• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nuclear Decommissioning

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Activation Evaluation of Radiation Shield Wall (Concrete) in Cyclotron room using the Portable Nclide Analyzer Running Title: Activation Evaluation of Concrete in Cyclotron room (휴대용 핵종분석기를 활용한 사이클로트론실 내 차폐벽 방사화 평가)

  • Kim, Seongcheol;Gwon, Da Yeong;Jeon, Yeoryeong;Han, Jiyoung;Kim, Yongmin
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.41-47
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    • 2021
  • Purpose There are many cyclotrons compared to the land area of the Republic of Korea. Because GMP certification is required and the nuclear medicine test does not apply for insurance, the number of examinations for nuclear medicine is decreasing. Therefore, there is a high probability of early decommissioning of the cyclotron. However, we do not unusually perform the radioactivation evaluation on concrete that can be classified as radioactive waste during the decommissioning of the cyclotron. In this study, we aim to confirm the radioactivation in the concrete surface using Handheld Radionuclide Identification Devices (RIDs). Materials and Methods Because there is no cyclotron being decommissioning in the Republic of Korea, it was impossible to perform the coring of concrete for radioactivation analysis. In this study, we used the KIRAMS-13 and analyzed the concrete surface in the target direction in the cyclotron room. After setting the target direction as the center, radionuclides were measured for about five months at thirty points with vertical and horizontal intervals of 30 cm. We used the RIIDEye(Detector: NaI(Tl) detector, manufacturer: Thermo) in this study and set the measurement time per point to one day (24 hours). Results Co-60 and Cs-137 were detected in some measurement points, and we confirmed the radioactivity of Co-60 detected at the most points. As a result, we found that the radioactivity of Co-60 was high in the diagonal direction (from the lower-left direction to the upper right direction) based on the center of the target. However, we think it is impossible to apply the corresponding results to all cyclotrons because we performed the study using only one cyclotron. Conclusion In thirty measurement points, we could confirm the radioactive nuclides and the relative radioactivity using the results of portable nuclides analyzer. Therefore, we expect that we can use the portable nuclides analyzer to select the coring position of concrete during the decommissioning of the cyclotron. Also, if we secure the radioactivation data for several years, we expect to make a more accurate estimate of radioactive waste during the preparation period of decommissioning of the cyclotron.

Development of reutilization system for Nuclear Power Plant Component using Object-Oriented Systems Engineering Method

  • Yeo, Tae Ho;Kim, Tae Ryong;Kim, Chang Lak
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.69-80
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    • 2016
  • The purpose of this study is to establish a component reutilization system in Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) by Object-Oriented Systems Engineering Method (OOSEM). Unified Modeling Language (UML) is mainly used for OOSEM. Operational Concept (OpsCon), Use cases, Structure Diagrams, and Behavior Diagrams are developed to analyze stakeholders needs, system requirements, logical architecture, and physical architecture. Based on the current decommissioning and purchasing system of the component, some activities from their systems were excepted and additional new activities were developed for a component reutilization system.

Distinct properties of tungsten austenitic stainless alloy as a potential nuclear engineering material

  • Salama, E.;Eissa, M.M.;Tageldin, A.S.
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.51 no.3
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    • pp.784-791
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    • 2019
  • In the present study, a series of tungsten austenitic stainless steel alloys have been developed by interchanging the molybdenum in standard SS316 by tungsten. This was done to minimize the long-life residual activation occurred in molybdenum and nickel after decommissioning of the power plant. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the prepared alloys are determined. For the sake of increasing multifunction property of such series of tungsten-based austenitic stainless steel alloys, gamma shielding properties were studied experimentally by means of NaI(Tl) detector and theoretically calculated by using the XCOM program. Moreover, fast neutrons macroscopic removal cross-section been calculated. The obtained combined mechanical, structural and shielding properties indicated that the modified austenitic stainless steel sample containing 1.79% tungsten and 0.64% molybdenum has preferable properties among all other investigated samples in comparison with the standard SS316. These properties nominate this new composition in several nuclear application domains such as, nuclear shielding domain.

