipe under various loads in pipe gallery was studied by finite element analysis (FEA). Stress concentrations were found at the fusion regions on inner surface of mitered elbows of HDPE pipe system. The effects of various factors were analyzed, and the influence of various loads on the damage of HDPE pipe system were evaluated. The results of this paper provide a reference for the design of nuclear safety-related Class 3 HDPE pipe. In addition, as the HDPE pipes analyzed in this paper were suspended in pipe gallery, it can also serve as a supplementary reference for current ASME standard on Class 3 HDPE pipe, which only covers the application for buried pipe application.

• 복합신소재구조학회 논문집
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.59-66
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• 2015

In this study, structural stability of large diameter high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe during installation was numerically investigated in order to investigate the effect of concrete collar dimension, water depth and tension (pulling force). From the numerical simulation results, the total stress of HDPE pipe with designed concrete collar was within 2.5%, so the total weight of concrete collar for sinking of HDPE is important rather than concrete collar dimension. Furthermore, the tension area for possible installation is decreased as the air filling rate is increased. Therefore, it is important to calculate the reasonable tension range before actual installation for safe installation of HDPE pipe.

• 한국압력기기공학회 논문집
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

In many cases, the field fracture mechanism of the thermoplastic pipe is considered as either brittle or environmental fractures. Thus the estimation of the lifetime by modeling slow crack growth considering such fracture mechanisms is required. In comparison of the some conventional and empirical equations to explain the slow crack growth rate such as the Paris' law, the crack layer theory can be used to simulate the crack and process zone growth behaviors precisely, so the lifetime of thermoplastic pipe can also be accurately estimated. In this study, the modified crack layer theory for the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of high density polyethylene is introduced with detailed algorithm. The oxidation induction time of the HDPE is also considered for the reduction of specific fracture energy during exposed to chemical environments. Furthermore, the parametric study for an important SCC parameter is conducted to understand the slow crack growth behavior of SCC.

• 한국화재소방학회논문지
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.44-49
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• 2013

고강도/연성소재이면서 화학적으로 안정된 폴리에틸렌 소재가 배관으로 양산되면서 수도용 및 산업용으로 그 사용이 확산되고 있다. 최근에는 국내 플랜트에서도 기존 주철배관의 부식 누설 해소방안으로 고밀도 폴리에틸렌 배관이 사용되고 있는데, 각각의 플랜트 설계조건 및 운전조건을 적절히 고려하지 않을 경우 고밀도 폴리에틸렌 배관은 물리적인 손상이 유발될 수 있다. 폴리에틸렌 소재의 대구경 배관을 플랜트에 적용함에 있어 관련기준 및 설치 경험사례를 고찰한 결과, 수충격이 발생되는 환경에서 균열손상 가능성이 있어 폴리에틸렌 배관을 대구경 배관으로 사용시주의가 필요하다고 판단된다.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

In nuclear power plants, lined carbon steel pipes or PCCPs (pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipes) have been widely used for sea water transport systems. However, de-bonding of linings and oxidation of PCCP could make problems in aged NPPs (nuclear power plants). Recently at several NPPs in the United States, the PCCPs or lined carbon steel pipes of the sea water or raw water system have been replaced with HDPE (high density polyethylene) pipes, which have outstanding resistance to oxidation and seismic loading. ASME B&PV Code committee developed Code Case N-755, which describes rules for the construction of buried Safety Class 3 polyethylene pressure piping systems. Although US NRC permitted HDPE materials for Class 3 buried piping, their permission was limited to only 10-year operation because of several concerns including the quality of fusion zone of HDPE. In this study, various requirements for fusion qualification test of HDPE and some regulatory issues raised during HDPE application review in foreign NPPs are introduced.

