• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2020.12a
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• pp.353-358
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• 2020

Recent efforts to develop a common standard for nuclear power plants (NPPs) with the aim of creating (1) a digital environment for a better understanding of NPPs life-cycle management aspect and (2) engineering data interoperability by using existing standards among different unspecified project participants (e.g., owners/operators, engineers, contractors, equipment suppliers) during plants' life cycle process (EPC, O&M, and decommissioning). In order to meet this goal, there is a need for formulating a standardized high-level physical breakdown structure (PBS) for NPPs project management office (PMO). However, high-level PBS must be comprehensive enough and able to represent the different types of plants and the new trends of technologies in the industry. This has triggered the need for addressing the issues of the recent operational NPPs and future technologies' ramification for evaluating the changes in the NPPs physical components in terms of structure, system, and component (SSC) configuration. In this context, this ongoing study examines the recent conventional NPPs and technological trends in the development of future NPPs facilities. New reactor models regarding the overlap of variant issues of nuclear technology were explored. Finally, issues on PBS for project management are explored by the examination of the configuration of NPPs primary system. The primary systems' configuration of different reactor models is assessed in order to clarify the need for analyzing the new trends in nuclear technology and to formulate a common high-level PBS. Findings and implications are discussed for further studies.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.553-560
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• 2012

This study was conducted to compare the physicochemical and sensory properties of yogurt containing nanopowdered peanut sprouts (NPPS) and powdered peanut sprouts (PPS) at different concentrations (0.05-0.20%, w/v) during storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 16 d. The pH values of NPPS (0.05-0.20%, w/v)-added yogurt were lower than those of PPS-added yogurt. The antiradical scavenging activity and LAB counts were significantly higher in NPPS-added yogurt than in PPS-added yogurt during the storage period of 16 d (p<0.05). Higher concentrations (0.15, and 0.20%) NPPS-added yogurt showed greater antiradical scavenging activity. The LAB counts were ranged from $9.00{\times}10^8$ to $1.10{\times}10^9$ and $1.30{\times}10^9$ to $9.10{\times}10^8$ CFU/mL in 0.05% and 0.20% NPPS-added yogurts, respectively. In sensory testing, 0.05 and 0.10% NPPS-added yogurt showed similar results to the control in whey-off, grainy texture, and overall acceptability. Yellowness and astringent scores increased with increasing addition of NPPS or PPS to the yogurt irrespective of its storage times. Peanut and beany flavors were lower during the storage for 0.05 and 0.10% NPPS-added yogurt. Based on the data obtained from the present study, it was concluded that 0.05 and 0.10%, w/v of NPPS could be used to produce NPPS-added yogurt without significant adverse effects on the physicochemical and sensory properties, but with an enhanced functional value added to the yogurt.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2013

A study was conducted to examine the physicochemical and sensory properties of milk supplemented with nanopowdered peanut sprouts (NPPS) at different concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9%, w/v) during the storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 16 d. The size of NPPS ranged from 300-350 nm as observed by the particle size analyzer. The pH values of all samples ranged from 6.8 to 6.6 during the storage of 16 d. In color, the $L^*$ value of milk samples were not remarkably influenced by NPPS supplementation, whereas the $b^*$ and $a^*$ values significantly increased with the NPPS supplementation at all concentrations at 0 d storage, due to the original yellow color of NPPS powder (p<0.05). DPPH study revealed that higher antioxidant activity of milk supplement with higher concentrations of NPPS. TBARS value found to lower at the lower concentrations (1 and 3%, w/v) of NPPS supplementation. The sensory test revealed that the overall acceptability scores of NPPS supplemented milk samples (1 and 3%, w/v) were quite similar to control throughout the storage period of 16 d. Based on the data obtained from the present study, it was concluded that the concentrations (1 and 3%, w/v) of NPPS could be used to produce NPPS-supplemented milk without significant adverse effects on physicochemical and sensory properties, and enhance functional components from the supplementation.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2018

