• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.8
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• pp.2696-2707
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of various structural modeling schemes for evaluating seismic performances and fragility of the reactor containment building (RCB) structure in the advanced power reactor 1400 (APR1400) nuclear power plant (NPP). Four structural modeling schemes, i.e. lumped-mass stick model (LMSM), solid-based finite element model (Solid FEM), multi-layer shell model (MLSM), and beam-truss model (BTM), are developed to simulate the seismic behaviors of the containment structure. A full three-dimensional finite element model (full 3D FEM) is additionally constructed to verify the previous numerical models. A set of input ground motions with response spectra matching to the US NRC 1.60 design spectrum is generated to perform linear and nonlinear time-history analyses. Floor response spectra (FRS) and floor displacements are obtained at the different elevations of the structure since they are critical outputs for evaluating the seismic vulnerability of RCB and secondary components. The results show that the difference in seismic responses between linear and nonlinear analyses gets larger as an earthquake intensity increases. It is observed that the linear analysis underestimates floor displacements while it overestimates floor accelerations. Moreover, a systematic assessment of the capability and efficiency of each structural model is presented thoroughly. MLSM can be an alternative approach to a full 3D FEM, which is complicated in modeling and extremely time-consuming in dynamic analyses. Specifically, BTM is recommended as the optimal model for evaluating the nonlinear seismic performance of NPP structures. Thereafter, linear and nonlinear BTM are employed in a series of time-history analyses to develop fragility curves of RCB for different damage states. It is shown that the linear analysis underestimates the probability of damage of RCB at a given earthquake intensity when compared to the nonlinear analysis. The nonlinear analysis approach is highly suggested for assessing the vulnerability of NPP structures.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.194-202
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• 2010

Application of a stronger and more durable material for reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) might be an effective way to insure the integrity and increase the efficiency of nuclear power plants. A series of research projects to apply the SA508 Gr.4 steel in ASME code to RPVs are in progress because of its excellent strength and durability compared to commercial RPV steel (SA508 Gr.3 steel). In this study, the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of SA508 Gr.3 Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel and SA508 Gr.4N Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel were investigated. The differences in the stable phases between these two low alloy steels were evaluated by means of a thermodynamic calculation using ThermoCalc. They were then compared to microstructural features and correlated with mechanical properties. Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel shows the upper bainite structure that has coarse cementite in the lath boundaries. However, Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel shows the mixture of lower bainite and tempered martensite structure that homogeneously precipitates the small carbides such as $M_{23}C_6$ and $M_7C_3$ due to an increase of hardenability and Cr addition. In the mechanical properties, Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel has higher strength and toughness than Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel. Ni and Cr additions increase the strength by solid solution hardening. In addition, microstructural changes from upper bainite to tempered martensite improve the strength of the low alloy steel by grain refining effect, and the changes in the precipitation behavior by Cr addition improve the ductile-brittle transition behavior along with a toughening effect of Ni addition.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.95-103
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• 1994

The safety related components in the nuclear power plant should be designed to withstand the seismic load. Among these components the integrity of reactor internals under earthquake load is important in stand points of safety and economics, because these are classified to Seismic Class I components. So far the modelling methods of reactor internals have been investigated by many authors. In this paper, the dynamic behaviour of reactor internals of Yong Gwang 1&2 nuclear power plants under SSE(Safe Shutdown Earthquake) load is analyzed by using of the simpled Global Beam Model. For this, as a first step, the characteristic analysis of reactor internal components are performed by using of the finite element code ANSYS. And the Global Beam Model for reactor internals which includes beam elements, nonlinear impact springs which have gaps in upper and lower positions, and hydrodynamical couplings which simulate the fluid-filled cylinders of reactor vessel and core barrel structures is established. And for the exciting external force the response spectrum which is applied to reactor support is converted to the time history input. With this excitation and the model the dynamic behaviour of reactor internals is obtained. As the results, the structural integrity of reactor internal components under seismic excitation is verified and the input for the detailed duel assembly series model could be obtained. And the simplicity and effectiveness of Global Beam Model and the economics of the explicit Runge-Kutta-Gills algorithm in impact problem of high frequency interface components are confirmed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.817-827
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• 2016

The resistance in series model has been frequently used for determination of various filtration resistance to correctly understand the membrane fouling behaviour in MBR (membrane bio-reactor) for wastewater treatment. The cake layer resistance ($R_c$) which is commonly determined by calculation of flux dataset that are obtained empirically before and after removing the cake layer on membrane surface. However, the calculated Rc values are very dependent on the cleaning methods adapted for removal of cake layer. This study investigated how the various cleaning options affect $R_c$. Seven different cleaning methods were employed: i) ultrasonication (100 W, 10 min), ii) ultrasonication (200 W, 60 min), iii) ultrasonication (400 W, 120 min), iv) water rinsing in a shaker (100 rpm, 10 min), v) water rinsing in a shaker (300 rpm, 60 min), vi) water rinsing, vii) sponge scrubbing. For the hydrophilic PES membrane, the cake layer removal efficiencies ranged from 64% to 10%, indicating that the removal of cake layer was highly dependent on the cleaning options. For the hydrophobic PVDF membrane, the cake layer removal efficiencies ranged from 79% to 97%. Consequently, a standardized method for cake layer removal to determine cake resistance ($R_c$) is needed for correct interpretation of the fouling phenomena.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 1987

