• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.421-433
• /
• 2023

The final disposal of spent nuclear fuel(SNF) from nuclear power plants takes place in a deep geological repository. The metal canister encasing the SNF is made of cast iron and copper, and is engineered to effectively isolate radioactive isotopes for a long period of time. The SNF is further shielded by a multi-barrier disposal system comprising both engineering and natural barriers. The deep disposal environment gradually changes to an anaerobic reducing environment. In this environment, sulfide is one of the most probable substances to induce corrosion of copper canister. Stress-corrosion cracking(SCC) triggered by sulfide can carry substantial implications for the integrity of the copper canister, potentially posing a significant threat to the long-term safety of the deep disposal repository. Sulfate can exist in various forms within the deep disposal environment or be introduced from the geosphere. Sulfate has the potential to be transformed into sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB), and this converted sulfide can contribute to the corrosion of the copper canister. Bentonite, which is considered as a potential material for buffering and backfilling, contains oxidized sulfate minerals such as gypsum(CaSO4). If there is sufficient space for microorganisms to thrive in the deep disposal environment and if electron donors such as organic carbon are adequately supplied, sulfate can be converted to sulfide through microbial activity. However, the majority of the sulfides generated in the deep disposal system or introduced from the geosphere will be intercepted by the buffer, with only a small amount reaching the metal canister. Pyrite, one of the potential sulfide minerals present in the deep disposal environment, can generate sulfates during the dissolution process, thereby contributing to the corrosion of the copper canister. However, the quantity of oxidation byproducts from pyrite is anticipated to be minimal due to its extremely low solubility. Moreover, the migration of these oxidized byproducts to the metal canister will be restricted by the low hydraulic conductivity of saturated bentonite. We have comprehensively analyzed and summarized key research cases related to the presence of sulfates, reduction processes, and the formation and behavior characteristics of sulfides and pyrite in the deep disposal environment. Our objective was to gain an understanding of the impact of sulfates and sulfides on the long-term safety of high-level radioactive waste disposal repository.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.41-59
• /
• 2022

In accordance with the enactment of 'the Paris Agreement' in 2015 and 'the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Response to the Climate Crisis' in 2021, each local government has set appropriate reduction target of greenhouse gas to achieve the nationally determined contribution (NDC, the reduction target of 40% compared to 2018) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2030. In this study, the current distribution of GHG emissions was analyzed in a time series centered on the Chungbuk region for the period from 1990 to 2018, with the aim of reducing GHG emissions in Chungbuk by 2030 based on the 2030 NDC and scenario. In addition, the prospected reduction by 2030 was estimated considering the projected emissions according to Busines As Usual in order to achieve the target reduction of GHG emissions. Our results showed that GHG emissions in Chungbuk and Korea have been increasing since 1990 owing to population and economic growth. GHG emissions in 2018 in Chungbuk were very low (3.9 %) relative to the national value. Moreover, emissions from fuel combustion, such as cement and lime production, manufacturing and construction industries, and transportation industries, were the main sources. Furthermore, the 2030 target of GHG emission reduction in Chungbuk was set at 40.2% relative to the 2018 value, in accordance with the 2030 NDC and 2050 carbon-zero national scenario. Therefore, when projected emissions were considered, the prospected reduction to achieve the target reduction of GHG emissions was estimated to be 46.8% relative to 2018. The above results highlight the importance of meeting the prospected reduction of GHG emissions through reduction means in each sector to achieve the national and local GHG reduction target. In addition, to achieve the 2030 NDC and 2050 carbon zero, the country and each local government, including Chungbuk, need to estimate projected emissions by year, determine reduction targets and prospect reductions every year, and prepare specific means to reduce GHG emissions.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.149-170
• /
• 2012

