• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nuclear Power Plant Performance

Search Result 500, Processing Time 0.027 seconds

Ultrasonic Transducer Design for the Axial Flaw Detection of Dissimilar Metal Weld (이종금속 용접부 축방향 결함 검출을 위한 초음파 탐촉자 설계)

  • Yoon, Byung-Sik;Kim, Yong-Sik;Yang, Seung-Han
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
    • /
    • v.31 no.5
    • /
    • pp.536-542
    • /
    • 2011
  • Dissimilar metal welds in nuclear power plant are known as very susceptible to PWSCC flaws, and periodically inspected by the qualified inspector and qualified procedure during in-service inspection period. According to field survey data, the majority of their DMWs are located on tapered nozzle or adjacent to a tapered component. These types of configurations restrict examination access and also limit examination volume coverage. Additionally, circumferential scan for axially oriented flaw is very difficult to detect located on tapered surface because the transducer can't receive flaw response from reflector for miss-orientation. To overcome this miss-orientation, it is necessary adapt skewed ultrasonic transducer accomodate tapered surface. The skewed refracted longitudinal ultrasonic transducer designed by modeling and manufactured from the modelling result for axial flaw detection. Experimental results showed that the skewed refracted longitudinal ultrasonic transducer get higher flaw response than non-skewed refracted longitudinal ultrasonic transducer.

Hydrogen Recombination over Pt/TiO2 Coated Ceramic Honeycomb Catalyst (Pt/TiO2 코팅 세라믹 허니컴 촉매를 이용한 수소 제어)

  • Kang, Youn Suk;Kim, Sung Su;Seo, Phil Won;Lee, Seung Hyun;Hong, Sung Chang
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
    • /
    • v.22 no.6
    • /
    • pp.648-652
    • /
    • 2011
  • Passive autocatalytic recombiner (PAR) is considered as an explosive gas control system in operating NPP plants. This work investigates and evaluates hydrogen recombination performance over manufactured $Pt/TiO_2$ catalysts. When the space velocity increases, the hydrogen conversion decreased, while hydrogen depletion rate (g/sec) increases highly in $35000{\sim}100000hr^{-1}$ Gas Hourly Space Velocity (GHSV). Hydrogen conversion and depletion rate with Pt loading is investigated. As a result, there were no differences in the hydrogen conversion, but exothermic heating rate (K/sec) is increases as Pt loading increases. The catalyst showes a high hydrogen conversion efficiency of 80% under atmospheric conditions.

Effect of ZnO Nanoparticle Presence on SCC Mitigation in Alloy 600 in a Simulated Pressurized Water Reactors Environment

  • Sung-Min Kim;Woon Young Lee;Sekown Oh;Sang-Yul Lee
    • Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
    • /
    • v.56 no.6
    • /
    • pp.401-411
    • /
    • 2023
  • This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles for corrosion resistance and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) mitigation in high-temperature and high-pressure environments. The ZnO nanoparticles are synthesized using plasma discharge in water, resulting in rod-shaped particles with a hexagonal crystal structure. The ZnO nanoparticles are applied to Alloy 600 tubes in simulated nuclear power plant atmospheres to evaluate their effectiveness. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis reveals the formation of thermodynamically stable ZnCr2O4and ZnFe2O4 spinel phases with a depth of approximately 35 nm on the surface after 240 hours of treatment. Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) mitigation experiments reveal that ZnO treatment enhances thermal and mechanical stability. The ZnO-treated specimens exhibit increased maximum temperature tolerance up to 310 ℃ and higher-pressure resistance up to 60 bar compared to non-treated ZnO samples. Measurements of crack length indicate reduced crack propagation in ZnO-treated specimens. The formation of thermodynamically stable Zn spinel structures on the surface of Alloy 600 and the subsequent improvements in surface properties contribute to the enhanced durability and performance of the material in challenging high-temperature and high-pressure environments. These findings have significant implications for the development of corrosion-resistant materials and the mitigation of stress corrosion cracking in various industries.

