• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.475-502
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• 2012

In this paper, the seismic analysis modeling technologies for sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) are presented with detailed descriptions for each structure, system and component (SSC) model. The complicated reactor system of pool type SFR, which is composed of the reactor vessel, internal structures, intermediate heat exchangers, primary pumps, core assemblies, and core support structures, is mathematically described with simple stick models which can represent fundamental frequencies of SSC. To do this, detailed finite element analyses were carried out to identify fundamental beam frequencies with consideration of fluid added mass effects caused by primary sodium coolant contained in the reactor vessel. The calculation of fluid added masses is performed by detailed finite element analyses using FAMD computer program and the results are discussed in terms of the ways to be considered in a seismic modeling. Based on the results of seismic time history analyses for both seismic isolation and non-isolation design, the functional requirements for relative deflections are discussed, and the design floor response spectra are proposed that can be used for subsystem seismic design.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제41권10호
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• pp.1323-1332
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• 2009

The IHX (Intermediate Heat eXchanger) for a pool-type SFR (Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor) system transfers heat from the primary high temperature sodium to the intermediate cold temperature sodium. The upper structure of the IHX is a coaxial structure designed to form a flow path for both the secondary high temperature and low temperature sodium. The coaxial structure of the IHX consists of a central downcomer and riser for the incoming and outgoing intermediate sodium, respectively. The IHX of a pool-type SFR is supported at the upper surface of the reactor head with an IHX support structure that connects the IHX riser cylinder to the reactor head. The reactor head is generally maintained at the low temperature regime, but the riser cylinder is exposed in the elevated temperature region. The resultant complicated temperature distribution of the co-axial structure including the IHX support structure may induce a severe thermal stress distribution. In this study, the structural feasibility of the current upper support structure concept is investigated through a preliminary stress analysis and an alternative design concept to accommodate the IHTS (Intermediate Heat Transport System) piping expansion loads and severe thermal stress is proposed. Through the structural analysis it is found that the alternative design concept is effective in reducing the thermal stress and acquiring structural integrity.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.893-899
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• 2024

In a secondary cooling system of a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), rapid detection of hydrogen due to sodium-water reaction (SWR) caused by water leakage from a heat exchanger tube of a steam generator (SG) is important in terms of safety and property protection of the SFR. For hydrogen detection, the hydrogen detectors using atomic transmission phenomenon of hydrogen within Ni-membrane were used in Japanese proto-type SFR "Monju". However, during the plant operation, detection signals of water leakage were observed even in the situation without SWR concerning temperature up and down in the cooling system. For this reason, the study of a new hydrogen detector has been carried out to improve stability, accuracy and reliability. In this research, the authors focus on the difference in composition of hydrogen and the difference between the background hydrogen under normal plant operation and the one generated by SWR and theoretically estimate the hydrogen behavior in liquid sodium by using ultra-accelerated quantum chemical molecular dynamics (UA-QCMD). Based on the estimation, dissolved H or NaH, rather than molecular hydrogen (H₂), is the predominant form of the background hydrogen in liquid sodium in terms of energetical stability. On the other hand, it was found that hydrogen molecules produced by the sodium-water reaction can exist stably as a form of a fine bubble concerning some confinement mechanism such as a NaH layer on their surface. At the same time, we observed experimentally that the fine H₂ bubbles exist stably in the liquid sodium, longer than previously expected. This paper describes the comparison between the theoretical estimation and experimental results based on hydrogen form in sodium in the development of the new hydrogen detector in Japan.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.407-412
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• 2014

In this research, we investigated the burnup characteristics and the conversion of fertile $^{232}Th$ into fissile $^{233}U$ in the core of a Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (SFR). The SFR fuel assemblies were designed for burning $^{232}Th$ fuel (fuel pin 1) and $^{233}U$ fuel (fuel pin 2) and include mixed minor actinide compositions. Monte Carlo simulations were performed using Serpent Code1.1.19 to compare with CRAM (Chebyshev Rational Approximation Method) and TTA (Transmutation Trajectory Analysis) method in the burnup calculation mode. The total heating power generated in the system was assumed to be 2000 MWth. During the reactor operation period of 600 days, the effective multiplication factor (keff) was between 0.964 and 0.954 and peaking factor is 1.88867.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.383-390
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• 2011

