• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.219-230
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• 2011

The nuclear fuel cycle (NFC) analysis is a study to set a NFC policy and to promote systematic researches by analyzing technologies and deriving requirements at each stage of a fuel cycle. System analysis techniques are utilized for comparative analysis and assessment of options on a considered system. In case that NFC is taken into consideration various methods of the system analysis techniques could be applied depending on the range of an interest. This study presented NFC analysis strategies for the development of a domestic advanced NFC and analysis techniques applicable to different phases of the analysis. Strategically, NFC analysis necessitates the linkage with technology analyses, domestic and international interests, and a national energy program. In this respect, a trade-off study is readily applicable since it includes various aspects on NFC as metrics and then analyzes the considered NFC options according to the derived metrics. In this study, the trade-off study was identified as a method for NFC analysis with the derived strategies and it was expected to be used for development of an advanced NFC. A technology readiness level (TRL) method and NFC simulation codes could be utilized to obtain the required metrics and data for assessment in the trade-off study. The methodologies would guide a direction of technology development by comparing and assessing technological, economical, environmental, and other aspects on the alternatives. Consequently, they would contribute for systematic development and deployment of an appropriate advanced NFC.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.67-73
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• 2015

Almost base-loaded power plants such as flaming coal and nuclear energy require large-scale transmission facilities (LTFs) in order to send electricity to remote consumption areas. As well known, LTFs incur various social costs. However, a decentralized generation source such as integrated energy business (IEB)-based combined heat and power (CHP) plant is located in nearby electricity-consuming area, and thus it does not demand LTFs, providing the benefits from avoiding the damages caused by them. This study attempts to measure the benefits of avoiding the damages from the LTFs by the use of the contingent valuation (CV) method. To this end, a national survey of randomly chosen 1,000 households was implemented and the public's willingness to pay (WTP) for substituting consumption of electricity generated from flaming coal-fired power plant, currently a dominant generation source in Korea, with that produced from IEB-based CHP plant. The results show that the WTP for the substitution is estimated to be about 41.4 won per kWh. Considering that this value amounts to 33% of the average price of residential electricity in 2014, the external benefit of the IEB-based CHP as a decentralized generation appears to be large.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.126-150
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• 2015

Korea's experiences in the use and development of nuclear energy are recognized as a successful model as a developing country in the international nuclear community. With these experiences, Korea is able to contribute to the progress of Korean nuclear industry and international society as a nuclear advanced country. This paper reviews and analyzes the current situation and major issues in securing the international legal status of RCA Regional Office hosted by Korean Government since 2002. In this connection, major political environments and relevant issues in facilitating the revision of RCA Agreement and securing legal status of the RCARO are also investigated. It is essential to amend the 1987 RCA Agreement or to conclude the its supplementary agreement for the securing of the international legal status of RCA Regional Office at the RCA policy meeting prior to extension of the agreement in 2017 and after. It is recommended for the Korean Government to establish and operate the inter-ministry governmental task force teams to facilitate and support the required actions in the national and diplomatic actions in the regional level for the sustainable development of the RCA and RCA Regional Office.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2015

Currently, 23 nuclear power plants are in operation at Kori, Uljin, Younggwang and Wolsong site and a reference deep geological disposal system has been developed for the spent fuels generated by them. The reference spent fuel for this disposal system has 4.5wt% of initial enrichment, 55 GWd/MtU of burn-up, and 40 years of cooling time. In this paper, to improve disposal efficiency and economic feasibility, the characteristics of spent fuels from nuclear power plants, such as type and burn-up, were reviewed. A disposal canister concept for shorter length and relatively lower burn-up spent fuels than the reference spent fuels was developed. Based on this canister concept, thermal analyses were carried out and a deep geological disposal concept was proposed. Measures of disposal efficiency such as unit disposal area and disposal density were compared between this disposal system and the reference disposal system. Also, economic feasibility, such as the volume reduction of copper, cast iron, and bentonite, was analyzed and the results of these analyses showed that the disposal system proposed in this paper has an efficiency of at least 20%. These results could be used for establishing spent fuel management policy and designing practical disposal systems for spent fuels.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2017

A deep geological disposal at a depth of 500 m in stable host rock is considered to be the safest method with current technologies for disposal of spent fuels classified as high-level radioactive waste. The most important requirement is that the temperature of the bentonite buffer, which is a component of the engineered barrier, should not exceed $100^{\circ}C$. In Korea, the amount of spent fuel generated by nuclear power generation, which accounts for about 30% of the total electricity, is continuously increasing and accumulating. Accordingly, the area required to dispose of it is also increasing. In this study, various duplex disposal concepts were derived for the purpose of improving the disposal efficiency by reducing the disposal area. Based on these concepts, thermal analyses were carried out to confirm whether the critical disposal system requirements were met, and the thermal stability of the disposal system was evaluated by analyzing the results. The results showed that upward 75 m or downward 75 m apart from the reference disposal system location of 500 m depth would qualify for the double layered disposal concept. The results of this study can be applied to the establishment of spent fuel management policy and the design of practical commercial disposal system. Detailed analyses with data of a real disposal site are necessary.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.680-699
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• 2010