Preliminary Analysis of the Thermal-Hydraulic Performance of a Passive Containment Cooling System using the MARS-KS1.3 Code (MARS-KS1.3을 이용한 피동원자로건물냉각계통 열수력 성능 예비분석)

  • Bae, Sung Hwan;Ha, Tae Wook;Jeong, Jae Jun;Yun, Byong Jo;Jerng, Dong Wook;Kim, Han Gon
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
    • /
    • v.24 no.3
    • /
    • pp.96-108
    • /
    • 2015
  • A passive containment cooling system has been designed to remove the heat inside a containment during accidents without external power supply. In this work, the PCCS was introduced in the APR1400 plant to replace the containment spray system and, then, the thermal-hydraulic performance of the PCCS was analyzed using the system thermal-hydraulic computer code, MARS. A double-ended cold-leg break accident, which is known to induce the maximum pressure in the containment, is simulated, where the thermal hydraulics of the PCCS, the reactor coolant system, and the containment are simultaneously simulated. The results of the calculations showed that the PCCS can replace the existing spray system and that the containment building and its internal structure also play a very important role for the heat removal during the accident. Some sensitivity calculations were carried out to evaluate the model uncertainty and the effects of design parameters. The limitations of the PCCS are also discussed.

Recent Progress in Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Research : A Review of Papers Published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering in 2013 (설비공학 분야의 최근 연구 동향 : 2013년 학회지 논문에 대한 종합적 고찰)

  • Lee, Dae-Young;Kim, Sa Ryang;Kim, Hyun-Jung;Kim, Dong-Seon;Park, Jun-Seok;Ihm, Pyeong Chan
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
    • /
    • v.26 no.12
    • /
    • pp.605-619
    • /
    • 2014
  • This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2013. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. Conclusions are as follows. (1) The research works on the thermal and fluid engineering have been reviewed as groups of fluid machinery, pipes and relative parts including orifices, dampers and ducts, fuel cells and power plants, cooling and air-conditioning, heat and mass transfer, two phase flow, and the flow around buildings and structures. Research issues dealing with home appliances, flows around buildings, nuclear power plant, and manufacturing processes are newly added in thermal and fluid engineering research area. (2) Research works on heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included the results for general analytical model for desiccant wheels, the effects of water absorption on the thermal conductivity of insulation materials, thermal properties of Octadecane/xGnP shape-stabilized phase change materials and $CO_2$ and $CO_2$-Hydrate mixture, effect of ground source heat pump system, the heat flux meter location for the performance test of a refrigerator vacuum insulation panel, a parallel flow evaporator for a heat pump dryer, the condensation risk assessment of vacuum multi-layer glass and triple glass, optimization of a forced convection type PCM refrigeration module, surface temperature sensor using fluorescent nanoporous thin film. In the area of pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, researches on ammonia inside horizontal smooth small tube, R1234yf on various enhanced surfaces, HFC32/HFC152a on a plain surface, spray cooling up to critical heat flux on a low-fin enhanced surface were actively carried out. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on a fin tube type adsorber, the mass-transfer kinetics of a fin-tube-type adsorption bed, fin-and-tube heat exchangers having sine wave fins and oval tubes, louvered fin heat exchanger were performed. (3) In the field of refrigeration, studies are categorized into three groups namely refrigeration cycle, refrigerant and modeling and control. In the category of refrigeration cycle, studies were focused on the enhancement or optimization of experimental or commercial systems including a R410a VRF(Various Refrigerant Flow) heat pump, a R134a 2-stage screw heat pump and a R134a double-heat source automotive air-conditioner system. In the category of refrigerant, studies were carried out for the application of alternative refrigerants or refrigeration technologies including $CO_2$ water heaters, a R1234yf automotive air-conditioner, a R436b water cooler and a thermoelectric refrigerator. In the category of modeling and control, theoretical and experimental studies were carried out to predict the performance of various thermal and control systems including the long-term energy analysis of a geo-thermal heat pump system coupled to cast-in-place energy piles, the dynamic simulation of a water heater-coupled hybrid heat pump and the numerical simulation of an integral optimum regulating controller for a system heat pump. (4) In building mechanical system research fields, twenty one studies were conducted to achieve effective design of the mechanical systems, and also to maximize the energy efficiency of buildings. The topics of the studies included heating and cooling, HVAC system, ventilation, and renewable energies in the buildings. Proposed designs, performance tests using numerical methods and experiments provide useful information and key data which can improve the energy efficiency of the buildings. (5) The field of architectural environment is mostly focused on indoor environment and building energy. The main researches of indoor environment are related to infiltration, ventilation, leak flow and airtightness performance in residential building. The subjects of building energy are worked on energy saving, operation method and optimum operation of building energy systems. The remained studies are related to the special facility such as cleanroom, internet data center and biosafety laboratory. water supply and drain system, defining standard input variables of BIM (Building Information Modeling) for facility management system, estimating capability and providing operation guidelines of subway station as shelter for refuge and evaluation of pollutant emissions from furniture-like products.

