• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nuclear energy

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Prediction of Plant Operator Error Mode (원자력발전소 운전원의 오류모드 예측)

  • Lee, H.C.;E. Hollnagel;M. Kaarstad
    • Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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    • 1997.04a
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    • pp.56-60
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    • 1997
  • The study of human erroneous actions has traditionally taken place along two different lines of approach. One has been concerned with finding and explaining the causes of erroneous actions, such as studies in the psychology of "error". The other has been concerned with the qualitative and quantitative prediction of possible erroneous actions, exemplified by the field of human reliability analysis (HRA). Another distinction is also that the former approach has been dominated by an academic point of view, hence emphasising theories, models, and experiments, while the latter has been of a more pragmatic nature, hence putting greater emphasis on data and methods. We have been developing a method to make predictions about error modes. The input to the method is a detailed task description of a set of scenarios for an experiment. This description is then analysed to characterise thd nature of the individual task steps, as well as the conditions under which they must be carried out. The task steps are expressed in terms of a predefined set of cognitive activity types. Following that each task step is examined in terms of a systematic classification of possible error modes and the likely error modes are identified. This effectively constitutes a qualitative analysis of the possibilities for erroneous action in a given task. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the predictions, the data from a large scale experiment were analysed. The experiment used the full-scale nuclear power plant simulator in the Halden Man-Machine Systems Laboratory (HAMMLAB) and used six crews of systematic performance observations by experts using a pre-defined task description, as well as audio and video recordings. The purpose of the analysis was to determine how well the predictions matiched the actually observed performance failures. The results indicated a very acceptable rate of accuracy. The emphasis in this experiment has been to develop a practical method for qualitative performance prediction, i.e., a method that did not require too many resources or specialised human factors knowledge. If such methods are to become practical tools, it is important that they are valid, reliable, and robust.

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How do imaging protocols affect the assessment of root-end fillings?

  • Fernanda Ferrari Esteves Torres;Reinhilde Jacobs;Mostafa EzEldeen;Karla de Faria-Vasconcelos;Juliane Maria Guerreiro-Tanomaru;Bernardo Camargo dos Santos;Mario Tanomaru-Filho
    • Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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    • v.47 no.1
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    • pp.2.1-2.11
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    • 2022
  • Objectives: This study investigated the impact of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT)-based voxel size on the analysis of material/dentin interface voids and thickness of different endodontic cements. Materials and Methods: Following root-end resection and apical preparation, maxillary premolars were filled with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, and intermediate restorative material (IRM) (n = 24). The samples were scanned using micro-CT (SkyScan 1272; Bruker) and the cement/dentin interface and thickness of materials were evaluated at voxel sizes of 5, 10, and 20 ㎛. Analysis of variance and the Tukey test were conducted, and the degree of agreement between different voxel sizes was evaluated using the Bland and Altman method (p < 0.05). Results: All materials showed an increase in thickness from 5 to 10 and 20 ㎛ (p < 0.05). When evaluating the interface voids, materials were similar at 5 ㎛ (p > 0.05), while at 10 and 20 ㎛ Biodentine showed the lowest percentage of voids (p < 0.05). A decrease in the interface voids was observed for MTA and IRM at 20 ㎛, while Biodentine showed differences among all voxel sizes (p < 0.05). The Bland-Altman plots for comparisons among voxel sizes showed the largest deviations when comparing images between 5 and 20 ㎛. Conclusions: Voxel size had an impact on the micro-CT evaluation of thickness and interface voids of endodontic materials. All cements exhibited an increase in thickness and a decrease in the void percentage as the voxel size increased, especially when evaluating images at 20 ㎛.