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, Durban 2011, ended on December 12, 2011, 36 hours over its schedule, delivering the Durban Package, which consisted of, inter alia, the extension of the period for Kyoto Protocol term and the launch of Ad-hoc working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action. Despite the positive progress made in Durban, the future of post-2012 climate regime still seems cloudy. Before the Durban conference, some of Annex I countries with emissions reduction commitment under the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period openly declared their intention not to participate in the second one, reducing the effectiveness of Durban agreement. Parties to the conference have a long list of difficult issues disturbing the materialization of the new legal agreement in 2020 such as level of mitigation targets of individual countries and legal nature of their commitment. Given this uncertainty, the Korean government should reinforce its domestic climate policies rather than settling in the fact that it remains as a non-Annex I county party under the Durban Agreement due to the extension of the Kyoto Protocol period. Domestically, it needs to continue to raise the public awareness for rigorous climate policies to transit its economy to low carbon pathway which reduces the country's dependency on fossil fuel in the long term. It is also important to implement cost effective climate policies to cope with domestic resistance and international competitiveness. Internationally, its priority would be working for trust-building in the on-going negotiation meetings to encourage meaningful participation of all parties.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.177-190
• /
• 2013

Air pollution trends in Japan between 1970 and 2012 were analyzed, and the impact of air pollution countermeasures was evaluated. Concentrations of CO decreased from 1970 to 2012, and in 2012, the Japanese environmental quality standard (EQS) for CO was satisfied. Concentrations of $SO_2$ dropped markedly in the 1970s, owing to use of desulfurization technologies and low-sulfur heavy oil. Major reductions in the sulfur content of diesel fuel in the 1990s resulted in further decreases of $SO_2$ levels. In 2012, the EQS for $SO_2$ was satisfied at most air quality monitoring stations. Concentrations of $NO_2$ decreased from 1970 to 1985, but increased from 1985 to 1995. After 1995, $NO_2$ concentrations decreased, especially after 2006. In 2012, the EQS for $NO_2$ was satisfied at most air quality monitoring stations, except those alongside roads. The annual mean for the daily maximum concentrations of photochemical oxidants (OX) increased from 1980 to 2010, but after 2006, the $98^{th}$ percentile values of the OX concentrations decreased. In 2012, the EQS for OX was not satisfied at most air quality monitoring stations. Non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) concentrations generally decreased from 1976 to 2012. In 2011, NMHC concentrations near roads and in the general environment were nearly the same. The concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) generally decreased. In 2011, the EQS for SPM was satisfied at 69.2% of ambient air monitoring stations, and 72.9% of roadside air-monitoring stations. Impacts from mineral dust from continental Asia were especially pronounced in the western part of Japan in spring, and year-round variation was large. The concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ generally decreased, but the EQS for $PM_{2.5}$ is still not satisfied. The air pollution trends were closely synchronized with promulgation of regulations designed to limit pollutant emissions. Trans-boundary OX and $PM_{2.5}$ has become a big issue which contains global warming chemical species such as ozone and black carbon (so called SLCP: Short Lived Climate Pollutants). Cobeneficial reduction approach for these pollutants will be important to improve both in regional and global atmospheric environmental conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 2011

The growing amount of using the fossil fuel is bringing about environmentally, economically serious problems like as global warming. To solve the problems, the international society has begun to decrease greenhouse gases through the international agreement like as the climate change convention. In South of Korea, it was presented practical goal of Green Development try to decrease greenhouse, which is the future 60 years vision. And, it contains the strategies of Green Development and 5th Plan of Green Development. Nowadays, the government accepted the active alternative scenario 3, which is the goal of 4% decrease in greenhouse gases until 2020's, presented by Presidential Committee on Green Growth. This study established the strategies of Transport Demand Management to decrease the greenhouse gases in transportation part, and then we measured the effect of them. As a result, if it takes effect the aggressive strategies annually, it will cut greenhouse gas pollution by 3.1%, which is 7,590,000t$CO_2eq$, in transportation part. So, we can expect that it would be the effective policy tool to achieve the goal of government, which is the Green Development, if it controls the strategies of TDM effectively by the political needs.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2011.11a
• /
• pp.39.2-39.2
• /
• 2011