Evaluation of Rheological Properties and Acceptance Criteria of Solidifying Agents for Radioactive Waste Disposal Using Waste Concrete Powder (폐콘크리트를 재활용한 방사성 폐기물용 고화제의 레올로지 특성 및 인수기준 특성평가)

  • Seo, Eun-A;Kim, Do-Gyeum;Lee, Ho-Jea
    • Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
    • /
    • v.10 no.3
    • /
    • pp.276-284
    • /
    • 2022
  • In this study, performance evaluation and rheological characteristics were analyzed for recycling the fine powder of nuclear power plant dismantled waste concrete as a solidifying agent for radioactive waste disposal. The radioactive concrete fine powder was used to prepare a simulated sample, and the test specimen was prepared using Di-water, CoCl2, and 1 mol CsCl aqueous solution as mixing water. Regardless of the aggregate mixing ratio and the type of mixing water, it satisfies the performance standard of 3.45 MPa for compressive strength at 28 days of age. All specimens satisfied the criteria for submersion strength, and the thermal cycle compressive strength satisfies the criteria for all specimens except Plain-50. As a result of evaluating the rheological properties of the solidifying agent, it was found that the increase in the aggregate mixing rate decreased the yield stress and plastic viscosity. The leaching index for cobalt and cesium of all specimens was 6 or higher, which satisfies the standard. In order to secure the stable performance of the solidifying agent, it is considered effective to use 40 % or less of the aggregate component in the solidifying agent.

Experimental Evaluation of Bi-directionally Unbonded Prestressed Concrete Panel Blast Resistance Behavior under Blast Loading Scenario (폭발하중 시나리오에 따른 2방향 비부착 프리스트레스트 콘크리트 패널부재의 폭발저항성능에 대한 실험적 거동 평가)

  • Choi, Ji-Hun;Choi, Seung-Jai;Cho, Chul-Min;Kim, Tae-Kyun;Kim, Jang-Ho Jay
    • Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
    • /
    • v.28 no.6
    • /
    • pp.673-683
    • /
    • 2016
  • In recent years, frequent terror or military attack by explosion, impact, fire accidents have occurred. Particularly, World Trade Center collapse and US Department of Defense Pentagon attack on Sept. 11 of 2001. Also, nuclear power plant incident on Mar. 11 of 2011. These attacks and incidents were raised public concerns and anxiety of potential terrorist attacks on major infrastructures and structures. Therefore, the extreme loading researches were performed of prestressed concrete (PSC) member, which widely used for nuclear containment vessel and gas tank. In this paper, to evaluate the blast resistance capacity and its protective performance of bi-directional unbonded prestressed concrete member, blast tests were carried out on $1,400{\times}1,000{\times}300mm$ for reinforced concrete (RC), prestressed concrete without rebar (PSC), prestressed concrete with rebar (PSRC) specimens. The applied blast load was generated by the detonation of 55 lbs ANFO explosive charge at 1.0 m standoff distance. The data acquisitions not only included blast waves of incident pressure, reflected pressure, and impulse, but also included displacement, acceleration, and strains at steel, concrete, PS tendon. The results can be used as basic research references for related research areas, which include protective design and blast simulation under blast loading.

