• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.94-98
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• 2006

The next generation nuclear power reactor will use Pb-Bi as the cooling material. The steel structure materials such as HT-9 used in the reactor suffer from corrosion when they are exposed to high temperature Pb-Bi. Therefore corrosion should be prevented to use Pb-Bi as the coolant material without any safety problem. One method is to control the oxygen content in Pb-Bi. An appropriate amount of oxygen in Pb-Bi can produce a thin oxide layer on steel, and this layer protects the steel from corrosion attack. Since the required oxygen content in Pb-Bi is in the range of $10^{-5}$ to $10^{-7}$ wt%, this small oxygen content can be controlled by flowing a mixture of hydrogen gas and water vapor. The stagnant corrosion test of HT-9 samples was performed by controlling the oxygen content up to 2,000 hours. The corrosion behavior of HT-9 was analyzed at the temperatures of $500^{\circ}C$ and $650^{\circ}C$ with a reduced condition and a oxygen content of $10^{-6}$ wt%.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

One of the major current challenges to nuclear energy lies in its competitiveness. To stay competitive the industry needs to reduce maintenance and fuel cycle costs, while enhancing safety features. Extended burnup is one of the methods applied to meet these objectives However, there are a number of potential fuel failure causes related to increased burnup, as follows: l) Corrosion of zirconium alloy cladding and the water chemistry parameters that enhance corrosion; 2) Dimensional changes of zirconium alloy components, 3) Stresses that challenge zirconium alloy ductility and the effect of hydrogen (H) pickup and redistribution as it affects ductility, 4) Fuel rod internal pressure, 5) Pellet-cladding interactions (PCI) and 6) pellet-cladding mechanical interactions (PCMI). This paper discusses current and potential failure mechanisms of these failure mechanisms.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4231-4235
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• 2022

Considering the importance of deuterium in nuclear science including medical and industrial researches such as (BNCT) and nuclear reactors respectively, it is important to study various possible ways in addition to common methods for measuring its concentration. This study is an effort to measure deuterium concentration using PGNAA. The main idea is to calculate the area under 2.23 MeV gamma-rays photo peak resulting from neutron collision with Hydrogen atoms which are in mix with deuterium in samples. The study carried out by both simulation and experiment. Monte Carlo MCNPX2.6 code has been used for simulation and based on its acceptable results an experimental setup has been arranged. The coordination of results was in the range of R = 0.99 and R = 0.98 in simulation and experiment respectively. The accuracy of the study has been investigated by measuring the concentration of an unknown sample by both PGNAA and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) methods in which there were acceptable correlation between these two methods.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.2069-2087
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• 2023

In nuclear power plant (NPP) accidents, the containment is subject to high temperatures and high internal pressures, which may further trigger serious chain accidents such as core meltdown and hydrogen explosion, resulting in a significantly higher accident level. Therefore, studying the mechanical performance of a containment under high temperature and high internal pressure is relevant to the safety of NPPs. Based on similarity principles, the 1:3.2 scale model of a prestressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV) of a NPP was designed. The loading method, which considers the thermal-pressure coupling conditions, was used. The mechanical response of the PCCV was investigated with a simultaneous increase in internal pressure and temperature, and the failure mechanism of the PCCV under thermal-pressure coupling conditions was revealed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.2305-2311
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• 2002

The pressure tube is a major component of the CANDU reactor, which supports nuclear fuel bundle and heavy water coolant. Pressure tubes are installed horizontally inside the reactor and only selected samples are periodically examined during in-service inspection. In this respect, a probabilistic safety assessment method is more appropriate fur the assessment of overall pressure tube safety. The failure behavior of CANDU pressure tubes, however, is governed by delayed hydride cracking which is the major difference from pipings and reactor pressure vessels. Since the delayed hydride cracking has more widely distributed governing parameters, it is impossible to apply a general PFM methodology directly. In this paper, a PFM methodology for the safety assessment of CANDU pressure tubes is introduced by applying Monte Carlo simulation in determining failure probability Initial hydrogen concentration, flaw shape and depth, axial and radial crack growth rate and fracture toughness were considered as probabilistic variables. Parametric study has been done under the base of pressure tube dimension and hydride precipitation temperature in calculating failure probability. Unstable fracture and plastic collapse are used for the failure assessment. The estimated failure probability showed about three-order difference with changing dimensions of pressure tube.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2014