In this paper, we attempted to analysis and track dynamic properties of the interdisciplinary relationship between scientific research areas in energy field using bibliometric analysis. We created network maps with SCs (subject categories) defined from $WoS^{\circledR}$ (Web of Science, Thomson Scientific ISI, Philadelphia, USA) using co-occurrence analysis method in order to identify overall disciplines directly linked with energy fields and investigate the change of interaction between SCs as a function of time. From the results of this study, thermodynamics, fuels, chemistry/chemical engineering, and electrochemistry have differentiated into more specific disciplines while the strength of interaction with energy field gradually has increased. Meanwhile, "nuclear physics" was developed to "nuclear science & technology" toward applicable target sector and also the interaction of "environmental science" with "energy generation area" among various energy disciplines recently showed the radical increase as compared with the values of 4 years ago. Finally, through combinative reviews of today's energy policy established by South Korea government, this study will give a help for keeping up with national energy agenda meeting the diverse characteristics of academic disciplines of energy field. In addition, our results support that the use of such network analysis based on bibliometric analysis to discern shifts in academic R&D strategies and target sectors.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.135-150
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• 2012

This paper presents a portfolio model for a long-term power generation mix problem. The proposed portfolio model evaluates generation mix by considering the tradeoffs between the expected cost for power generation and its variability. Unlike conventional portfolio models measuring variance, we introduce Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) in designing the variability with aims to considering events that are enormously expensive but are rare such as nuclear power plant accidents. Further, we consider uncertainties associated with future electricity demand, fuel prices and their correlations, and capital costs for power plant investments. To obtain an objective generation by each energy source, we employ the sample average approximation method that approximates the stochastic objective function by taking the average of large sample values so that provides asymptotic convergence of optimal solutions. In addition, the method includes Monte Carlo simulation techniques in generating random samples from multivariate distributions. Applications of the proposed model and method are demonstrated through a case study of an electricity industry with nuclear, coal, oil (OCGT), and LNG (CCGT) in South Korea.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.45-67
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• 2015

This essay aims to search for the reason of why, even after Fukushima nuclear disaster, Korean citizens did not try to seek out the possibility of another energy option. Firstly, we single two counter-concepts, the configuration of risk communication and scientific citizenship, out from the measure of frequency of co-occurrence key-terms and the analysis of survey on the citizens' scientific perception each. Secondly, we try to interpret the meaning of qualitative data, and finally, we draw out the result as follow. Korean government have driven out the pro-nuclear policy, and in this course have made full use of the discourse of there-is-no-alternative-option. We need to take an attention to the reason of why the discourse can circulate freely in society. From one data, we find out that the configuration of risk communication guarantee government's success. But we also should look at the another side, the scientific citizenship. From another data, we find out that the upstream scientific citizenship, the momentum of preparing alternative, has not been mature, and it is reason of why the discourse have an strong influence.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2000

Nuclear fuel cycle choices and costs are important in considering energy policies, fuel diversity, security of supply and associated social and environmental impacts. Particularly, the nuclear spent fuel is very important in view of high activity and the need of long term management. This study focuses on the comparison of reprocessing and direct disposal of nuclear spent fuel in terms of cost, safety and public acceptability. The results of the study show that the direct disposal is about 7% more economical than the reprocessing. In terms of safety, the results show that the risk of vitrified HLW (high-level radioactive waste) is less than directly disposed spent fuel. For the public acceptability, both of the methods are not well understood and therefore they are not accepted. In conclusion, it is necessary to guarantee the safety of the both spent fuel processing methods through continuous development of associated technology and to have a fuel cycle policy which should consider not only the economics but also social and environmental impacts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 2023

The study is to estimate the social costs of premature deaths due to nuclear power plant(NPP) accidents, by resorting to the contingent valuation method(CVM) which is used to estimate the value of a statistical life(VSL). The VSL estimate is about 3.55 billion won, which is multiplied by some 1.8 million premature deaths due to the accidents in world history of NPP, to get a maximum social cost of 1,952 trillion won. This estimate is equivalent to the 2022 real GDP of Korea. The annual average number of premature deaths and the resulting average social cost is 26,000 and 28 trillion won, respectively. The social cost of premature deaths due not only to accidents, but also the air pollutants from fired power plants(FPP) during 1987~2021 is estimated to be 26,919 trillion won. This is equivalent to 2021 US GDP, and is about 3,000 times higher than that for NPP of 9 trillion won. In 2021, the estimated social costs of FPP and NPP are 1,075 trillion won and 292 billion won, respectively. For South Korea, the study suggests to adapt an energy mix of increased share of electricity production for NPP relative to FPP, given that the 2050 carbon neutrality strategy of Korea is expected to lead to an increased share of renewable energy in electricity production. The study emphasizes accumulating the number of CVM-based VSL studies to ensure efficient energy policies.