• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.2852-2859
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• 2020

This paper deals with the simulation-based design optimization and experimental validation of the characteristics of an in-core silver Self-Powered Neutron Detector (SPND). Optimized dimensions of the SPND are determined by combining Monte Carlo simulations and analytical methods. As a first step, the Monte Carlo transport code MCNPX is used to follow the trajectory and fate of the neutrons emitted from an external source. This simulation is able to seamlessly integrate various phenomena, including neutron slowing-down and shielding effects. Then, the expected number of beta particles and their energy spectrum following a neutron capture reaction in the silver emitter are fetched from the TENDEL database using the JANIS software interface and integrated with the data from the first step to yield the origin and spectrum of the source electrons. Eventually, the MCNPX transport code is used for the Monte Carlo calculation of the ballistic current of beta particles in the various regions of the SPND. Then, the output current and the maximum insulator thickness to avoid breakdown are determined. The optimum design of the SPND is then manufactured and experimental tests are conducted. The calculated design parameters of this detector have been found in good agreement with the obtained experimental results.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.2760-2770
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• 2020

A model for calculation of fuel temperature profile using binary gas mixture of Helium and Xenon for gap gas conductance is proposed here. In this model, the temperature profile of a fuel pencil from fuel centreline to fuel surface has been calculated by taking into account the dilution of Helium gas filled during fuel manufacturing due to accumulation of fission gas Xenon. In this model an explicit calculation of gap gas conductance of binary gas mixture of Helium and Xenon has been carried out. A computer code Fuel Characteristics Calculator (FCCAL) is developed for the model. The phenomena modelled by FCCAL takes into account heat conduction through the fuel pellet, heat transfer from pellet surface to the cladding through the gap gas and heat transfer from cladding to coolant. The binary noble gas mixture model used in FCCAL is an improvement over the parametric model of Lassmann and Pazdera. The results obtained from the code FCCAL is used for fuel temperature calculation in 3-D neutron diffusion solver for the coolant outlet temperature of the core at steady operation at full power. It is found that there is an improvement in calculation time without compromising accuracy with FCCAL.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.2714-2719
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• 2022

The present paper proposes some new computational methods and results in the framework of flow computation through congested domains seen as porous media, as it can be found in the core of a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). The flow is thus mostly governed by the distribution of pressure losses, both through the porous structures, such as fuel assemblies, and in the thin fluid layers between them. The purpose of the present paper is to consider the question of the interaction of a flow and a rod bundle from an analytical point of view gathering all the contributions through a set of equations as simple and representative as possible. It aims at demonstrating a sound understanding of the relevant phenomena governing the flow establishment in the geometry of interest instead of relying mainly on a posteriori observations obtained both experimentally and numerically. Comparison with two set of experimental results showed good agreement. The model proposed being analytical it appears easily implementable for studies needing an expression of fluid forces in a rod array as for fuel assembly bowing issue. It would be interesting to test the reliability of the model on other geometry with different P/R ratios.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3183-3193
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• 2023

The water radiolysis in-core at light water reactors (LWRs) produces various radicals with other ionic species/molecules and radioactive nitrogen species in the reactor coolant. Nitrogen species can exist in many different chemical forms and recirculate in water and steam, and consequently contribute to what extent the environmental safety at nuclear power plants. Therefore, a clear understanding of formation kinetics and chemical behaviors of nitrogen species under irradiation is crucial for better insight into the characteristics of major radioactive species released to the main steam or relevant coolant systems and eventually development of advanced processes/methodologies to enhance the environmental safety at nuclear power plants. This paper thus focuses on basic principles on electrochemical interaction kinetics of radiolytic molecules and various nitrogen species in high temperature water, fundamental approaches for calculating thermodynamic values to predict their stability and domain in LWRs, and the effect of nitrogen species on crevice chemistry/corrosion and intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) susceptibility of structure materials in high temperature water.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.2195-2205
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• 2023

One of the salient nuclear fuel performance parameters for new fuel types under development is changes in fuel thickness. To test the new commercially fabricated U-10Mo monolithic plate-type fuel, an irradiation experiment was designed that consisted of multiple mini-plate capsules distributed within the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) core, the mini-plate 1 (MP-1) experiment. Each capsule contains eight mini-plates that were either fueled or "dummy" plates. Fuel thickness changes within a fuel assembly can be characterized by measuring the gaps between the plates ultrasonically. The channel gap probe (CGP) system is designed to measure the gaps between the plates and will provide information that supports qualification of U-10Mo monolithic fuel. This study will discuss the design and the results from the use of a custom-designed CGP system for characterizing the gaps between mini-plates within the MP-1 capsules. To ensure accurate and repeatable data, acceptance and calibration procedures have been developed. Unfortunately, there is no "gold" standard measurement to compare to CGP measurements. An effort was made to use plate thickness obtained from post-irradiation measurements to derive channel gap estimates for comparison with the CGP characterization.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.688-706
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• 2024

Austenitic stainless steels (ASS) are extensively employed in various sectors such as nuclear, power, petrochemical, oil and gas because of their excellent structural strength and resistance to corrosion. SS304 and SS316 are the predominant choices for piping, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, nuclear reactor core components and support structures, but they are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chloride-rich environments. Over the course of several decades, extensive research efforts have been directed towards evaluating SCC using diverse methodologies and models, albeit some uncertainties persist regarding the precise progression of cracks. This review paper focuses on the application of Acoustic Emission Technique (AET) for assessing SCC damage mechanism by monitoring the dynamic acoustic emissions or inelastic stress waves generated during the initiation and propagation of cracks. AET serves as a valuable non-destructive technique (NDT) for in-service evaluation of the structural integrity within operational conditions and early detection of critical flaws. By leveraging the time domain and time-frequency domain techniques, various Acoustic Emission (AE) parameters can be characterized and correlated with the multi-stage crack damage phenomena. Further theories of the SCC mechanisms are elucidated, with a focus on both the dissolution-based and cleavage-based damage models. Through the comprehensive insights provided here, this review stands to contribute to an enhanced understanding of SCC damage in stainless steels and the potential AET application in nuclear industry.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.2163-2173
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• 2024