Enhanced extraction of copper and nickel based on the Egyptian Abu Swayeil copper ore

  • Somia T. Mohamed;Abeer A. Emam;Wael M. Fathy;Amany R. Salem;Amr B. ElDeeb
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.63-78
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    • 2024
  • The continuous increasing of the global demand of copper and nickel metals raises the interest in developing alternative technologies to produce them from copper sulfide ore. Also, in line with Egypt's vision 2030 for achieving the sustainable socioeconomic development which aims at developing alternative and eco-friendly technologies for processing the Egyptian ores to produce these strategic products instead of its importing. These metals enhance the advanced electrical and electronic industries. The current work aims at investigating the recovery of copper and nickel from Abu Swayeil copper ore using pug leaching technique by sulfuric acid. The factors affecting the pug leaching process including the sulfuric acid concentration, leaching time and temperature have been investigated. The copper ore sample was characterized chemically using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX). A response surface methodology develops a quadratic model that expects the nickel and copper leaching effectiveness as a function of three controlling factors involved in the procedure of leaching was also investigated. The obtained results showed that the maximum dissolution efficiency of Ni and Cu are 99.06 % and 95.30%, respectively which was obtained at the following conditions: 15 % H2SO4 acid concentration for 6 hr. at 250 ℃. The dissolution kinetics of nickel and copper that were examined according to heterogeneous model, indicated that the dissolution rates were controlled by surface chemical process during the pug leaching. The activation energy of copper and nickel dissolution were 26.79 kJ.mol-1 and 38.078 kJ.mol-1 respectively; and the surface chemical was proposed as the leaching rate-controlling step.

Establishment of Release Limits for Airborne Effluent into the Environment Based on ALARA Concept (ALARA 개념(槪念)에 의한 기체상방사성물질(氣體狀放射性物質)의 환경방출한도(環境放出限度) 설정(設定))

  • Lee, Byung-Ki;Cha, Moon-Hoe;Nam, Soon-Kwon;Chang, Si-Young;Ha, Chung-Woo
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.50-63
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    • 1985
  • A derivation of new release limit, named Derived Release Limit(DRL), into the atomsphere from a reference nuclear power plant has been performed on the basis of the new system of dose limitation recommended by the ICRP, instead of the (MPC)a limit which has been currently used until now as a general standard for radioactive effluents in Korea. In DRL Calculation, a Concentration Factor Method was applied, in which the concentrations of long-term routinely released radionuclides were in equilibrium with dose in environment under the steady state condition. The analytical model used in the exposure pathway analysis was the one which has been suggested by the USNRC and the exposure limits applied in this analysis were those recommended by the USEPA lately. In the exposure pathway analysis, all of the pathways are not considered and some may be excluded either because they are not applicable or their contribution to the exposure is insignificant compared with other pathways. In case, the environmental model developed in this study was applied to the Kori nuclear power plant as the reference power plant, the highest DRL value was calculated to be as $9.10{\times}10^6Ci/yr$ for Kr-85 in external whole body exposure from the semi-infinite radioactive cloud, while the lowest DRL value was observed 3.64Ci/yr for Co-60 in external whole body exposure from the contaminated ground, by the radioactive particulates. The most critical exposure pathway to an individual in the unrestricted area of interest (Kilchun-Ri, 1.3 km to the north of the release point) seems to be the exposure pathway from the contaminated ground and the most critical radionuclide in all pathways appears to be Co-60 in the same pathway. When comparing the actual release rate from KNU-l in 1982 with the DRL's obtained here the release of radionuclides from KNU-1 were much lower than the DRL's and it could be conclued that the exposure to an individual had been kept below the exposure limits recommended by the USEPA.

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Temperature Dependence of Oxygen Diffusivity in the PVC Film on Gold Electrode Using Steady-State Rotating Disk Electrode Technique and Modulated Electrohydrodynamic Impedance Technique (정상상태 회전원판전극(RDE) 방법과 유체역학적 요동에 의한 전기화학적(EHD) 임피던스방법을 이용한 금전극표면에 형성된 PVC 피막내 산소확산계수의 온도의존성에 대한 연구)

