• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.1602-1611
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• 2021

A varying degree of eccentricity always exists in the initial configuration of a nuclear fuel rod. Its impact on traditional LWR fuel is limited as the radial gap closes relatively early during irradiation. However, the effect of misalignment is expected to be more relevant in rods with highly conductive fuels, large initial gaps and low conductivity filling gases. In this paper, we study similar characteristics in the experimental setup of two fuel disc irradiation campaigns carried out in the OECD Halden Boiling Water Reactor. Using the multi-dimensional fuel performance code OFFBEAT, we combine 2-D axisymmetric and 3-D simulations to investigate the effect of eccentricity on the fuel temperature distribution. At the same time, we illustrate how the advent of modern tools with multi-dimensional capabilities might further improve the design and interpretation of in-pile separate-effect tests and we outline the potential of such an analysis for upcoming experiments.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.1190-1197
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• 2018

Analysis of the GRSW-A model coupled into the FALCON code is extended by simulation of central void formation in fuel pellets due to high-temperature fuel restructuring. The extended calculation is verified against published, well-known experimental data. Good agreement with the data for a central void diameter in pellets of the rod irradiated in an Experimental Breeder Reactor is shown. The new calculation methodology is employed in comparative analysis of modern BWR fuel behavior under assumed high-power operation. The initial fuel porosity is shown to have a major effect on the predicted central void diameter during the operation in question. Discernible effects of a central void on peak fuel temperature and Pellet-Cladding Mechanical Interaction (PCMI) during a simulated power ramp are shown. A mitigating effect on PCMI is largely attributed to the additional free volume in the pellets into which the fuel can creep due to internal compressive stresses during a power ramp.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.3741-3758
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• 2021

Outcomes of the FALCON code analysis-related part of the STARS-ENSI Service Project on Evaluation of the new U.S.NRC RIA Fuel Safety Criteria and Application to the Swiss Reactors are presented. Substantial conservatism of the updated safety limits for high-temperature and PCMI cladding failure, as proposed in the NRC Regulatory Guide RG 1.236, is confirmed. Applicability of the updated failure limits to fuel safety analysis in the Swiss PWRs, as applied to standard fuel designs using UO2 fuel pellets and SRA Zry-4 as cladding materials is discussed. Conducting of new integral RIA tests with irradiated samples using doped- and gadolinia fuel pellets to support appropriate fuel safety criteria for RIA events is recommended.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.2803-2811
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• 2020

With the aging of nuclear reactors, embrittlement of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel, as a consequence of routine operations, is highly probable. To ensure operational integrity and safety, prediction and mitigation of compromising damage, brought on by pressurized thermal shock (PTS) following an emergency procedure, is of utmost importance. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes can be employed to predict these events and have therefore been an acceptable method for such assessments. In this paper, CFD simulations of a density driven ECC state in the ROCOM facility are analyzed. Obtained numerical results are validated with the experimental measurements. Considerable attention is attributed to the boundary conditions and their influence, specifically outlet definitions, in order to determine and adequately replicate the non-active pumps in the facility. Consequent analyses focused on initial conditions as well as on the temporal discretization and inner iterations. Disparities due to different turbulent modelling approaches are investigated for standard RANS models. Based on observed trends for different cases, a definitive simulation setup has been established, results of which have been ultimately compared to the measurements.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.2887-2900
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• 2020

Cladding failure in a fuel rod during operation in a BWR is analyzed using a FALCON code-based model. Comparative calculation with a neighbouring, intact rod is presented, as well. A considerable 'hot spot' effect in cladding temperature is predicted with the SLICE-DO model due to a thermal barrier caused by the localized crud deposition. Particularly significant overheating is expected to occur on the affected side of the cladding of the failed rod, in agreement with signs of significant localized crud deposition as revealed by Post Irradiation Examination. Different possibilities (criteria) are checked, and Pellet-Cladding Mechanical Interaction (PCMI) is shown to be one of the plausible potential threats. It is shown that PCMI could lead to discernible concentrated inelastic deformation in the overheated part of the cladding. None of the specific mechanisms considered can be experimentally or analytically identified as an only cause of the rod failure. However, according to the current calculation, a possibility of cladding failure by PCMI cannot be excluded if the crud thickness exceeded 300 ㎛.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.694-702
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• 2014