This study introduces a transient analysis module developed for RAST-V and validates it using the Kalinin-3 benchmark problem. For the benchmark analysis, RAST-V standalone and STREAM/RAST-V calculations were performed. STREAM supplies the few-group constants and RAST-V conducts a 3D core simulation utilizing few-group cross-sectional data. To improve accuracy, the main solver was developed based on the advanced semi-analytic nodal method. To evaluate the computational capability of the transient analysis module in RAST-V, Kalinin-3 benchmark is employed. Kalinin-3 represents a coolant transient benchmark that offers experimental data during the deactivation of the Main Circulation Pumps. Consequently, the transient calculations reflected the changes in the reactor flow rate. Benchmark comprising steady-state and transient calculations. During the steady state, the STREAM/RAST-V combination demonstrated a 30 ppm root mean square difference from 0 to 128.50 EFPD. For the transient calculations, STREAM/RAST-V showed power differences within ±7 % over a range of 0-300 s. Axial offset differences were within ±3 %, and the RMS difference in radial power ranged within 2.596 % at both 0 and 300 s. Overall, this study effectively demonstrated the newly developed transient solver in RAST-V and validated it using the Kalinin-3 benchmark problem.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.254-259
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• 2014

A pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) core has 380 fuel channels contained and supported by a horizontal cylindrical vessel known as the calandria, whereas a pressurized water reactor (PWR) has only a single reactor vessel. The pressure tube, which is a pressure-retaining component, has a 103.4 mm inside diameter ${\times}$ 4.19 mm wall thickness, and is 6.36 m long, made of a zirconium alloy (Zr-2.5 wt% Nb). This provides support for the fuel while transporting the $D_2O$ heat-transfer fluid. The simple tubular geometry invites highly automated inspection, and good approach for all inspection. Similar to all nuclear heat-transfer pressure boundaries, the PHWR pressure tube requires a rigorous, periodic inspection to assess the reactor integrity in accordance with the Korea Nuclear Safety Committee law. Volumetric-based nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques utilizing ultrasonic and eddy current testing have been adopted for use in the periodic inspection of the fuel channel. The eddy current testing, as a supplemental NDE method to ultrasonic testing, is used to confirm the flaws primarily detected through ultrasonic testing, however, eddy current testing offers a significant advantage in that its ability to detect surface flaws is superior to that of ultrasonic testing. In this paper, effectiveness of flaw detection and the depth sizing capability by eddy current testing for the inside surface of a pressure tube, will be introduced. As a result of this examination, the ET technique is found to be useful only as a detection technique for defects because it can detect fine defects on the surface with high resolution. However, the ET technique is not recommended for use as a depth sizing method because it has a large degree of error for depth sizing.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.141-154
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• 1984

An analysis is presented of key phenomena and scenario which imply some general trends for beyond design-basis-accident in Kori-1 PWR dry containment. The study covers a wide range of severe accident sequences initiated by small break LOCA. The MARCH computer code, with KAERI modifications was used in this analysis. The major emphasis of the paper are two folds, 1) the phenomenologic understanding of severe accident and 2) a study of H2 combustion and debris/ water interactions in a specific small break LOCA for Kori-1 plant. The sensitivity studies for the specific plant data and thermal interaction modelings used in the SASA were performed. The results show that if hydrogen burning does occur at low concentration, the resulting peak pressure does not exceed the design value, while the lower concentration assumption results in repeated burning due to the continuing H$_2$ generation. For debris/water interaction, the particle size has no effect on the magnitude of peak pressure for the amount of water assumed to be in the reactor cavity. But, the occurrence of peak pressure is considerably delayed in case of using the dryout correlation. The peak containment pressure predicted from the hydrogen combustion and steam pressure spite during full core meltdown scenario does not present a severe threat to the containment integrity.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.465-471
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• 2013

A steam generator in nuclear power plant is a heatexchager which is used to convert water into steam from heat produced in a nuclear reactor core, and the steam produced in steam generator is delivered to the turbine to generate electricity. Because of damage to steam generator tubing may impair its ability to adequately perform required safety functions in terms of both structural integrity and leakage integrity, eddy current testing is periodically performed to evaluate the integrity of tubes in steam generator. This assessment is normally performed during a reactor refueling outage. Currently, the eddy current testing for steam generator of nuclear power plant in Korea is performed in accordance with KEPIC & ASME Code requirements, the eddy current testing system is consists of remote data acquisition unit and data analysis program to evaluate the acquired data. The KEPIC & ASME Code require that the electrical properties of remote data acquisition unit, such as total harmonic distortion, input & output impedance, amplifier linearity & stability, phase linearity, bandwidth & demodulation filter response, analog-to-digital conversion, and channel crosstalk shall be measured in accordance with the KEPIC & ASME Code requirements. In this paper, the measurement requirements of electrical properties for eddy current testing instrument described in KEPIC & ASME Code are presented, and the measurement results of newly developed eddy current testing instrument by KHNP(Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., LTD) are presented.