• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.298-302
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• 2011

In this study, Catalytic reforming with vapor and biomass gasification was simultaneously performed in a same fixed bed reactor at $600-800^{\circ}C$. Light gases were produced from reformation of the tar (fuel gases) in biomass gasification by using limonite and dolomite, as catalysts. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide are main components in light gases. Hydrogen yields increased with temperature increasing in the range of $650-800^{\circ}C$, because the water shift reaction was promoted by catalyst. The yield of hydrogen gas was increased about 160% under catalyst with the mixture of limonite and dolomite comparing to limonite only.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.364-376
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• 1998

The statistical analysis method was applied to the evaluation of fracture toughness in the ductile-brittle transition temperature region. Because cleavage fracture in steel is of a statistical nature, fracture toughness data or values show a similar statistical trend. Using the three-parameter Weibull distribution, a fracture toughness vs. temperature curve (K-curve) was directly generated from a set of fracture toughness data at a selected temperature. Charpy V-notch impact energy was also used to obtain the K-curve by a $K_{IC}$ -CVN (Charpy V-notch energy) correlation. Furthermore, this method was applied to evaluate the neutron irradiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel. Most of the fracture toughness data were within the 95% confidence limits. The prediction of a transition temperature shift by statistical analysis was compared with that from the experimental data.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1993.10a
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• pp.21-30
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• 1993

This paper describes the development of a simulation model of nuclear power plant operators including cognitive aspects by using a network modeling soft ware, Micro-SAINT (System Analysis of Integrated Networks of Tasks) for the analysis of operator performance. Network model description based on Micro-SAINT includes tasks, resources, precedence relations among tasks, flow of information and PSFs (Performance Shaping Factors) on task performance. We have tried to evaluate the performance with several performance measures such as the number of tasks allocated, relative time presure among operators within a shift, for the selected test accident scenarior; small-break LOCA (Loss of Coolant Accident) in a PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) type nuclear power plant.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.345-351
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• 2018

This paper analyzes a resonant inverter to generate plasma. The resonant inverter consists of a full bridge converter, resonant network and reactor to generate a magnetic field for plasma generation. A plasma load has very distinct characteristics compared to conventional loads. The characteristics of plasma load are analyzed through experimental results. This paper presents the study on the resonant network, which was performed in order to determine how to achieve a constant current gain. Another important contribution of this study is the analysis of drop-out phenomenon observed in plasma loads which is responsible for unpredictable shutdown of the plasma generator that requires stable operation. In addition, the design process for the resonant network of a plasma generator is proposed. The validity of this study is verified through simulations and experimental results.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.336-346
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• 2003

This study is intended to evaluate the dependency of TRU recycling characteristics on the neutron spectrum shift in a Pb-Bi cooled core. Considering two Pb-Bi cooled cores with the soft and the hard spectrum, respectively, various characteristics of the recycled core are carefully examined and compared with each other. Assuming very simplified fuel cycle management with the homogeneous and single region fuel loading, the burnup calculations are performed until the recycled core reached to the (quasi-) equilibrium state. The mechanism of TRU recycling toward the equilibrium is analyzed in terms of burnup reactivity and the isotopic compositions of TRU fuel. In the comparative analyses, the difference in the recycling behavior between the two cores is clarified. In addition, the basic safety characteristics of the recycled core are also discussed in terms of the Doppler coefficient, the coolant loss reactivity coefficient, and the effective delayed neutron fraction.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.431-437
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• 2005

Molecular methods were employed to investigate microorganisms in a thermophilic continuous stirred tank reactor(CSTR) used for continuous $H_2$ production. The reactor was inoculated with heat-treated anaerobic sludge and fed with a glucose-based medium. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed dynamic changes of bacterial populations in the reactor during 43 days of operation. Gas composition was constant from approximately 14 days but population shift still occurred. Populations affiliated with Fervidobactrium gondwanens and Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum were dominant on 21 and 41 days, respectively. Keeping pH of the medium at 5.0 could suppress methanogenic activity that was detected during initial operation period. $CH_4$ and mcrA detected in the samples obtained from the reactor or inoculum suggested the heat treatment condition employed in this study is not enough to remove methanogens in the inoculum. PCR using primer sets specific to 4 main orders of methanogens suggested that major $H_2$-consuming methanogens in the CSTR belong to the order Methanobacteriales.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.425-430
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• 2005