  • Yeon Jei-Won;Pyun Su-Il;Lee Woo-Jin;Choi In-Kyu
    • Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.49-56
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    • 2000
  • In the present we.k, temperature dependence of oxygen diffusivity in the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film $D_f$ formed on gold electrode was investigated using steady-state rotating disk electrode (RDE) technique and modulated electrohydrodynamic (EHD) impedance technique. Both the diffusion rate defined as the ratio of oxygen diffusivity in the PVC film to the film thickness $D_f/\delta_f$ and the time constant $\delta_f^2/D_f$ for oxygen diffusion through the PVC film were obtained from plot of the limiting current versus disk rotation speed and from filing the EHD impedance spectra experimentally measured to those theoretically calculated on the basis of the diffusion equation for mass transport through the non-conductive and porous film, respectively. By combining measured $D_f/\delta_f$ with $\delta_f^2/D_f$, we determined $\delta_f\;and\;D_f$ at room temperature separately. As temperature increased, it appeared that the $D_f$ value measured for the PVC film-covered gold RDE was enhanced more rapidly than that $D_s$ value in the solution measured for the PVC film-free gold RDE. This means that the pores glowing with increasing temperature act as effective diffusion paths within the film. The present in-situ steady-state and modulated EHD measurements prove to be effective for determining $\delta_f\;and\;D_f$, separately and at the same time the porosity of the PVC film at temperatures below glass temperature $T_g$ of the film.

Study on the Small Fields Dosimetry for High Energy Photon-based Radiation Therapy (고에너지 광자선을 이용한 방사선 치료 시 소조사면에서의 흡수선량평가에 관한 연구)

  • Jeong, Hae-Sun;Han, Young-Yih;Kum, O-Yeon;Kim, Chan-Hyeong
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.290-297
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    • 2009
  • In case of radiation treatment using small field high-energy photon beams, an accurate dosimetry is a challenging task because of dosimetrically unfavorable phenomena such as dramatic changes of the dose at the field boundaries, dis-equilibrium of the electrons, and non-uniformity between the detector and the phantom materials. In this study, the absorbed dose in the phantom was measured by using an ion chamber and a diode detector widely used in clinics. $GAFCHROMIC^{(R)}$ EBT films composed of water equivalent materials was also evaluated as a small field detector and compared with ionchamber and diode detectors. The output factors at 10 cm depth of a solid phantom located 100 cm from the 6 MV linear accelerator (Varian, 6 EX) source were measured for 6 field sizes ($5{\times}5\;cm^2$, $2{\times}2\;cm^2$, $1.5{\times}1.5\;cm^2$, $1{\times}1\;cm^2$, $0.7{\times}0.7\;cm^2$ and $0.5{\times}0.5\;cm^2$). As a result, from $5{\times}5\;cm^2$ to $1.5{\times}1.5\;cm^2$ field sizes, absorbed doses from three detectors were accurately identified within 1%. Wheres, the ion chamber underestimated dose compared to other detectors in the field sizes less than $1{\times}1\;cm^2$. In order to correct the observed underestimation, a convolution method was employed to eliminate the volume averaging effect of an ion chamber. Finally, in $1{\times}1\;cm^2$ field the absorbed dose with a diode detector was about 3% higher than that with the EBT film while the dose with the ion chamber after volume correction was 1% lower. For $0.5{\times}0.5\;cm^2$ field, the dose with the diode detector was 1% larger than that with the EBT film while dose with volume corrected ionization chamber was 7% lower. In conclusion, the possibility of $GAFCHROMIC^{(R)}$ EBT film as an small field dosimeter was tested and further investigation will be proceed using Monte Calro simulation.