Despite of safety issues related to radiological hazards, 31 countries around the world are operating more than 450 nuclear power plants (NPPs). To operate NPPs safely, safety regulations from radiation protection organizations were developed and adopted in many countries. However, many cases of radionuclide releases at foreign NPPs have been reported. Almost all commercial NPPs routinely release radioactive materials to the surrounding environments as liquid and gas phases under control. These releases are called 'planned releases' which are planned, regularly monitored, and well documented. Meanwhile, the releases focused in this review, called 'unplanned releases', are neither planned nor monitored by regulatory and/or protection organizations. NPPs are generally composed of various structures, systems and components (SSCs) for safety. Among them, the SSCs near reactors are closely related to safety of NPPs, and typically fabricated to comply with stringent requirements. However, some non-safety related SSCs such as underground pipes may be constructed only according to commercial standards, causing the leakage of radioactive fluids usually containing tritium ($^3H$). This paper discusses SSCs of NPPs and introduces several cases of unplanned releases at foreign NPPs. The current regulation on the environmental radiological surveillance and assessment around the NPPs in South Korea are also examined.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2013

Objective: The aim of this study is to review the job stress measurement for applying in nuclear power plants(NPPs). Background: The standard and guideline to evaluate and manage the job stress is insufficient in NPPs. Although job stress might have a negative effect on task performance particularly it can be related with human error in NPPs. Method/Results: This paper considered the objective and subjective stress measurements. One of the questionnaire(Korean Occupational Stress Scale) and the experiment method was investigated to apply in NPPs. KOSS was analyzed about the inter item consistency and correlation with the workload, and relative importance. In the objective evaluation considered the experiment method for the physical and mental job stress and analyzed from the phased point of view. Conclusion/Application: The measurement and criteria to evaluate job stress for operators must be complemented on the job characters and environments in NPPs. This study may support to confirm and manage the job stress in NPPs. The study of more specific methodology on job stress in NPPs is required on the basis of this paper.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.995-1001
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• 2020

With the development of digital instrumentation and control (I&C) devices, cyber security at nuclear power plants (NPPs) has become a hot issue. The Stuxnet, which destroyed Iran's uranium enrichment facility in 2010, suggests that NPPs could even lead to an accident involving the release of radioactive materials cyber-attacks. However, cyber security research on industrial control systems (ICSs) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems is relatively inadequate compared to information technology (IT) and further it is difficult to study cyber-attack taxonomy for NPPs considering the characteristics of ICSs. The advanced research of cyber-attack taxonomy does not reflect the architectural and inherent characteristics of NPPs and lacks a systematic countermeasure strategy. Therefore, it is necessary to more systematically check the consistency of operators and regulators related to cyber security, as in regulatory guide 5.71 (RG.5.71) and regulatory standard 015 (RS.015). For this reason, this paper attempts to suggest a template for cyber-attack taxonomy based on the characteristics of NPPs and exemplifies a specific cyber-attack case in the template. In addition, this paper proposes a systematic countermeasure strategy by matching the countermeasure with critical digital assets (CDAs). The cyber-attack cases investigated using the proposed cyber-attack taxonomy can be used as data for evaluation and validation of cyber security conformance for digital devices to be applied, and as effective prevention and mitigation for cyber-attacks of NPPs.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.261-286
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• 2018

This paper evaluated the economic feasibility of the life extension of Kori unit 1 and Wolsong unit 1 according to the types of the nuclear power plants (NPPs) and the life extension period comparing to the levelized costs of energy (LCOE) of the new NPPs, coal-fired plants (CFPs), and combined cycle gas turbine (CCGTs) which proposed in the $7^{th}$ Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand. The economic feasibility of the life extension of NPPs using LCOE method is affected by the types of NPPs, lifetime extension periods, discount rate, and capacity factor. According to the analysis results, the pressurized light water reactor (PWR) is more economical than the pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR). Comparing the economical efficiency between the life extension of NPPs and other alternatives, the operation of the PWR for 20 years is more economical than the one of new NPPs and CFPs. However, 20 years of life extension of PHWR is more economical than the CCGTs, but less economical than new NPPs and CFPs. In summary, the 20 years of life extension of the NPPs seems to be more, especially for the PWR, which is more cost effective than other generation alternatives. Therefore, the government policy of the life extension of NPPs need to be a selective approach that simultaneously considers both safety and economics rather than closing all NPPs.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.729-737
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• 2015