Thermophilic $H_2$ was produced for 1 year using a bench-scale continuous stirred tank reactor(CSTR). The CSTR was inoculated with anaerobically digested sludge after heat treatment and fed with a glucose-based medium. The reactor showed relatively short start-up period(30 days) and high maximal $H_2$ yield(2.4 mol $H_2/mol$ glucose). Keeping pH 5.0 or less suppressed methanogenic activity. Bacteria affiliated with Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum kept being dominant from approximately 40 days as determined by DGGE. Environmental perturbation(pH or temperature) caused the decrease of biomass concentration in the reactor and the instability of reactor performance, $H_2$ production rate and $H_2$ yield. The unstable performance was accompanied with high concentration of lactate in the effluent. Taken together, the poor recovery of CSTR after perturbations could be partly explained by low biomass concentration and/or metabolic shift of the major population in the CSTR.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.52-64
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• 2016

The production of nuclear energy from thorium which is non-fissile material was a main issue until the middle of 1970's, because of the thorium's abundance as energy resources, its capability of breeding fissile material U233, and the reduction of long-lived actinides. However, to use thorium as nuclear fuel, some obstacles such as the necessities of external neutron source and long-term neutron irradiation for effective breeding, and the production of high radioactive isotopes in the course of thorium breeding cycle should be overcome. The difficulties to resolve these cons of thorium cycle became the reason of interruption of the related researches in the middle of 1970's. But in the 21st century, the change of societal perspective regarding nuclear energy and the appearance of accelerator-driven nuclear reactor shift those cons into pros and rehabilitate the study of thorium. The high activity of thorium cycle turned out to be a good option as higher resistance and easier detectibility of nuclear proliferation and the employment of subcritical accelerator-driven reactor as external neutron sources is considered to enhance the nuclear safety. In this study we compare the thorium cycle with the currently-used uranium cycle and analyze the technical status and perspective of thorium researches which use accelerator-driven reactors.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2018

A high efficiency integrated reforming system for improving the efficiency of the 5 kW PEMFC system used as the back up power of building was studied. The separated reforming system consisted of three parts - A steam reformer with two stage concentric circular shape, a heat exchanger type steam generator and a CO shift reactor. Temperature and steam carbon ratio (SCR) were control variables during operation. The operating conditions were optimized based on the thermal efficiency of the steam reformer as reformate gas composition changes at different temperature. In experiments, water was fully vaporized in the steam generator up to SCR 3.5 and the maximum thermal efficiency was achieved at the operating temperature around $700^{\circ}C$ in the steam reforming reactor. With the results of the separated reforming system research, we improved the shape of high efficiency integrated reformer. The performance evaluation of the integrated reformer was based on optimized operating conditions in SCR 3.5. As a result, the developed integrated reforming system maintained an efficiency of 76% and constant performance over 3,000 hours.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.200-207
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• 1993

A methanol reformer was designed and fabricated using a CuO-ZnO low temperature shift catalyst, and its operation characteristics have been studied for the phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) power generation system. The type of reactor was annular Methanol was consumed both for heating and for reforming fuel. Contents of carbon monoxide produced from the reformer increased as the reaction temperatures increased, but decreased as the mole ratios of water to methanol(H$_2$O/CH$_3$OH) increased. At steady state operating conditional, temperature profile of the catalytic reactor of the reformer was well coincide with the model equation, and it took 50 minutes from start to the rated condition of the reformer. When the system was operated at 4/4 and 1/4 of load, thermal efficiencies of the system were 72.3% and 77%, respectively. When the PAFC system was operated with reformed gas in the range of 62 V-37.6 V and 0-147 A, the trend of I-V curve showed a typical fuel tell characteristic. At steady state condition, the flow rates of reforming and combustion methanol were 88.1 mol/h and 50.1 mol/h, respectively.