A study on the effect of material impurity concentration on radioactive waste levels for plans for decommissioning of nuclear power plant

  • Gilyong Cha;Minhye Lee;Soonyoung Kim;Minchul Kim;Hyunmin Kim
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.55 no.7
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    • pp.2489-2497
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    • 2023
  • Co and Eu impurities in the SSCs are nuclides that dominantly influence the neutron-induced radioactive inventory in metal and concrete radwastes (radioactive wastes) during NPP decommission. The impurity concentrations provided by NUREG/CR-3474 were used for the practical range of Co and Eu impurity concentrations to be applied to the code calculations. Metal structures near the core were evaluated to be ILW (intermediate-level waste) for the whole range of Co impurity concentration, so the boundary line between ILW and LLW (low-level waste) has no change for the whole concentration range provided by NUREG/CR-3474. Also, the boundary line between VLLW (very low-level waste) and CW (clearance waste) in the concrete shield could alter a little depending on the Eu impurity concentration within the range provided by NUREG/CR-3474. From this work, it is found that the concentration of material impurities of SSCs gives no critical impact on determining radwaste levels.

Internal Dose Assessment of Worker by Radioactive Aerosol Generated During Mechanical Cutting of Radioactive Concrete (원전 방사성 콘크리트 기계적 절단의 방사성 에어로졸에 대한 작업자 내부피폭선량 평가)

  • Park, Jihye;Yang, Wonseok;Chae, Nakkyu;Lee, Minho;Choi, Sungyeol
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.157-167
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    • 2020
  • Removing radioactive concrete is crucial in the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. However, this process generates radioactive aerosols, exposing workers to radiation. Although large amounts of radioactive concrete are generated during decommissioning, studies on the internal exposure of workers to radioactive aerosols generated from the cutting of radioactive concrete are very limited. In this study, therefore, we calculate the internal radiation doses of workers exposed to radioactive aerosols during activities such as drilling and cutting of radioactive concrete, using previous research data. The electrical-mobility-equivalent diameter measured in a previous study was converted to aerodynamic diameter using the Newton-Raphson method. Furthermore, the specific activity of each nuclide in radioactive concrete 10 years after nuclear power plants are shut down was calculated using the ORIGEN code. Eventually, we calculated the committed effective dose for each nuclide using the IMBA software. The maximum effective dose of 152Eu constituted 83.09% of the total dose; moreover, the five highest-ranked elements (152Eu, 154Eu, 60Co, 239Pu, 55Fe) constituted 99.63%. Therefore, we postulate that these major elements could be measured first for rapid radiation exposure management of workers involved in decommissioning of nuclear power plants, even if all radioactive elements in concrete are not considered.

Development of integrated waste management options for irradiated graphite

  • Wareing, Alan;Abrahamsen-Mills, Liam;Fowler, Linda;Grave, Michael;Jarvis, Richard;Metcalfe, Martin;Norris, Simon;Banford, Anthony William
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.49 no.5
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    • pp.1010-1018
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    • 2017
  • The European Treatment and Disposal of Irradiated Graphite and other Carbonaceous Waste project sought to develop best practices in the retrieval, treatment, and disposal of irradiated graphite including other irradiated carbonaceous waste such as structural material made of graphite, nongraphitized carbon bricks, and fuel coatings. Emphasis was given on legacy irradiated graphite, as this represents a significant inventory in respective national waste management programs. This paper provides an overview of the characteristics of graphite irradiated during its use, primarily as a moderator material, within nuclear reactors. It describes the potential techniques applicable to the retrieval, treatment, recycling/reuse, and disposal of these graphite wastes. Considering the lifecycle of nuclear graphite, from manufacture to final disposal, a number of waste management options have been developed. These options consider the techniques and technologies required to address each stage of the lifecycle, such as segregation, treatment, recycle, and ultimate disposal in a radioactive waste repository, providing a toolbox to aid operators and regulators to determine the most appropriate management strategy. It is noted that national waste management programs currently have, or are in the process of developing, respective approaches to irradiated graphite management. The output of the Treatment and Disposal of Irradiated Graphite and other Carbonaceous Waste project is intended to aid these considerations, rather than dictate them.

