• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1977

A base of photographic posi-film which is commecially available has been found to be a possible alpha-particle track detector. Its neutron dosimetric characteristics, i. e., alpha-particle track registrating efficiency and optimum condition of track formation by chemical etching, have been determined experimentally. The range of neutron fluence and dose capable of being measured by a neutron dosimeter consisting of alpha-particle radiator foils $(^{10}B\;and\;^{27}Al)$ and posi-flim solid state track detector, has been estimated on the basis of experimental results and theoryetical background. This detector seems to be useful for neutron dosimetry because of many favorable properties, i. e., simplicity, cheapness and a wide range of sensitivitiy.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2017

Nuclear fuel cladding tube is fabricated by pilgering and annealing process. In order to remove impurity and oxygen layer on the surface, pickling process is carried out. When Zirconium(Zr) is dissolved and saturated in acid solution during the pickling process, all the waste acid including Zr is disposed. Therefore, $BaF_2$ is added into the waste acid to extract Zr and $Ba_2ZrF_8$ is subsequently formed. To recycle Zr by electrowinning process, $Ba_2ZrF_8$ is used as electrolyte, but it has high melting point ($1053^{\circ}C$). $ZrF_4$ should be added into $Ba_2ZrF_8$ to decrease the melting point. In this paper, it was investigated that $Ba_2ZrF_8$ was separated to $BaF_2$ and $ZrF_4$ by vacuum distillation. Firstly, $BaF_2$ with different particle size ($1{\mu}m$, $35{\mu}m$, $110{\mu}m$) was added into the waste acid and the respective precipitation property was estimated. $BaF_2$ obtained by vacuum distillation was shattered by ball-milling with different time. The precipitation efficiency was compared with $1{\mu}m$ of ${BaF_2}^{\prime}s$ one, which was not used as precipitation agent.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.669-672
• /
• 2006

고온가스냉각 원자로에서는 고온 안정성 및 핵분열생성물 차단 성능이 우수한 TRISO(tri-tsotropic) 핵연료를 사용하고 있다. TRISO 핵연료 입자는 직경이 약 1 mm인 구 형태로 입자의 중심에는 직경 $0.5{\mu}m$의 핵연료 커널(kernel)이 포함되며 커널 외곽을 코팅 층이 에워싸고 있다. 이 코팅 층은 완충(buffer) PyC(pyrolytic carbon) 층, 내부 PyC 층, SiC 층, 그리고 외부 PyC 층으로 구성되어 있다. 각 코팅 층의 두께는 수십${\sim}$백 ${\mu}m$ 범위이며, 본 연구에서는 각 코팅 층의 두께를 비파괴적으로 측정하기 위하여 마이크로포커스 X-선 발생장치와 고해상도 X-선 평판(flat panel) 검출기로 구성된 정밀한 X-선 래디오그래피 장치를 구성하고, $UO_2$ 핵물질 대신에 $ZrO_2$를 커널로 사용한 모의 TRISO 핵연료 입자에 대한 래디오그래피 영상을 획득한 후 디지털 영상처리기술을 이용하여 코팅 층 사이의 경계선이 구분 가능하도록 영상을 개선하고 디지털 영상처리 알고리즘을 개발하여 코팅 층의 두께를 측정하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.713-716
• /
• 2005

차세대 원자로로 부각되고 있는 고온가스냉각 원자로에서는 고온 안정성 및 핵분열생성물 차단 성능이 우수한 TRISO(Tri-Isotropic) 핵연료를 사용하고 있다. TRISO 핵연료 입자는 직경이 약 1mm인 구 형태로 입자의 중심에는 직경 $0.35^{\sim}0.6\;{\mu}m$의 핵연료 입자가 포함되며 입자 외곽을 코팅 층이 에워 싸고 있다. 이 코팅층은 완충(buffer) PyC 층, 내부 PyC 층, 외부 PyC 층으로 구성되어 있다. 각 코팅 층의 두께를 수십$^{\sim}$백 ${\mu}m$ 범위이며 사양으로 정해져 있어 핵연료 입자 제조 후 사양을 만족하는지를 검사해야 한다. 본 연구에서는 TRISO 핵연료 입자 정보를 컴퓨터로 생성하고 가상의 X-선 래디오그래피 방법을 이용하여 투시 영상을 구성한 후 Filtered Backprojection 기법을 이용하여 단면 영상을 재구성하고 이 단면 영상을 이용하여 코팅 층의 두께를 정밀하게 측정하기 위한 모의 실험을 수행하였다. 경계선이 불명확한 투시영상이 아닌 경계선이 명확한 재구성 단면 영상을 이용하여 코팅 층의 두께를 약 2.3% 이내의 오차율로 정밀하게 측정하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
• /
• 1997.05b
• /
• pp.445-450
• /
• 1997

