• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.379-394
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• 2000

As an in-vessel retention (IVR) design concept in coping with a severe accident in the nuclear power plant during which time a considerable amount of core material may melt, external cooling of the reactor vessel has been suggested to protect the lower head from overheating due to relocated material from the core. The efficiency of the ex-vessel management may be estimated by the thermal margin defined as the ratio of the critical heat flux (CHF）to the actual heat flux from the reactor vessel. Principal factors affecting the thermal margin calculation are the amount of heat to be transferred downward from the molten pool, variation of heat flux with the angular position, and the amount of removable heat by external cooling In this paper a thorough literature survey is made and relevant models and correlations are critically reviewed and applied in terms of their capabilities and uncertainties in estimating the thermal margin to potential failure of the vessel on account of the CHF Results of the thermal margin calculation are statistically treated and the associated uncertainties are quantitatively evaluated to shed light on the issues requiring further attention and study in the near term. Our results indicated a higher thermal margin at the bottom than at the top of the vessel accounting for the natural convection within the hemispherical molten debris pool in the lower plenum. The information obtained from this study will serve as the backbone in identifying the maximum heat removal capability and limitations of the IVR technology called the Cerium Attack Syndrome Immunization Structures (COASISO) being developed for next generation reactors.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.416-423
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• 2015

It had been disputed how to apply wall drag to the dispersed phase in the framework of the conventional two-fluid model for two-phase flows. Recently, Kim et al. [1] introduced the volume-averaged momentum equation based on the equation of a solid/fluid particle motion. They showed theoretically that for dispersed two-phase flows, the overall two-phase pressure drop by wall friction must be apportioned to each phase, in proportion to each phase fraction. In this study, the validity of the proposed wall drag model is demonstrated though one-dimensional (1D) simulations. In addition, it is shown that the existing form loss model incorrectly predicts the motion of the dispersed phase. A new form loss model is proposed to overcome that problem. The newly proposed form loss model is tested in the region covering the lower plenum and the core in a nuclear power plant. As a result, it is shown that the new models can correctly predict the relative velocity of the dispersed phase to the surrounding fluid velocity in the core with spacer grids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2017

The external reactor vessel cooling (ERVC) is well known strategy to mitigate a severe accident at which nuclear fuel inside the reactor vessel is molten. In order to compare the heat removal capacity of ERVC between the nuclear reactor designs quantitatively, numerical method is often used. However, the study for ERVC using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is still quite scarce. As a validation study on the numerical prediction for ERVC using CFD, the subcooled boiling flow and natural circulation of coolant at the ULPU-V experiment was simulated. The commercially available CFD software ANSYS-CFX was used. Shear stress transport (SST) model and RPI model were used for turbulence closure and wall-boiling, respectively. The averaged flow velocities in the downcomer and the baffle entry under the reactor vessel lower plenum are in good agreement with the available experimental data and recent computational results. Steam generated from the heated wall condenses rapidly and coolant flows maintains single-phase flow until coolant boils again by flashing process due to the decrease of saturation temperature induced by higher elevation. Hence, the flow rate of coolant natural circulation does not vary significantly with the change of heat flux applied at the reactor vessel, which is also consistent with the previous literatures.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.951-958
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• 2002

Rapid expansion of a moist air or a stream through a supersonic nozzle often leads to non-equilibrium condensation shock wave, causing a considerable energy loss in flow field. Depending on amount of latent heat released due to non-equilibrium condensation, the flow is highly unstable or a periodical oscillation accompanying the condensation shock wave in the nozzle. The unsteadiness of the condensation shock wave is always associated with several kinds of instabilities as well as noise and vibration of flow devices. In the current study, a passive control technique using a porous wall with a plenum cavity underneath is applied for the purpose of alleviation of the condensation shock oscillations in a transonic nozzle. A droplet growth equation is coupled with two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation system. Computations are carried out using a third-order MUSCL type TVD finite-difference scheme with a second-order fractional time step. An experiment using an indraft wind tunnel is made to validate the present computational results. The results show that the oscillations of the condensation shock wave are completely suppressed by the current passive control method.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.82-89
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• 2013

Database of a bleed model has been corrected and numerical simulations have been performed to control buzz using the corrected bleed model. The existing bleed model, which was developed as a part of a boundary condition model for porous bleed walls, underestimates bleed flow rate because flow accelerations near the bleed regions are ignored. Also, it overpredicts the sonic flow coefficient when the bleed plenum pressure ratio is high. To correct these problems, and to enhance the performance of the bleed model, the database has been corrected using CFD simulations to compensate for the flow acceleration near the bleed region. Futhermore, the database of the bleed model is extended with the second order extrapolation. The corrected bleed model is validated with numerical simulations of a shock-boundary layer interaction problem over a solid wall with a bleed region. Using the corrected bleed model, numerical simulations of supersonic inlet buzz are performed to find the deterrent effects of bleed on buzz. The results reveal that bleed is effective to prevent buzz and to enhance the inlet performance.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.68-79
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• 1999