• 대한기계학회논문집A
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.405-413
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• 2015

최근 미국에서는 가동기간이 오래된 원전 매설배관에서 부식 및 침식에 의해 삼중수소 누설로 지하수가 오염되는 사례가 급증하고 있다. 따라서, 현재 원전 안전등급 매설배관으로 사용되고 있는 금속재료의 배관을 대신해서 부식 및 침식 등의 열화 손상에 대한 저항성이 우수한 고밀도 폴리에틸렌(HDPE) 배관을 ASME Code Class 3 안전계통 배관으로 사용하기 위한 연구가 수행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 발전소 가동 중 매설배관에 가해질 수 있는 하중과 온도 범위를 바탕으로 HDPE 배관 융착부에 대한 인장 시험과 저속균열성장 (SCG) 시험을 수행하였다. 시험 결과로 얻은 SCG 시험편의 파단면을 분석하여 HDPE 재료의 파손 기구를 파악하였다. 이를 바탕으로 3D 유한요소 해석을 이용하여 균열이 있는 HDPE 재료가 버틸 수 있는 한계하중에 대한 검증을 수행하였다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권9호
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• pp.3342-3351
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• 2023

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines in nuclear power plants (NPPs) have to meet high requirements for seismic performance. HDPE pipes have been proved to have good seismic performance, but joints are the weak links in the pipelines, and pipeline failures usually initiate from the defects inside the joints. Limited data are available on the seismic performance of butt-fusion joints of HDPE pipelines in NPPs, especially in terms of defects changes inside the joints after earthquakes. In this paper, full-scale shaking table tests were performed on a test section of suspended HDPE pipelines in an NPP, which included straight pipes, elbows, and 10 butt-fusion joints. During the tests, the seismic load-induced strain of the joints was analyzed by strain gauges, and it was much smaller than the internal pressure and self-weight-induced strain. Before and after the shaking table tests, phased array ultrasonic testing (PA-UT) was conducted to detect defects inside the joints. The locations, numbers, and dimensions of the defects were analyzed. It was found that defects were more likely to occur in elbows joints. No new defect was observed after the shaking table tests, and the defects showed no significant growth, indicating the satisfactory seismic performance of the butt-fusion joints.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.517-524
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• 2022

Every year, millions of waste tires are discarded across the world. Storage of waste tires presents many problems such as fire threats, epidemics, and non-economic factors. Furthermore, the disintegration process of waste tires is not economical or practical due to its time-consuming, and disposal requirements. In this study, half-section waste tires (HSWTs) were integrated with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes under different relative density conditions. The main aim of the study was to reduce the deformation values of embedded HDPE pipes in sandy soil and to evaluate the soil-pipe interaction. In comprehensive laboratory tests, half-section waste tires were integrated in two different ways: in the middle of the pipeline and along the pipeline. Accordingly, it was concluded that the effectiveness of waste tires reduces the deformation and bending moment values in the critical regions of pipes. As a result of reinforcement in the mid-point of the pipe defined as the most critical region, 52% and 36% less deformation was observed in the crown and springlines of the pipe, respectively. In addition, the bending moment values for the same critical section were determined to be 40% less in the crown and 28% less in the springline regions of the pipe.

• 한국지열·수열에너지학회논문집
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.33-39
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• 2016

A ground source heat pump (GSHP) system is recommended as a heating and cooling system to solve the pending energy problem in the field of air conditioning, because it has the highest efficiency. However, higher initial construction cost works as a barrier to the promotion and dissemination of GSHP system. In this study, numerical analysis on the characteristics of high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe with spiral inside was executed. The heat transfer and flow characteristics of it were compared with those of a conventional smooth HDPE pipe. The heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of the spiral HDPE pipe were higher than those of the smooth HDPE pipes at the same fluid flow rate. By decreasing the flow rate, the spiral HDPE pipe represented similar values of heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop to the smooth HDPE pipe. The lower flow rate of the spiral HDPE pipe comparing with it of the smooth HDPE pipe is estimated to reduce the length of the ground loop heat exchanger.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.32-56
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• 2007

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) aims to analyze possible impact upon manufacturing process and availability of products, and also study the environmental considerations and potential influence during entire life cycle ranging from procurement, production and utilization to treatment (namely, from cradle to tomb). Based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe manufacturing of company A, this case study would involve evaluation of environmental influence during the production process. When the manufacturing process has been improved during "production process" and "forming cooling" stage, it is found that capital input on "electric power" and "water supply" could be reduced, thus helping to sharpen the competitive power of company A, and also ensure sustainable economic and industrial development in accordance with national policies on environmental protection.