• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nuclear power plant decommissioning

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Development of an information reference system using reconstruction models of nuclear power plants

  • Harazono, Yuki;Kimura, Taro;Ishii, Hirotake;Shimoda, Hiroshi;Kouda, Yuya
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.50 no.4
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    • pp.606-612
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    • 2018
  • Many nuclear power plants in Japan are approaching the end of their planned operational life spans. They must be decommissioned safely in the near future. Using augmented reality (AR), workers can intuitively understand information related to decommissioning work. Three-dimensional (work-site) reconstruction models of dismantling fields are useful for workers to observe the conditions of dismantling field situations without visiting the actual fields. This study, based on AR and work-site reconstruction models, developed and evaluated an information reference system. The evaluation consists of questionnaires and interview surveys administered to six nuclear power plant workers who used this system, along with a scenario. Results highlight the possibility of reducing time and mitigating mistakes in dismantling fields. Results also show the ease of referring to information in dismantling fields. Nevertheless, it is apparently difficult for workers to build reconstruction models of dismantling fields independently.

Safety Analysis of Concrete Treatment Workers in Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plant

  • Hwang, Young Hwan;Kim, Si Young;Lee, Mi-Hyun;Hong, Sang Beom;Kim, Cheon-Woo
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.349-356
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    • 2022
  • Nuclear power plant decommissioning generates significant concrete waste, which is slightly contaminated, and expected to be classified as clearance concrete waste. Clearance concrete waste is generally crushed into rubble at the site or a satellite treatment facility for practical disposal purposes. During the process, workers are exposed to radiation from the nuclides in concrete waste. The treatment processes consist of concrete cutting/crushing, transportation, and loading/unloading. Workers' radiation exposure during the process was systematically studied. A shielding package comprising a cylindrical and hexahedron structure was considered to reduce workers' radiation exposure, and improved the treatment process's efficiency. The shielding package's effect on workers' radiation exposure during the cutting and crushing process was also studied. The calculated annual radiation exposure of concrete treatment workers was below 1 mSv, which is the annual radiation exposure limit for members of the public. It was also found that workers involved in cutting and crushing were exposed the most.

Flow Characteristics Analysis for the Chemical Decontamination of the Kori-1 Nuclear Power Plant

  • Cho, Seo-Yeon;Kim, ByongSup;Bang, Youngsuk;Kim, KeonYeop
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.51-58
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    • 2021
  • Chemical decontamination of primary systems in a nuclear power plant (NPP) prior to commencing the main decommissioning activities is required to reduce radiation exposure during its process. The entire process is repeated until the desired decontamination factor is obtained. To achieve improved decontamination factors over a shorter time with fewer cycles, the appropriate flow characteristics are required. In addition, to prepare an operating procedure that is adaptable to various conditions and situations, the transient analysis results would be required for operator action and system impact assessment. In this study, the flow characteristics in the steady-state and transient conditions for the chemical decontamination operations of the Kori-1 NPP were analyzed and compared via the MARS-KS code simulation. Loss of residual heat removal (RHR) and steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) simulations were conducted for the postulated abnormal events. Loss of RHR results showed the reactor coolant system (RCS) temperature increase, which can damage the reactor coolant pump (RCP)s by its cavitation. The SGTR results indicated a void formation in the RCS interior by the decrease in pressurizer (PZR) pressure, which can cause surface exposure and tripping of the RCPs unless proper actions are taken before the required pressure limit is achieved.

A Study on Annual Release Objectives and Annual Release Limits of Gaseous Effluents During Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants (원전 해체 시 기체상 유출물의 연간 방출관리치 및 방출한도치에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Seung-Hee;Hwang, Won-Tae;Kim, Chang-Lak
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.299-311
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    • 2019
  • Decommissioning is a critical issue in Korea. Although compared with the operation of nuclear power plants the release of radioactive materials during decommissioning is not expected to be significant, residents should always be protected from radiation exposure. To manage this effectively, Annual Release Objectives (ARO) and Annual Release Limits (ARL) were derived from dose standards in the NSSC Notice and dose limit for the public. Based on meteorological data for the three years from 2008 to 2010 in the Shin Kori nuclear power plant site, atmospheric dispersion and ground deposition factors of gaseous effluent were evaluated using the XOQDOQ computer code. The exposure dose was evaluated using the ENDOS-G computer code. Because of differences in radiological sensitivity according to age groups, the results of Annual Release Objectives (ARO) and Annual Release Limits (ARL) showed significant differences depending on the radionuclides. The evaluation methodology of this study will provide meaningful information for radioactive effluent management for decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

The Dismantling and Disposal Strategy of a Biological Shield for Minimization of Radioactive Concrete Waste During Decommissioning of a Nuclear Power Plant (원전 해체 방사성 콘크리트 폐기물 최소화를 위한 생물학적 차폐체 제거 및 처분 전략)

  • Cheon, Cheol-Seung;Kim, Chang-Lak
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.355-367
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    • 2017
  • The decommissioning of Kori unit 1, which was permanently shut down in June of 2017, will be the first instance of the dismantling of a commercial nuclear power plant in Korea. The disposal of waste during the dismantling process accounts for a large part of the total decommissioning cost. Therefore, structures consisting of activated and contaminated concrete must be economically and safely dismantled by establishing a proper dismantling strategy. This study focuses on optimized dismantling and disposal scenarios pertaining to a biological shield. Several dismantling cases, regulations and technologies related to waste treatment as these practices pertain to nuclear power plants are analyzed. To minimize the amount of waste from the biological shield dismantling process, an optimized dismantling scenario is presented and disposal alternatives for dismantled concrete waste are proposed.