The YGN Units 3&4 plant conditions during shutdown operation were reviewed to identify the possible event scenarios following the loss of shutdown cooling (SDC) event. For the five cases of typical reactor coolant system (RCS) configurations under the worst event sequence, such as unavailable secondary cooling and no RCS inventory makeup, the thermal hydraulic analyses were performed using the RELAP5/MOD3.2 code to investigate the plant behavior following the event. The thermal hydraulic analyses include the estimation of time to boil, time to core uncovery, and time to core heat up to determine the containment closure time to prevent the uncontrolled release of fission products to atmosphere. The result indicates that the containment closure is recommended to be achieved within 42 minutes after the loss of SDC for the steam generator (SG) inlet plenum manway open case or the large cold leg open case under the worst event sequence. The containment closure time is significantly dependent on the elevation and size of the opening and the SG secondary water level condition. It is also found that the containment closure needs to be initiated before the boiling time to ensure the survivability of the workers in the containment. These results will provide useful information to operators to cope with the loss of SDC event.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.669-674
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• 1997

LAVA(Lower-plenum Arrested Vessel Attack) 실험은 중대사고시 고온의 노심 용융물이 냉각수가 존재하는 원자로 용기 하부 반구내로 재배치되는 경우 노심 용융물과 하부반구의 열적 거동 모사와 노심용융물과 하부 반구 사이의 구조 분석 및 고화 후의 용융물형상에 대한 관측을 통하여 노심용융물의 자연 냉각 현상을 규명하고자 하는 실험 연구이다. 원자로 용기 하부 반구를 1/8로 선형 축소한 반구형 반응 용기 내부로 $Al_2$O$_3$/Fe Thermite 용융물을 주입하여 용융물과 하부 반구 사이의 구조 및 하부 반구의 열적 거동을 분석하는 실험을 2회 수행하였다. 각각 20, 40kg의 $Al_2$O$_3$/Fe Thermite 용융물을 주입시 킨 LAVA_PRE, LAVA-1 실험 결과 용융물 주입에 따른 하부 반구의 파손은 발생하지 않았으며, 유사한 실험조건에서 수행된 일본 ALPHA실험에 비해서는 하부 반구의 최대 온도가 500 K 이상 높게 측정되었고 냉각율 또한 현저히 낮게 나타났다. 이는 $Al_2$O$_3$/Fe Thermit 용융물중 과열상태의 Fe성분이 하부 반구와 용접되었기 때문으로 판단되며 보다 정확한 하부 반구의 열적거동을 모사하기 위하여 반구 시편에 대한 재료, 조직 검사를 수행하고 있다. 추후의 실험에서는 하부 반구 내외부의 압력 부하에 따른 반응 양상 및 Fe 용융물(금속용융물) 성분을 제거하고 순수한 $Al_2$O$_3$용융물(산화용융물) 만을 주입하여 용융물 성분에 따른 하부 반구의 열적거동을 분선 할 예정이다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.214-226
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• 2000

In an effort to assess the performance of KAERI's coupled 3D kinetics - system T/H code, MARS/MASTER, Exercise III of the OECD main steam line break benchmark is solved. The analysis model of the reference plant, TMI-1 - a 2772 MWth B&W plant, consists of three major components: a core neutronics model involving 241$\times$28 neutronic nodes, a vessel 3D T/H model consisting of 374 hydrodynamic volumes, and a 1D system T/H model containing 157 hydrodynamic volumes. The results show that there is a significant amount of flow mixing occurring in the upper and lower plenum regions and the core power distribution evolves to a highly localized shape due to the presence of a stuck rod, as well as the asymmetric flow distribution. It is judged that MARS/MASTER properly captures these drastic 3-dimensional effects. Comparisons with other results submitted to OECD confirm the accuracy of the MARS/MASTER solution.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.713-718
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• 1997

In the TMI-2 accident, approximately twenty(20) tons of molten core material drained into the lower plenum. Early advanced light water reactor (LWR) designs assumed a lower head failure and incorporated various measures for ex-vessel accident mitigation. However, one of the major findings from the TMI-2 Vessel Investigation Project was that one part of the reactor lower head wall estimated to have attained a temperature of 1100$^{\circ}C$ for about 30 minutes has seemingly experienced a comparatively rapid cooldown with no major threat to the vessel integrity. In this regard, recent empirical and analytical studies have shifted interests to such in-vessel retention designs or strategies as reactor cavity flooding, in-vessel flooding and engineered gap cooling of the vessel Accurate thermohydrodynamic and creep deformation modeling and rupture prediction are the key to the success in developing practically useful in-vessel accident/risk management strategies. As an advanced in-vessel design concept, this work presents the COrium Attack Syndrome Immunization Structures (COASIS) that are being developed as prospective in-vessel retention devices for a next-generation LWR in concert with existing ex-vessel management measures. Both the engineered gap structures in-vessel (COASISI) and ex-vessel (COASISO) are demonstrated to maintain effective heat transfer geometry during molten core debris attack when applied to the Korean Standard Nuclear Power Plant(KSNPP) reactor. The likelihood of lower head creep rupture during a severe accident is found to be significantly suppressed by the COASIS options.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.105-110
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• 2017

Underfloor air distribution (UFAD) is an air distribution strategy for providing ventilation and space conditioning in buildings. UFAD systems use the underfloor plenum beneath a raised access floor to provide conditioned air through floor diffusers that create a vertical thermal stratification during cooling operations. Thermal stratification has significant effects on energy, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort performance. The purpose of this study was to characterize the influence of a linear bar grille diffuser on thermal stratification in both interior and perimeter zones by developing Gamma-Phi based prediction models. Forty-eight simulations were carried out using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique. The number of diffusers, the air flow supply, internal heat gains, and solar radiations varied among the different cases. Models to predict temperature stratification for the tested linear bar grille diffuser have been developed, which can be directly implemented into dynamic whole-building simulation software such as EnergyPlus.