Fenton reaction with zerovalent iron (ZVI) and $Fe^{2+}$ ions was studied to treat pharmaceutical wastewaters (PhWW) including antibiotics and non-biodegradable organics. Incremental biodegradability was assessed by monitoring biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) changes during Fenton reaction. Original undiluted wastewater samples were used as collected from the pharmaceutical factory. Experiments were carried out to obtain optimal conditions for Fenton reaction under different $H_2O_2$ and ion salts (ZVI and $Fe^{2+}$) concentrations. The optimal ratio and dosage of $H_2O_2$/ZVI were 5 and 25/5 g/L (mass basis), respectively. Also, the optimal ratio and dosage of $H_2O_2/Fe^{2+}$ ions were 5 and 35/7 g/L (mass basis), respectively. Under optimized conditions, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency by ZVI was 23% better than the treatment with $Fe^{2+}$ ion. The reaction time was 45 min for ZVI and shorter than 60 min for $Fe^{2+}$ ion. The COD and total organic carbon (TOC) were decreased, but BOD was increased under the optimal conditions of $H_2O_2$/ZVI = 25/5 g/L, because organic compounds were converted into biodegradable intermediates in the early steps of the reaction. The BOD/TOC ratio was increased, but reverse-wise, the COD/TOC was decreased because of generated intermediates. The biodegradability was increased about 9.8 times (BOD/TOC basis), after treatment with ZVI. The combination of chemical and biological processes seems an interesting combination for treating PhWW.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to apply a cost effective ultrasonic odor reduction method that generated micro-bubbles using ejector to the Southeast Asian wastewater market. Research design, data, and methodology - A leather maker located in Ansan-city, Gyunggi-do, South Korea was sampled from the collection tank to select experimental materials. Experimental setup consisted of circulating water tank-air ejector-ultrasonic device, and circulating wastewater. Sample analysis was performed by CODcr, T-N, T-P, and turbidity by the National Environmental Science Institute. Results - Experimental results show that it is most effective in removing odors when the frequency range of ultrasonic wave is 60~80 Khz and the output is 200 W. It showed that the concentration of complex odor dropped from a maximum of 14,422 times to a minimum of 120 times. Also, analysis of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in specific odor substances has shown that they were reduced from 1.5 ppm to 0.4 ppm and from 0.6 ppm to 0.1 ppm, respectively. Conclusions - It is possible to shorten more than 12 hours in the treatment of micro-organisms. It can be seen that the processing time of odor after ultrasonic treatment in the pre-treatment facility is reduced by 25% when compared to the resultant micro-organisms after the chemical treatment, that is, the time of the bio-treatment of micro-organisms. Based on the results, it was confirmed that the pre-treatment method using the ultrasonic and the air ejector device of the experiment shows the effect of reducing the water pollutants and odor more effectively in a relatively short time than the conventional advanced oxidation method.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2011

When the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident occurred in March of 2011, a hydrogen explosion in the reactor building at the 4th unit of Fukushima plants led to a big surprise because the full core of the unit 4 reactor had been moved and stored underwater at the spent nuclear fuel storage pool for periodic maintenance. It was because the possible criticality in the fuel storage pool by coolant loss may yield more severe situation than the similar accident happened inside the reactor vessel. Fortunately, it was assured to be evitable to an anxious situation by a look of water filled in the storage pool later. In the paper, the safety state of the spent fuel storage pool and rack structures of the domestic nuclear plants would be roughly reviewed and compared with the Fukushima plant case by engineering viewpoint of potential severe accidents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.590-602
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was conducted to prevent asphyxiation of firefighters during confined space rescue. The specific purpose was to identify the magnitude of the problem, identify the cause of the accidents, and suggest measures to ensure safety of confined space rescues. Methods: We collected data from National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, press releases, and other sources In order to identify the current situation of asphyxiation incidents among firefighters from 1945 to 2019. In addition, an incident investigation was conducted for each case, and the processes, causes, and control measures of the incidents were described as a narrative data entry. Results: Over the past 73 years, eight incidents involving firefighter in Korea have occurred. In these incidents, five firefighters were killed, and eight were injured. The confined spaces incidents occurred were water supply tanks, wastewater treatment tanks, pickling pits, septic tanks, and more. The causes were three cases of hydrogen sulfide poisoning, one of oxygen deficiency, one of carbon monoxide poisoning, and three unclassifiable asphyxiations. The people in need were all workers in various industries. Conclusions: The number of firefighters' deaths and injuries during rescues in confined spaces was severe and the risks have not been completely eliminated. By establishing and implementing a precise incident investigation system, according control measures should be initiatedin order to prevent a recurrence of the same type of disaster and reflected in the SOP. In particular, due to the high risk of occurrence at workplaces, cooperation between fire and rescue authority and relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the KOSHA should be strengthened.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.419-429
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• 2020

The problems caused by foodborne pathogens are not only a concern to the food industry but also with regard to global public health. Over the years, fermentation technology has proved to be one of the cheapest and safest methods for inactivating and controlling pathogenic microorganisms in food. Scientific evidence shows that lactic acid bacteria fermentation exerts significant antimicrobial effect against pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Lactic acid bacteria metabolites such as organic acids, bacteriocins and hydrogen peroxides have adverse effects on foodborne pathogens which lead to their inhibition. These compounds do not only cause physical injuries, but also have significant effects on the pathogens' gene expression. Furthermore, the presence of lactic acid bacteria in food provides nutritional competition among foodborne pathogens, and all these factors together suppress their growth. This study reviews our current knowledge of the antimicrobial abilities of lactic acid bacteria, their molecular mechanisms, and their application for inactivating foodborne pathogens.