• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 2016

Decommissioning of nuclear power plants has become a big issue in South Korea as some of the nuclear power plants in operation including Kori unit 1 and Wolsung unit 1 are getting old. Recently, Wolsung unit 1 received permission to continue operation while Kori unit 1 will shut down permanently in June 2017. With the consideration of segmentation method and disposal containers, this paper evaluated final disposal amount of radioactive waste generated from decommissioning of the reactor pressure vessel in Kori unit 1 which will be decommissioned as the first in South Korea. The evaluation results indicated that the final disposal amount from the top and bottom heads of the reactor pressure vessel with hemisphere shape decreased as they were cut in smaller more effectively than the cylindrical part of the reactor pressure vessel. It was also investigated that 200 L and 320 L radioactive waste disposal containers used in Kyung-Ju disposal facility had low payload efficiency because of loading weight limitation.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2013

A novel methodology to evaluate remote dismantling equipment for a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) in a decommissioning project is presented in this paper. The remote dismantling equipment, mainly composed of cutting tools and positioning equipment, is absolutely required to cut and handle highly radioactive and large components in nuclear power plants (NPPs); this equipment has a great effect on the overall success of the decommissioning project. Conventional evaluation methods have only focused on cutting technologies or positioning equipment, although remote dismantling equipment cannot achieve its goal without organic interaction between the cutting tools and the positioning equipment. In this paper, the cutting tools and the positioning equipment are evaluated by performance parameters according to their original characteristics, the relationship between the two systems, and common factors. Finally, the remote dismantling equipment used in recent decommissioning projects has been evaluated based on the proposed methodology. The results of this paper are expected to be useful for future decommissioning projects.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.1100-1107
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• 2024

The nuclear waste attributes of near-term deployable SMRs were assessed using established nuclear waste metrics, which are the DU mass, SNF mass, volume, activity, decay heat, radiotoxicity, and decommissioning LLW volumes. Metrics normalized per unit electricity generation were compared to a reference large PWR. Three SMRs, VOYGR, Natrium, and Xe-100, were selected because they represent a range of reactor and fuel technologies and are active designs deployable by the decade's end. The SMR nuclear waste attributes show both some similarities to the PWR and some significant differences caused by reactor-specific design features. The DU mass is equivalent to or slightly higher than the PWR. Back-end waste attributes for SNF disposition vary, but the differences have a limited impact on long-term repository isolation. SMR designs can vary significantly in SNF volume (and thus heat generation density). However, these differences are amenable to design optimization for handling, storage, transportation, and disposal technologies. Nuclear waste attributes from decommissioning vary depending on design and decommissioning technology choices. Given the analysis results in this study and assuming appropriate waste management system and operational optimization, there appear to be no major challenges to managing SMR nuclear wastes compared to the reference PWR.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.493-500
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to derive derived concentration guideline levels (DCGLs) reflecting the site-specific characteristics of KRR-1&2. A total of 7 nuclides (H-3, C-14, Co-60, Sr-90, Cs-137, Eu-152, and Eu-154) were selected for DCGLs derivation. Radiation dose at the sites was evaluated with RESRAD-ONSITE program. The dose contribution due to direct external exposure was the highest during the entire evaluation period. Ingestion had the second effect. The DCGLs of Co-60 was derived to be 0.051 Bq/g, and DCGLs of Cs-137 was 0.193 Bq/g. The DCGLs of H-3 showed the highest value of 129 Bq/g. The ratio of DCGLs derived by applying site-specific values and default values ranged from 0.27 to 19.6. For six nuclides excluding H-3, KRR-1&2 sites and the overseas NPP sites showed similar DCGLs. H-3 showed large differences in DCGLs from this study and overseas NPPs. The large difference resulted from input parameter values applied to the sites. In conclusion, it is critical to apply site-specific parameter values reflecting the site characteristics to derive DCGLs for decommissioned site clearance. The result of this study can be used as a reference for nuclide selection and DCGLs derivation reflecting the site characteristics when decommissioning nuclear facilities, including nuclear power plants in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.403.1-403
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• 2002

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.638-644
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• 2017