Self-Powered Neutron Detectors(SPNDs) are currently used to estimate the power generation distribution and fuel burn-up in several nuclear power reactors in Korea. In this paper, Monte Carlo simulation is accomplished to calculate the escape probability of beta particle as a function of their birth position fur the typical geometry of rhodium-based SPNDs. Also, a simple numerical method calculates the initial generation rate of beta particles and the change of generation rate due to rhodium burn-up. Using the simulation and the numerical method, the burn-up profile of rhodium density and the neutron sensitivity are calculated as a function of burn-up time in the reactor. The sensitivity of the SPNDs decreases non-linearly due to the high absorption cross-section and the non-uniform burn-up of rhodium in the emitter rod. In addition, for improvement of some properties of rhodium-based SPNDs which are currently used, this paper presents a new material. The method used here can be applied to the analysis of other types of SPNDs and will be useful in the optimum design of new SPNDs for long term usage.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2017

The heavy water zero power reactor (HWZPR), which is a critical assembly with a maximum power of 100 W, can be used in different lattice pitches. The last change of core configuration was from a lattice pitch of 18-20 cm. Based on regulations, prior to the first operation of the reactor, a new core was simulated with MCNP (Monte Carlo N-Particle)-4C and WIMS (Winfrith Improved Multigroup Scheme)-CITATON codes. To investigate the criticality of this core, the effective multiplication factor ($K_{eff}$) versus heavy water level, and the critical water level were calculated. Then, for safety considerations, the reactivity worth of $D_2O$, the reactivity worth of safety and control rods, and temperature reactivity coefficients for the fuel and the moderator, were calculated. The results show that the relevant criteria in the safety analysis report were satisfied in the new core. Therefore, with the permission of the reactor safety committee, the first criticality operation was conducted, and important physical parameters were measured experimentally. The results were compared with the corresponding values in the original core.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2011

A mobile laser-induced breakdown detection (LIBD) system was developed for the field measurement of the size and concentration of aquatic colloidal nanoparticles sampled from Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Underground Research Tunnel (KURT). The established LIBD apparatus is based on the optical detection of a laser-induced plasma by means of a two-dimensional optical imaging method for determining the size of nanoparticle. Calibration curve for determining the size of nanoparticle was obtained from the polystyrene reference particles of a well-defined size. The first direct application was made at KURT for investigating the particle sizes in groundwater. By comparing the size of particles in groundwater with the sizes of reference particles, the mean particle size of approximately $108{\pm}26$ nm with the concentration lower than 50 ppb was determined.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.384-390
• /
• 2016

Tri-isotropic (TRISO) coatings on zirconia surrogate beads are deposited using a fluidized-bed vapor deposition (FB-CVD) method. The silicon carbide layer is particularly important among the coated layers because it acts as a miniature pressure vessel and a diffusion barrier to gaseous and metallic fission products in the TRISO-coated particles. In this study, we obtain a nearly stoichiometric composition in the SiC layer coated at $1400^{\circ}C$, $1500^{\circ}C$, and $1400^{\circ}C$ with 20 vol.% methyltrichlorosilane (MTS), However, the composition of the SiC layer coated at $1300-1350^{\circ}C$ shows a difference from the stoichiometric ratio (1:1). The density decreases remarkably with decreasing SiC deposition temperature because of the nanosized pores. The high density of the SiC layer (${\geq}3.19g/cm^2$) easily obtained at $1500^{\circ}C$ and $1400^{\circ}C$ with 20 vol.% MTS did not change at an annealing temperature of $1900^{\circ}C$, simulating the reactor operating temperature. The evaluation of the mechanical properties is limited because of the inaccurate values of hardness and Young's modulus measured by the nano-indentation method.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2009

Cryogenic cutting technology is one of the most suitable technologies for dismantling nuclear facilities due to the fact that a secondary waste is not generated during the cutting process. In this paper, the feasibility of cryogenic cutting technology was investigated by using a computer simulation. In the computer simulation, a hybrid method combined with the SPH (smoothed particle hydrodynamics) method and the FE (finite element) method was used. And also, a penetration depth equation, for the design of the cryogenic cutting system, was used and the design variables and operation conditions to cut a 10 mm thickness for steel were determined. Finally, the main components of the cryogenic cutting system were manufactures on the basis of the obtained design variables and operation conditions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.274-279
• /
• 1996

Diffusion coefficient is a critical parameter for predicting radiological source term(migration rate and flux of radionuclide) through given near field conditions in spent fuel or high level waste repository. The effect of exchangeable cation-$Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+} - on the diffusion of $I^- \;and^3H$ (as HTO) in compacted bentonite was examined using a through-diffusion method. Bentonite material used here was compacted to a density of 1.3 Mg/m$^3$, and Na-bentonite was saturated with a solution of 100 mol NaCl/m$^3$ and Ca-bentonite with 50 $mol\;CaCl_2$/m$^3$. The results show that effective diffusion coefficients are generally higher by a factor of two to five in Ca-than Na-clay. This is attributed to the larger particle size of Ca-compared to Na-bentonite; hence, Ca-bentonite has a greater proportion of relatively large pores, which make a greater contribution to mass transport than small pores. Although the nature of the exchangeable cation affects mass diffusion in compacted bentonite, the effect is small and not likely to influence performance assessment modeling of compacted bentonite-based barriers.