The new and renewable energy today has a great interest in all countries around the world. In special it has need more limit of the fossil fuel that needs of low carbon emission among the social necessary conditions. Recently, the high-rise building demand the structural safety, the economic feasibility and the functional design. The high-rise building spends enormous energy and it satisfied the design in solving energy requirements. The requirements of energy for the building depends on the partly form wind energy due to the cladding of the building that came from the surroundings of the high-rise building. In this study of the wind energy, the cladding of the building was assessed a tentative study. The wind energy obtains from several small wind powers that came from the building or the surrounding of the building. In making a cladding the wind energy forms with wind pressure by means of energy transformation methods. The assessment for the building cladding was surrounded of wind speed and wind pressure that was carried out as a result of numerical simulation of wind environment and wind pressure which is coefficient around the high-rise building with the computational fluid dynamics. In case of the obtained wind energy from the pressure of the building cladding was estimated by the simulation of CFD of the building. The wind energy at this case was calculated by energy transform methods: the wind pressure coefficients were obtained from the simulated model for wind environment using CFD as follow. The concept for the factor of $E_f$ was suggested in this study. $$C_p=\frac{P_{surface}}{0.5{\rho}V^{2ref}}$$ $$E_c=C_p{\cdot}E_f$$ Where $C_p$ is wind pressure coefficient from CFD, $E_f$ means energy transformation parameter from the principle of the conservation of energy and $E_c$ means energy from the building cladding. The other wind energy that is $E_p$ was assessed by wind power on the building or building surroundings. In this case the small wind power system was carried out for wind energy on the place with the building and it was simulated by computational fluid dynamics. Therefore the total wind energy in the building was calculated as the follows. $$E=E_c+E_p$$ The energy transformation, which is $E_f$ will need more research and estimation for various wind situation of the building. It is necessary for the assessment to make a comparative study about the wind tunnel test or full scale test.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.59 no.3
• /
• pp.417-428
• /
• 2021

The combustion characteristics of anthracite, which follow a complex process with low reactivity, must be considered through the dynamic behavior of circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was performed to analyze the combustion characteristics of anthracite in a pilot scale 0.1 MW_th Oxy-fuel circulating fluidized bed (Oxy-CFB) boiler. The 0.1MW_th Oxy-CFB boiler is composed of combustor (0.15 m l.D., 10 m High), cyclone, return leg, and so on. To perform CFD analysis, a 3D simulation model reactor was designed and used. The anthracite used in the experiment has an average particle size of 1,070 ㎛ and a density of 2,326 kg/m³. The flow pattern of gas-solids inside the reactor according to the change of combustion environment from air combustion to oxygen combustion was investigated. At this time, it was found that the temperature distribution in air combustion and oxygen combustion showed a similar pattern, but the pressure distribution was lower in oxygen combustion. addition, since it has a higher CO₂ concentration in oxygen combustion than in air combustion, it can be expected that carbon dioxide capture will take place actively. As a result, it was confirmed that this study can contribute to the optimized design and operation of a circulating fluidized bed reactor using anthracite.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.187-192
• /
• 2019

Hybrid power storage system with emergency power function for demand management and power outage minimizes the investment cost in the building of buildings and factories requiring emergency power generation facilities, We propose a new business model by developing technology that can secure economical efficiency by reducing power cost at all times. Normally, system power is supplied to load through STS (Static Transfer Switch), and PCS is connected to system in parallel to perform demand management. In order to efficiently operate the electric power through demand forecasting, the EMS issues a charge / discharge command to the ESS as a PMS (Power Management System), and the PMS transmits the command to the PCS controller to operate the system. During the power outage, the STS is rapidly disengaged from the system, and the PCS becomes an independent power supply and can supply constant voltage / constant frequency power to the load side. Therefore, it is possible to secure reliability through verification of actual system linkage and independent operation performance of hybrid ESS, By enabling low-carbon green growth technology to operate in conjunction with an efficient grid, it is possible to improve irregular power quality and contribute to peak load by generating renewable energy through ESS linkage. In addition, the ESS is replacing the frequency follow-up reserve, which is currently under the charge of coal-fired power generation, and thus it is anticipated that the operation cost of the LNG generator with high fuel cost can be reduced.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.179-188
• /
• 2007