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Structure and Variation of Tidal Flat Temperature in Gomso Bay, West Coast of Korea (서해안 곰소만 갯벌 온도의 구조 및 변화)

  • Lee, Sang-Ho;Cho, Yang-Ki;You, Kwang-Woo;Kim, Young-Gon;Choi, Hyun-Yong
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.100-112
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    • 2005
  • Soil temperature was measured from the surface to 40 cm depth at three stations with different heights in tidal flat of Gomso Bay, west coast of Korea, for one month in every season 2004 to examine the thermal structure and the variation. Mean temperature in surface layer was higher in summer and lower in winter than in lower layer, reflecting the seasonal variation of vertically propagating structure of temperature by heating and cooling from the tidal flat surface. Standard deviation of temperature decreased from the surface to lower layer. Periodic variations of solar radiation energy and tide mainly caused short term variation of soil temperature, which was also intermittently influenced by precipitation and wind. Time series analysis showed the power spectral energy peaks at the periods of 24, 12 and 8 hours, and the strongest peak appeared at 24 hour period. These peaks can be interpreted as temperature waves forced by variations of solar radiation, diurnal tide and interaction of both variations, respectively. EOF analysis showed that the first and the second modes resolved 96% of variation of vertical temperature structure. The first mode was interpreted as the heating antl cooling from tidal flat surface and the second mode as the effect of phase lag produced by temperature wave propagation in the soil. The phase of heat transfer by 24 hour period wave, analyzed by cross spectrum, showed that mean phase difference of the temperature wave increased almost linearly with the soil depth. The time lags by the phase difference from surface to 10, 20 and 40cm were 3.2,6.5 and 9.8 hours, respectively. Vertical thermal diffusivity of temperature wave of 24 hour period was estimated using one dimensional thermal diffusion model. Average diffusivity over the soil depths and seasons resulted in $0.70{\times}10^{-6}m^2/s$ at the middle station and $0.57{\times}10^{-6}m^2/s$ at the lowest station. The depth-averaged diffusivity was large in spring and small in summer and the seasonal mean diffusivity vertically increased from 2 cm to 10 cm and decreased from 10 cm to 40 cm. Thermal propagation speeds were estimated by $8.75{\times}10^{-4}cm/s,\;3.8{\times}10{-4}cm/s,\;and\;1.7{\times}10^{-4}cm/s$ from 2 cm to 10 cm, 20 cm and 40 cm, respectively, indicating the speed reduction with depth increasing from the surface.

Analysis of the Mean Uranium Valence of $U_{1-y}Er_{y}O_{2{\pm}x}$ Solid Solutions in terms of Lattice Parameter and Oneen Potential (격자상수 및 산소포텐샬에 의한 $U_{1-y}Er_{y}O_{2{\pm}x}$ 고용체의 평균우라늄원자가 분석)

  • Kim, Han-Soo;Sohn, Dong-Seong
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.118-128
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    • 1996
  • The lattice parameters of stoichiometric $UO_2$ and $U_{1-y}Er_{y}O_2$ in the range of y=0.01 to y =0.33 were determined with use of X-ray diffraction data. Oxygen potentials have been measured by means of a thermogravimetric method in the range of 1200~$1500^{\circ}C$ and $10^{-14}$ $\leq$ $Po_2$ $\leq$ $10^{-3}$ for pure $UO_2$ and $U_{1-y}Er_{y}O_{2{\pm}x}$ solid solutions with y=0.02, y=0.06 and y=0.20, respectively. Their oxygen partial pressures were maintained by controlling $CO_2$/CO mixture atmosphere, and the $Po_2$ values corresponding to x of $U_{1-y}Er_{y}O_{2{\pm}x}$ solid solutions were measured with an electrolyte oxygen sensor. The lattice parameter decreases linearly with an increase in the erbium content. The change of the lattice parameter can be expressed in a linear equation of y as a($\AA$) =5.4695-0.220y for 0 $\leq$y$\leq$0.33. The experimental coefficient of y -0.220 in $U_{1-y}Er_{y}O_2$ was an intermediate value between the calculated values -0.273 and -0.156 in the case of $U^{5+}$ and $U^{6+}$, respectively. The (equation omitted) has been found to undergo abrupt increase in the range of -360 to -270 kJ/mole for y=0.06 and -320 to -220 H/mole for y=0.20, respectively, in the temperature range of 1200-$1500^{\circ}C$. (equation omitted) increases with erbium content, but the effect of the dopant for x =0.01 is less significant than that for stoichiometry. The oxygen potentials for $UO_2$ and $U_{0.98}Er_{0.02}O_{2+x}$ can be approximately represented by the $U^{5+}$/$U^{4+}$ model but those for y$\geq$ 0.06 in $U_{1-y}Er_{y}O_{2{\pm}x}$ solid solutions cannot be interpreted by the mean uranium valence model.