An Operating Strategy of In-house Power Supply Systems in the Permanent Shutdown Nuclear Power Plant (원자력발전소 영구정지 시 소내전력공급계통 운영방안)

  • Lim, Hee-Taek;Lee, Kwang-Dae;Jeon, Dang-Hee;Youn, Jong-Hyun;Joo, Ik-Deok
    • The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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    • v.67 no.2
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    • pp.337-342
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    • 2018
  • Spent fuel is moved from the reactor into the spent fuel pool when nuclear power plant permanently shutdown. The sole function of a permanently defueled facility is to store spent fuel in a quiescent state. The function of electric system and loads are reduced. It is necessary to establish an operating strategy of electric system in the permanent shutdown nuclear plant. This paper reviews required loads and design criteria considering transition to permanent shutdown. An operating strategy of onsite electric system is proposed considering decommissioning strategy and stage of defueled condition.

An Analysis on the DCGL setting Method of the United States for Demonstrating Nuclear Power Plants Site Release Criteria (국내 원전 부지 해제 기준 준수 입증을 위한 미국의 유도농도기준(DCGL) 설정 방법에 대한 분석)

  • Jeon, Yeo Ryeong;Park, Sang June;Ahn, Seokyoung;Lee, Jong Seh;Kim, Yongmin
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.1-8
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    • 2017
  • The U.S. NRC establishes a radiological criteria with regard to restricted or unrestricted use of nuclear plant site after decommissioning in NUREG-1757. According to this, a nuclear plant site can be released in a restricted way or unrestricted way only if a licensee demonstrates that the dose criteria is fulfilled after the site decontamination and remediation. In order to prove compliance with the radiological criteria of site release, LTP(License Termination Plan) must include the site release criteria, site characterization, final survey plan with major radionuclides and DCGL(Derived Concentration Guideline Levels), etc. Based on the decommissioning case of Rancho Seco nuclear power plant in the United States, this paper analyzed a method of setting the DCGL that can be applied to Kori NPP Unit 1 which will be permanently disabled in 2017.

A Study on the Assessment of Source-term for PWR Primary System Using MonteCarlo Code (MonteCarlo 코드를 이용한 PWR 일차 계통 선원항 평가에 관한 연구)

  • Song, Jong Soon;Lee, Sang Heon;Shin, Seung Su
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.331-337
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    • 2018
  • The decommissioning of nuclear power plants is generally executed in five steps, including preparation, decontamination, cutting/demolition, waste disposal and environmental restoration. So, for efficient decommissioning of nuclear power plants, worker safety, effects compared to cost, minimization of waste, possibility of reuse, etc., shall be considered. Worker safety and measurement technology shall be secured to exert optimal efficiency of nuclear power plant decommissioning work, for which accurate measurement technology for systems and devices is necessary. Typical In-Situ methods for decommissioning of nuclear plants are CZT, Gamma Camera and ISOCS. This study used ISOCS, which can be applied during the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant site without collecting representative samples, to take measurements of the S/G Water Chamber. To validate the measurement values, Microshield and the GEANT4 code was used as the actual method were used for modeling, respectively. The comparison showed a difference of $1.0{\times}10^1Bq$, which indicates that it will be possible to reduce errors due to the influence of radiation in the natural environment and the precision of modeling. Based on the research results of this paper, accuracy and reliability of measurement values will be analyzed and the applicability of the direct measurement method during the decommissioning of NPPs will be assessed.

Review of the Acceptance Criteria of Very Low Level Radioactive Waste for the Disposal of Decommissioning Waste (극저준위 해체폐기물 처분을 위한 방사성폐기물 인수기준 분석)

  • Kim, Beomin;Kim, Chang-Lak
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.165-169
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    • 2014
  • In order to use the nuclear energy as the sustainable energy source, the safe and efficient management of radioactive wastes generated from the nuclear fuel cycle including NPP decommissioning is one of the most important factors. The establishment of acceptance criteria for very low level radioactive wastes generated from decommissioning of nuclear power plant in a large quantity is seemed to play a key role for developing a radioactive wastes disposal strategy as well as NPP decommissioning strategy. In this thesis, we want to review the acceptance criteria of low-and-intermediate-level radioactive wastes in this country through the analysis of other country's acceptance criteria.