In this work $^{14}C\;and\;^3H$ distribution characteristics of spent resins from nuclear power plants(NPPs), pressurized water reactors(PWRs), was investigated. It was found that the recovery percent of $^{14}C$ by the wet oxidation-acid stripping was $81%{\sim}100%$ for the added activity range of $^{14}C,\;0.72\;Bq{\sim}460\;Bq$, and it was not affected by the kinds of stripping acids, 3N-HCl, $3\;N-HNO_3\;and\;3\;N-H_2SO_4$. And the recovery percent of $^3H$ by distillation using the same apparatus was $81%{\sim}101%$ for the added activity range of $^3H,\;0.60\;Bq{\sim}435\;Bq$. Among the tested stripping acids, 3\;N-HCl, $3\;N-HNO_3\;and\;3\;N-H_2SO_4$, only the trapped $^3H$ solution by distillation in $3\;N-H_2SO_4$ was compatible with the 3H scintillator, Ultimagold XR. Neither of the $^{14}C\;and\;^3H$ trapping solutions from the spent ion exchange resin samples by the wet oxidation-3 $N-H_2SO_4$ stripping contained gamma nuclides. However, some gamma nuclides, $^{60}Co,\;^{134}Cs,\;^{137}Cs\;and\;^{54}Mn$, were found in the trapped $^3H$ solutions of the spent resins by the wet oxidation-3 N-HCl stripping. It was the same for the $^3H$ trapping solutions of the spent resins by Sample Oxidizer(PACKARD MODEL 307). Meanwhile only two nuclides, $^{134}Cs,\;and\;^{134}Cs$, were found in the $^{14}C$ trapping solutions of the spent resins by Sample Oxidizer(PACKARD MODEL 307). It was found that most of the $^{14}C$ in the spent resins existed as inorganic carbon form, more than about 70% of the total $^{14}C$ content. Among the analyzed 30 spent ion exchange resin samples, the average concentration of $^{14}C$ and $^3C$ for the high radioactive samples, 8 samples, was $19000\;Bq/g{\pm}41000\;Bq/g,\;670\;Bq/g{\pm}460\;Bq/g$ and that for the low radioactive samples, 22 samples, was $4.2\;Bq/g{\pm}4.3\;Bq/g,\;6.0\;Bq/g{\pm}5.3\;Bq/g$, respectively. And the average $^{14}C/^3H$ ratio for the high radioactive samples, was higher, 28, than that of low radioactive samples, 0.70. Some linear relationship trend was found between the activity concentrations of $^{14}C\;and\;^3H$.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.340-360
• /
• 2010

The depletion of fossil fuels, ecological problems associated with $CO_2$ emissions climate change, growing world population, and future energy supplies are forcing the development of alternative resources for energy (heat and electricity), transport fuels and chemicals: the replacement of fossil resources with $CO_2$ neutral biomass. Several options exist to cover energy supplies of the future, including solar, wind, and water power; however, chemical carbon source can get from biomass only. When used in combination with environmental friend production and processing technology, the use of biomass can be seen as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical feedstocks. The biorefinery concept is analogous to today's petroleum refinery, which produce multiple fuels and chemical products from petroleum. A biorefinery is a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and equipment to produce fuels, power, and value-added chemicals from biomass. Biorefinery is the co-production of a spectrum of bio-based products (food, feed, materials, and chemicals) and energy (fuels, power, and heat) from biomass [definition IEA Bioenergy Task 42]. By producing multiple products, a biorefinery takes advantage of the various components in biomass and their intermediates therefore maximizing the value derived from the biomass feedstocks. A biorefinery could, for example, produce one or several low-volume, but high-value, chemical or nutraceutical products and a low-value, but high-volume liquid transportation fuel such as biodiesel or bioethanol. Future biorefinery may play a major role in producing chemicals and materials as a bridge between agriculture and chemistry that are traditionally produced from petroleum. Industrial biotechnology is expected to significantly complement or replace the current petroleum-based industry and to play an important role.