Characteristics Testing of the ECT Bobbin Probe for Steam Generator Tube Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant (원전 증기발생기 전열관 와전류검사 보빈탐촉자의 특성 시험)

  • Nam, Min-Woo;Lee, Hee-Jong;Cho, Chan-Hee;Yoo, Hyun-Joo
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
    • /
    • v.30 no.4
    • /
    • pp.386-395
    • /
    • 2010
  • The steam generator management program(SGMP) has recently defined the procedures for the qualification of eddy current hardware and technique. These procedures provide two basic methods for qualification. The first way is to qualify the equipment or the probe by using the flaw mechanism and method of the pulled tubes from the heat exchangers or the artificial flawed tubes. The second way is to verify the equivalency with the characteristics of the qualified equipment or probe. In this case, the qualified equipment or probe may be modified to substitute or replace instruments or probes without re-qualification provided that the range of essential variables defined in the examination technique specification sheet are met. This study is to describe the result of the comparative performance evaluation of bobbin coil eddy current probes manufactured by KEPCO Research Institute and probes manufactured by a foreign manufacturer. As a result of this study, although there were minor differences between the two kinds of probes, it was evaluated that the two kinds of probes were almost identical in the significant performance characteristics described in the KEPCO Research Institute guideline.

Experimental Study on Flexural Capacity of Precast Steel Mesh Reinforced Mortar Panel (프리캐스트 스틸메쉬 보강 모르타르 패널의 휨 성능에 대한 실험적 연구)

  • Yi, Na Hyun;Kim, Jang Ho Jay;Lee, Sang Won;Kim, Tae Gyun
    • Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
    • /
    • v.17 no.3
    • /
    • pp.10-19
    • /
    • 2013
  • Recently, researches related to precast modular construction have been actively conducted for nuclear power plant, LNG gas tank, and small-medium PCCV as well as bridges and buildings. In this study, the precast panel cast with steel mesh reinforced mortar (SRM) which is similar reinforced ferrocement was developed for efficient precast construction, construction time reduction, and easy transportation. Mortar mixture with high strength and flowability was obtained from various case studies using silica fume and GGBS. Also, $1,200{\times}600{\times}150mm$ SRM and reinforced concrete (RC) panels were manufactured with reinforcing ratio of 2% and 4%. To verify structural performance of the SRM specimen, the basic material tests, free shrinkage test, and 3-point flexural test with a line loading were carried out. From the test results, it was determined that SRM specimens showed outstanding flexural capacity and ductility. However, the 4% reinforced SRM specimens must consider shear reinforcing to be used as a precast modular member.

Sampling-based Approach for Seismic Probabilistic Risk Assessment (지진 확률론적 리스크 평가를 위한 샘플링기반 접근법)

  • Kwag, Shinyoung;Eem, Seunghyun;Park, Junhee;Choi, In-Kil
    • Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
    • /
    • v.33 no.2
    • /
    • pp.129-136
    • /
    • 2020
  • In this study, we develop a sampling-based seismic probabilistic risk assessment (SPRA) quantification technique that can accurately consider a partially dependent condition of component seismic fragility information. Specifically, the SPRA quantification method is proposed by combining the advantages of two representative methodologies: EPRI seismic fragility and JAERI seismic fragility input-based quantification. The most important feature of the proposed method is that it performs a SPRA using a sampling technique by transforming the EPRI seismic fragility input into JAERI seismic fragility input. When the proposed sampling-based approach was applied to an example of simple system and to a SPRA problem of a nuclear power plant, it was observed that the proposed method yields approximately similar system seismic fragility and seismic risk results as those of the exact solution. Therefore, it is believed that the approach proposed in this study can be used as a useful tool for accurately assessing seismic risks, considering the partial seismic dependence among the components; the existing SPRA method cannot handle such partial dependencies.