The micron-sized ITO(indium tin oxide) particles were prepared by spray pyrolysis from aqueous precursor solutions for indium, and tin and organic additives solution. Organic additives solution with citric acid(CA) and ethylene glycol(EG) were added to aqueous precursor solution for Indium and Tin. The obtained ITO particles prepared by spray pyrolysis from the aqueous solution without organic additives solution had spherical and filled morphologies whereas the obtained ITO particles with organic additives solution had more hollow and porous morphologies with increasing mole of organic additives. The micron-sized ITO particle with organic additives was changed fully to nano-sized ITO particle whereas the micron-sized ITO particle without organic additives was not changed fully to nano-sized ITO particle after post-treatment at $700^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours and wet-ball milling for 24 hours. The size of primary ITO particle by Debye-Scherrer formula and surface resistance of ITO pellet were measured.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 2010

The spinel compound was obtained by the thermal decomposition of Zn-Co and Zn-Ni gel prepared by sol-gel method using oxalic acid as a chelating agent. The formation of spinel compound has been comfirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The particle size of 13 nm~16 nm was calculated by Scherrer's equation. The sol-gel method provides a practicable and effective route for the synthesis of the spinel compound at low temperature ($350^{\circ}C$). The kinetic parameters such as activation energy (Ea) and pre-exponential factor (A) for each compound were found by means of the Kissinger method and Arrhenius equation. The decomposition of spinel compound has an activation energy about 155 kJ/mol. Finally, the thermodynamic parameters (${\Delta}G^{\varphi}$, ${\Delta}H^{\varphi}$, ${\Delta}S^{\varphi}$) for decomposition of spinel compound was determined.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1057-1072
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• 2018

In this study, micro-sized $CeO_2$ particles were synthesized by spray pyrolysis, and EG(ethylene glycol) and CA(citric acid) as organic additives were added to obtain hollow and porous particle during spray pyrolysis, and characteristics of obtained ceria were investigated according to the amount of added organic additives. Spray pyrolysis, postheat and ball-milling were combined to give 6 paths. $CeO_2$ nano-sized particle was obtained by the path which has sequence of Spray Pyrolysis with 0.5 M of EG and CA${\rightarrow}$Post-heat${\rightarrow}$Ball-milling${\rightarrow}$Post-heat among 6 paths. The average particle size(24 nm with standard deviation of 3.8 nm) of $CeO_2$ nano-sized particle by TEM analysis is close to the primary particle size(20 nm) which was calculated by Debye-Scherrer equation. To investigate the morphological characteristics and structure of the synthesized nanoparticle powders, SEM(Scanning Electron Microscopy), XRD(X-Ray Diffractometer) and TEM(Transmission Electron Microscopy) were used.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.447-447
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• 2009

In this study, transparent and conductive Al-doped zinc oxide (AZO) films were prepared on Corning glass and silicon wafer substrate by RF magnetron sputtering method using an Al-doped ZnO target (Al: 2 wt.%) at room temperature as the thickness of 150 nm. We investigated the effects of the RF power between 100 Wand 350 W in steps of 50 W on structural, electrical and optical properties of AZO films. Also, we studied the effects of the working pressure (3, 4 and 5 mtorr) on that condition. The thickness and cross-sectional images of films were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and all of the films were kept to be constant to $150\pm10$ nm on Coming glass and silicon wafer. A grain size was calculated from X-ray diffraction (XRD) on using the Scherrer' equation and their electrical properties investigated hall effect electronic transport measurement system. Moreover, we measured transmittance of AZO films by UV/VIS spectrometer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.457-458
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• 2009

In this work, transparent conducting Al-doped zinc oxide (AZO) films were prepared on Coming glass substrate by RF magnetron sputtering using an Al-doped ZnO target (Al: 2 wt.%) at room temperature and all films were deposited with athickness of 150 nm. We investigated the effects of the post-annealing temperature and the annealing ambient on structural, electrical and optical properties of AZO films. The films were annealed at temperatures ranging from 300 to $500^{\circ}C$ in steps of $100^{\circ}C$ using rapid thermal annealing equipment in oxygen. The thickness of the film was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and grain size was calculated from the XRD spectra using the Scherrer equation and their electrical properties were investigated using a hole measurement and the reflectance of AZO films was investigated by UV-VIS spectrometry.