A study of two phase chopper system with four separate groups of DC motors in powering. A novel two phase chopper system with four separate groups of DC motors which applies the principles of two phase chopper with two separate groups of DC motors is dealt with this article. The main circuit consists of eight sets of chopping parts, four diodes and four separate groups of DC motors. Four groups of DC motors are driven through the series and parallel connections to each other in accordance with the operating conditions of the choppers. Although the proposed chopper circuit requires more circuit elements than the conventional two phase chopper system with combined output or two phase chopper system with two separate groups of DC motors, it has the following advantages` (1). It is possible to drive twice as much motors as conventional system does, using esisting receiving-and equipments and motors. (2). It is possible to control load voltage continuously from 0 to source voltage by changing time-ratio from 0 to 1. (3). Load current division becomes equalized. Therefore it is possible to drive not only series motors but also shunt and separately exited motors. (4). When smoothing reactor L is small, harmonic components of the proposed circuit is not so large. Therefore, the value of L can be determined from viewpoints of allowable value of ripple-ratio and current unbalance factor.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2021

This paper describes the design of a power cell-based pulsed power modulator with fast rise times. The pulse-generating section of the pulse power modulator is a series stack of power cells. Each power cell is composed of a storage capacitor, a pulse switch, and a bypass diode. When the pulse switches are turned on, the capacitors are connected in series and the sum of voltages is applied to the load. For output pulses with fast rise times, an IGBT with fast turn-on characteristics is adopted as a pulse switch and the optimized gate driving method is used. Pspice simulation is performed to account for the gate driving method. A 10 kV, 12-power cell-based pulsed power modulator is tested under resistive load and plasma reactor load. The rise times of output pulses less than 20 ns are confirmed, showing that the pulsed power modulator can be effectively applied to pulsed power applications with fast rise times.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.386-393
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• 2000

This paper presents an improved ZVS partial series resonant DC/DC converter (PSRC) with low conduction losses, suitable for high power and high frequency applications. The proposed PSRC have advantages of zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) of main switches for entire load ranges low conduction losses of main switches by decreasing current stresses. Also the reduction of the effective duty cycle is not occurred during the resonant period of the main circuit because the auxiliary circuit of the proposed converter is placed out of the main power path. The auxiliary circuit is composed with passive components, which are an inductor, two capacitors, two diodes, and a saturable inductor. An improved ZVS PSRC has so much characteristics with respect to the overall system efficiency and to the reduction of current stresses. The operation principles of the proposed converter are explained in detail and the various simulated and experimental results show the validity of the proposed converter.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.356-367
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• 2018

A series of tests dedicated to station blackout (SBO) accident scenarios have been recently performed at the $Prim{\ddot{a}}rkreislauf-Versuchsanlage$ (primary coolant loop test facility; PKL) facility in the framework of the OECD/NEA PKL-3 project. These investigations address current safety issues related to beyond design basis accident transients with significant core heat up. This work presents a detailed analysis using the best estimate thermal-hydraulic code TRACE (v5.0 Patch4) of different SBO scenarios conducted at the PKL facility; failures of high- and low-pressure safety injection systems together with steam generator (SG) feedwater supply are considered, thus calling for adequate accident management actions and timely implementation of alternative emergency cooling procedures to prevent core meltdown. The presented analysis evaluates the capability of the applied TRACE model of the PKL facility to correctly capture the sequences of events in the different SBO scenarios, namely the SBO tests H2.1, H2.2 run 1 and H2.2 run 2, including symmetric or asymmetric secondary side depressurization, primary side depressurization, accumulator (ACC) injection in the cold legs and secondary side feeding with mobile pump and/or primary side emergency core coolant injection from the fuel pool cooling pump. This study is focused specifically on the prediction of the core exit temperature, which drives the execution of the most relevant accident management actions. This work presents, in particular, the key improvements made to the TRACE model that helped to improve the code predictions, including the modeling of dynamical heat losses, the nodalization of SGs' heat exchanger tubes and the ACCs. Another relevant aspect of this work is to evaluate how well the model simulations of the three different scenarios qualitatively and quantitatively capture the trends and results exhibited by the actual experiments. For instance, how the number of SGs considered for secondary side depressurization affects the heat transfer from primary side; how the discharge capacity of the pressurizer relief valve affects the dynamics of the transient; how ACC initial pressure and nitrogen release affect the grace time between ACC injection and subsequent core heat up; and how well the alternative feeding modes of the secondary and/or primary side with mobile injection pumps affect core quenching and ensure stable long-term core cooling under controlled boiling conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.536-541
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• 1988

The push-pull current-fed DC-to-DC converter has only one energy storage reactor in series with the input for any number of outputs. It is considered that this property of the converter has considerable advantages over other multiple-output circuits. The steady state characteristics of the converter with two outputs is analyzed. It is known that the voltage difference between the two outputs appears by existing the 2nd winding resistance of transformer and there is a region of the duty ratio in which the voltage difference of the converter is smaller than that of the forward converter.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.77-84
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• 2014

The lattice Boltzmann (LB) method has been used to simulate rarefied gas flows in a micro-system as an alternative tool. However, previous results were mainly focused on a simple geometry with flat walls because the LB method is modeled on uniform Cartesian lattices. When previous boundary conditions for the microflows are applied to curved walls, the use of them requires approximation of the curved boundary by a series of stair steps, and introduces additional errors. For macroflows, no-slip curved wall boundary treatments have been developed remarkably in order to overcome these limits. However, the investigations for the slip curved wall boundary have rarely been performed for microflows. In this work, a curved boundary treatment of the LB method for a slip flow has been introduced. The results of the LB method for 2D microchannel and 3D microtube flows are in excellent agreement with the analytical solutions.