The importance of developing a source-term assessment technology has been emphasized owing to the decommissioning of Kori nuclear power plant (NPP) Unit 1 and the increase of deteriorated NPPs. We analyzed the behavioral mechanism of corrosion products in the primary system of a pressurized heavy-water reactor-type NPP. In addition, to check the possibility of applying the CRUDTRAN code to a Canadian Deuterium Uranium Reactor (CANDU)-type NPP, the type was assessed using collected domestic onsite data. With the assessment results, it was possible to predict trends according to operating cycles. Values estimated using the code were similar to the measured values. The results of this study are expected to be used to manage the radiation exposures of operators in high-radiation areas and to predict decommissioning processes in the primary system.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2024

In Publication No. 66 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, an activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) of 5 ㎛ is considered in internal exposure dose assessment owing to inhalation of radionuclides in a workplace. However, analysis of aerosols generated during dismantling experiments, such as in the oxy-cutting of a reactor vessel conducted in Korea, revealed that the radioactive aerosols have AMAD ranging from 0.024 to 0.064 ㎛. Such extremely fine aerosols can induce internal exposure if inhaled. In particular, alpha radionuclides in aerosols can lead to significantly higher levels of radiation exposure than beta and gamma radionuclides, thus highlighting the need to establish appropriate internal exposure radiation protection programs and monitoring systems that specifically address alpha radionuclides when decommissioning nuclear power plants in Korea.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.2452-2457
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• 2024

To obtain site-specific values of the Derived Concentration Guideline Levels (DCGLs) for decommissioning of KRR-1&2, the soil density and distribution coefficient values for Cs-137, a major contaminant radionuclide, were determined. The soil density was evaluated according to the test method established by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (KATS). The distribution coefficient was evaluated using a batch test. The validity of using the evaluated soil density and distribution coefficient as site-specific values was assessed through radiation dose assessment reflecting these values. Average soil density value obtained was 1.738 g/cm³, which was within the typical range of normal soil density, 1.0-1.8 g/cm³. The average distribution coefficient value was 7,754 mL/g. Applying the maximum, average, and minimum values of the evaluated soil density and distribution coefficient showed similar radiation dose results, thus suggesting that it is reasonable to use the average values of each parameter as site-specific values. Findings of this study can help determine DCGLs that reflect the characteristics of the research reactor site.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.87-111
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• 2021

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) produce radioactive waste and decommissioning this waste entails additional cost; determining these costs for various types and specifications of radioactive waste can be challenging. The purpose of this study is to identify major determinants of the decommissioning cost and their impact on NPPs. To this end, data from defunct NPPs were gathered and 2SLS (Two Stage Least Squares) regression models were developed to investigate the major contributors depending on the reactor types, viz. PWR (Pressurized Water Reactors) and BWR (Boiling Water Reactors). Additionally, cost estimations and the Monte Carlo simulation were performed as part of performance validation. Our study established that the decommissioning costs are primarily influenced by the level of radioactivity in the decommissioned waste, which can be realized from operational factors like operation period, overall efficiency, and plant capacity, as well as from duration of decommissioning and labour cost. While our study provides an improved statistical approach to recognize these factors, we acknowledge that our models have limitations in forecasting accurately which we envisage to bolster in future studies by identifying more substantive factors.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2003

Based on the necessity to evaluate the activation products inventory during decommissioning lot domestic nuclear power plants, a preliminary estimation of the activation products inventory for Kori unit 1, which is getting close to the end of lifetime, was carried out with ANISN and ORIGEN2 code. In order to calculate neutron nux using ANISN code, the reactor was divided into 9 zones from core to bioshield concrete for radial direction. Also :he cross-section of main nuclides were calibrated with neutron flux in the reactor pressure vessel(RPV) region. The results showed that 95 % of tile total radioactivity in RPV from reactor shutdown to 10 years came from the nuclides of $^{55}Fe,\;^{59}Ni,\;^{63}Ni\;and\;^{60}Co$. And the total radioactivity with cooling of more than 50 years after decommissioning was no more than 0.2 % of at the time of shutdown. Considering the weight of RPV is 210 tons, the total radioactivity of RPV reached to $5.25{\times}10^{6}GBq$ at shutdown time. As compared with the total radioactivity of bioshield concrete at reactor shutdown time, the radioactivity after tooling more than 10 years was below 1 %.