A basic study 3D model advancement method for nuclear power plant (원자력 발전설비의 3D 모델 상세화 방안에 대한 기초 연구)

  • Lim, Byung-Ki
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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    • 2018.05a
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    • pp.37-38
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    • 2018
  • BIM(Building Information Modeling) in the architecture, VDC(Virtual Design and Construction) defined CIFE(Center for Integrated Facility Engineering) of Stanford university in USA, and Data-driven design definition issued by TECDOC-1284 of IAEA are doing data-level design generated by 3D CAD technology, integrating and managing related information based on the 3D model, and Using 3D models effectively during nuclear power plant life cycle. 3D model of domestic nuclear power industry is using interference review between design fields, 4D system linked 3D construction model and schedule activity, but the 3D model generated in the design phase is effectively not utilized during the construction, operation, decommissioning. therefore, This study is aimed to suggest 3D model LOD(Level of Detail) advancement method through the analysis of existing literature, 2D drawings, and 3D models throughout nuclear power plant lifecycle.

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Nuclear Decommissioning Simulation Using Virtual·Augmented Reality (가상·증강 현실을 이용한 원전 작업에서의 활용 방안)

  • Kang, Dong-Yoon;Kim, Sung-Hyun;Kim, Hee-Cheol
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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    • 2022.05a
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    • pp.566-568
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    • 2022
  • Metaverse is the most emerging technology due to the recent 4th industry and the non-face-to-face society of Corona 19. As one of the core technologies of Metaverse, VR·AR technology is being industrialized in various fields such as medical care, education, and service. Among them, education and training are the most important fields of application, and nuclear power plant operation also requires this technology. In this paper, we will look at the fields of application of VR·AR technology in existing industries and suggest a plan for use in nuclear power plant work.

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Verification of the adequacy of domestic low-level radioactive waste grouping analysis using statistical methods

  • Lee, Dong-Ju;Woo, Hyunjong;Hong, Dae-Seok;Kim, Gi Yong;Oh, Sang-Hee;Seong, Wonjun;Im, Junhyuck;Yang, Jae Hwan
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.54 no.7
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    • pp.2418-2426
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    • 2022
  • The grouping analysis is a method guided by the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency for efficient analysis of radioactive waste for disposal. In this study, experiments to verify the adequacy of grouping analysis were conducted with radioactive soil, concrete, and dry active waste in similar environments. First, analysis results of the major radionuclide concentrations in individual waste samples were reviewed to evaluate whether wastes from similar environments correspond to a single waste stream. As a result, the soil and concrete waste were identified as a single waste stream because the distribution range of radionuclide concentrations was "within a factor of 10", the range that meet the criterion of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a single waste stream. On the other hand, the dry active waste was judged to correspond to distinct waste streams. Second, after analyzing the composite samples prepared by grouping the individual samples, the population means of the values of "composite sample analysis results/individual sample analysis results" were estimated at a 95% confidence level. The results showed that all evaluation values for soil and concrete waste were within the set reference values (0.1-10) when five-package and ten-package grouping analyses were conducted, verifying the adequacy of the grouping analysis.

Simulation of Containment Pressurization in a Large Break-Loss of Coolant Accident Using Single-Cell and Multicell Models and CONTAIN Code

  • Noori-Kalkhoran, Omid;Shirani, Amir Saied;Ahangari, Rohollah
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.48 no.5
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    • pp.1140-1153
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    • 2016
  • Since the inception of nuclear power as a commercial energy source, safety has been recognized as a prime consideration in the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants. The release of radioactivity to the environment requires the failure of multiple safety systems and the breach of three physical barriers: fuel cladding, the reactor cooling system, and containment. In this study, nuclear reactor containment pressurization has been modeled in a large break-loss of coolant accident (LB-LOCA) by programming single-cell and multicell models in MATLAB. First, containment has been considered as a control volume (single-cell model). In addition, spray operation has been added to this model. In the second step, the single-cell model has been developed into a multicell model to consider the effects of the nodalization and spatial location of cells in the containment pressurization in comparison with the single-cell model. In the third step, the accident has been simulated using the CONTAIN 2.0 code. Finally, Bushehr nuclear power plant (BNPP) containment has been considered as a case study. The results of BNPP containment pressurization due to LB-LOCA have been compared between models, final safety analysis report, and CONTAIN code's results.