Wireless communication technologies, especially smartphones, have become increasingly common. Wireless technology is widely used in general industry and this trend is also expected to grow with the development of wireless technology. However, wireless technology is not currently applied in any domestic operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) because of the highest priority of the safety policy. Wireless technology is required in operating NPPs, however, in order to improve the emergency responses and work efficiency of the operators and maintenance personnel during its operation. The wired telephone network in domestic NPPs can be simply connected to a wireless local area network to use wireless devices. This design change can improve the ability of the operators and personnel to respond to an emergency situation by using important equipment for a safe shutdown. IEEE 802.11 smartphones (Wi-Fi standard), Internet Protocol (IP) phones, personal digital assistant (PDA) for field work, notebooks used with web cameras, and remote site monitoring tablet PCs for on-site testing may be considered as wireless devices that can be used in domestic operating NPPs. Despite its advantages, wireless technology has only been used during the overhaul period in Korean NPPs due to the electromagnetic influence of sensitive equipment and cyber security problems. This paper presents the electromagnetic verification results from major sensitive equipment after using wireless devices in domestic operating NPPs. It also provides a solution for electromagnetic interference/radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI) from portable and fixed wireless devices with a Wi-Fi communication environment within domestic NPPs.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.2221-2229
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• 2020

After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP) accident, level 3 probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) has emerged as an important task in order to assess the risk level of the multi-unit NPPs in a single nuclear site. Accurate calculation of the radionuclide concentrations and exposure doses to the public is required if a nuclear site has multi-unit NPPs and large number of people live near NPPs. So, there has been a great need to develop a new method or procedure for the fast and accurate offsite consequence calculation for the multi-unit NPP accident analysis. Since the multi-unit level 3 PSA is being currently performed assuming that all the NPPs are located at the same position such as a center of mass (COM) or base NPP position, radionuclide concentrations or exposure doses near NPPs can be drastically distorted depending on the locations, multi-unit NPP alignment, and the wind direction. In order to overcome this disadvantage of the COM method, the idea of a new multiple location (ML) method was proposed and implemented into a new tool MURCC (multi-unit radiological consequence calculator). Furthermore, the MURCC code was further improved for the multi-unit level 3 PSA that has the arbitrary number of multi-unit NPPs. The objectives of this study are to (1) qualitatively and quantitatively compare COM and ML methods, and (2) demonstrate the strength and efficiency of the ML method. The strength of the ML method was demonstrated by the applications to the multi-unit long-term station blackout (LTSBO) accidents at the four-unit Vogtle NPPs. Thus, it is strongly recommended that this ML method be employed for the offsite consequence analysis of the multi-unit NPP accidents.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.28-43
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• 2023

Background: High-fidelity meteorological data is a prerequisite for the realistic simulation of atmospheric dispersion of radioactive materials near nuclear power plants (NPPs). However, many meteorological models frequently overestimate near-surface wind speeds, failing to represent local meteorological conditions near NPPs. This study presents a new high-resolution (approximately 1 km) meteorological downscaling method for modeling short-range (< 100 km) atmospheric dispersion of accidental NPP plumes. Materials and Methods: Six considerations from literature reviews have been suggested for a new dynamic downscaling method. The dynamic downscaling method is developed based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model version 3.6.1, applying high-resolution land-use and topography data. In addition, a new subgrid-scale topographic drag parameterization has been implemented for a realistic representation of the atmospheric surface-layer momentum transfer. Finally, a year-long simulation for the Kori and Wolsong NPPs, located in southeastern coastal areas, has been made for 2016 and evaluated against operational surface meteorological measurements and the NPPs' on-site weather stations. Results and Discussion: The new dynamic downscaling method can represent multiscale atmospheric motions from the synoptic to the boundary-layer scales and produce three-dimensional local meteorological fields near the NPPs with a 1.2 km grid resolution. Comparing the year-long simulation against the measurements showed a salient improvement in simulating near-surface wind fields by reducing the root mean square error of approximately 1 m/s. Furthermore, the improved wind field simulation led to a better agreement in the Eulerian estimate of the local atmospheric dispersion. The new subgrid-scale topographic drag parameterization was essential for improved performance, suggesting the importance of the subgrid-scale momentum interactions in the atmospheric surface layer. Conclusion: A new dynamic downscaling method has been developed to produce high-resolution local meteorological fields around the Kori and Wolsong NPPs, which can be used in short-range atmospheric dispersion modeling near the NPPs.