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Change in the Measured Value at 99mTc-MDP Administration before and after Bone Density Measurement using the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (이중에너지 X선 흡수법을 이용한 골밀도 측정시 99mTc-MDP 투여 전·후 측정값의 변화)

  • Kang, Yong-Gil;Won, Do-Yeon;Jung, Hong-Moon
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.43-48
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    • 2017
  • Measurement of bone marrow measurements may occur if bone marrow examination performed with bone marrow examination (bone marrow examination) and bone density (bone scan) are performed together recently. Thus, it was examined in clinical aspects that $^{99m}Tc-MDP$ compounds were affected by bone mineral density measurements. The average age of the participants in the experiment was $35.17{\pm}9.45$ and the patient fractures of the lumbar vertebrae that could affect the metabolic disease and bone density measurements affecting the metabolic disease of the 17 subjects. 6 patients with normal bone mineral density T-scores>-1.0 in 12 patients were analyzed before and after the administration of $^{99m}Tc-MDP$. In the lumbar spine, the average of $0.975{\pm}0.084g/cm^2$ and $0.966{\pm}0.078g/cm^2$ were increased by $0.009g/cm^2$. respectively In the right proximal femur, mean values were $0.909{\pm}0.078g/cm^2$ and $0.913{\pm}0.086g/cm^2$. In the right proximal thigh, mean values were $0.909{\pm}0.078g/cm^2$ and $0.913{\pm}0.08 g/cm^2$, respectively, which decreased by $0.004g/cm^2$. In the left side proximal femur, mean $0.887{\pm}0.099g/cm^2$ and $0.881{\pm}0.103g/cm^2$, respectively, increased by $0.007g/cm^2$. Therefore, the BMD changes in the lumbar region were larger than that in the proximal thigh. In addition, $^{99m}Tc-MDP$ did not affect the BMD. And a bone scan test using a technetium-labeled compound emitting a gamma-ray energy of 140 keV did not significantly affect bone density measurements. However, if the nuclear medical examination and the osteoporosis test are to be performed together, the examination should be carried out at intervals considering the exposures of the patient.

The Uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by Paddy Rice from Soil and its Distribution in the Plant (답토양(畓土壤)에서 수도(水稻)의 Strontium-90 흡수(吸收)와 수도체내(水稻體內) 분포(分布))

  • Lim, Soo-Kil;Kim, Jae-Sung;Lee, Young-Il
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.48-54
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    • 1986
  • Because of the drastic development of nuclear industries, the contamination of natural environments by the disposal of radioactive materials which are released from nuclear facilities have aroused a considerable concern in relation to agricultural practices. Therefore the present investigation, through pot experiment, was performed to find out the aspect of the uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by rice plants and its distribution in them in five different types(physicochemical and minerallogical properties) of paddy soils. The results obtained were as follows; 1) Visual toxic symptoms on the growth of rice plant due to treatment of $Sr^{90}$ up to $40{\mu}Ci/10㎏$ in a pot were not observed even though uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by rice plant was proportionally increased with the $Sr^{90}$ treatment. 2) Distribution of $Sr^{90}$ in the rice plant was the highest in the leaves (84.5%) followed in the order by stems (13.5%) and rough grain (2.0%). The ratio of $Sr^{90}$ to Ca was higher in the leaves (872) and stems (667) than in the rice grain (89). 3) $Sr^{90}$ absorption in the rice plant ranged $0.15{\sim}0.30%$ at harvesting time. Uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by rice plants decreased by the increase of soil pH and exchangeable canons in the soils, but $Sr^{90}$ uptake increased when nitrogen, organic matter and clay content in soil was high, and uptake of this nuclide in the rice plant was higher with low Illite and Vermiculite content in the soils.

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