Nuclear power has become an essential part of electricity generation to meet the continuous growth of electricity demand. A Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) was developed to extend uranium resource utilization under a growing nuclear energy scenario while concomitantly providing a nuclear waste management solution. Key questions in this scenario are when to introduce SFRs and how many reactors should be introduced. In this study, a methodology using Linear Programming is employed in order to quantify an optimized growth pattern of a nuclear energy system comprising light water reactors and SFRs. The optimization involves tradeoffs between SFR capital cost premiums and the total system U3O8 price premiums. Optimum nuclear growth patterns for several scenarios are presented, as well as sensitivity analyses of important input parameters.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.1747-1755
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• 2021

This paper presents floating absorber for safety at transient (FAST) which is a passive safety device for sodium-cooled fast reactors with a positive coolant temperature coefficient. Working principle of the FAST makes it possible to insert negative reactivity passively in case of temperature rise or voiding of coolant. Behaviors of the FAST in conventional oxide fuel-loaded and metallic fuel-loaded SFRs are investigated assuming anticipated transients without scram (ATWS) scenarios. Unprotected loss of flow (ULOF), unprotected loss of heat sink (ULOHS), unprotected transient overpower (UTOP) and unprotected chilled inlet temperature (UCIT) scenarios are simulated at end of life (EOL) conditions of the oxide and the metallic SFR cores, and performance of the FAST to improve the reactor safety is analyzed in terms of reactivity feedback components, reactor power and maximum temperatures of fuel and coolant. It is shown that FAST is able to improve the safety margin of conventional burner-type SFRs during ULOF, ULOHS, UTOP and UCIT.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.388-403
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• 2018

본 연구는 소듐냉각고속로 원형로 소듐-물 반응 압력완화계통의 소듐, 물, 가스 배출배관 설계에 필요한 요건 도출을 목적으로 한다. 증기발생기의 전열관 파단에 의한 대규모 물 누출 사고 발생 시, 증기발생기 전열관 측의 물과 전열관 외측의 소듐 및 반응생성물을 물배출조와 소듐배출조로 신속하게 배출하기 위해 증기발생기의 소듐 배출배관 파열판 면적, 소듐배출조의 가스 방출배관 직경, 물배출조의 기체 방출배관 직경, 증기발생기의 물 배출배관 직경 등을 설정하기 위한 계산을 수행하였다. 이를 바탕으로 대규모 물 누출 사고 발생 시 증기발생기 내 유체 배출 소요시간 및 압력거동 해석을 수행하였고, 증기발생기 물 배출배관 격리밸브의 차단 설정압력 등의 설계인자를 도출하였다. 본 연구에서 도출된 설계인자들은 소듐냉각고속로 원형로 소듐-물 반응 압력완화계통 설계에 기초자료로 활용할 예정이다.

• 기계저널
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• 제51권12호
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• pp.51-54
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• 2011

이 글에서는 제4세대 원자로로 다시 부각되고 있는 소듐냉각고속로(SFR: Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor)의 활용성, 계통설계 구성 및 공학적 안전설비에 대하여 가압경수로(PWR: Pressurized Water Reactor)와의 차이점을 위주로 소개한다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권12호
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• pp.3966-3978
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• 2021

ISFRA (Integrated SFR Analysis Program for PSA) computer program has been developed for simulating the response of the PGSFR pool design with metal fuel during a severe accident. This paper describes validation of the ISFRA aerosol model against the Aerosol Behavior Code Validation and Evaluation (ABCOVE) experiments undertaken in 1980s for radionuclide transport within a SFR containment. ABCOVE AB5, AB6, and AB7 tests are simulated using the ISFRA aerosol model and the results are compared against the measured data as well as with the simulation results of the MELCOR severe accident code. It is revealed that the ISFRA prediction of single-component aerosols inside a vessel (AB5) is in good agreement with the experimental data as well as with the results of the aerosol model in MELCOR. Moreover, the ISFRA aerosol model can predict the "washout" phenomenon due to the interaction between two aerosol species (AB6) and two-component aerosols without strong mutual interference (AB7). Based on the theory review of the aerosol correlation technique, it is concluded that the ISFRA aerosol model can provide fast, stable calculations with reasonable accuracy for most of the cases unless the aerosol size distribution is strongly deformed from log-normal distribution.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.170-179
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• 2017

본 논문은 소듐냉각고속로 원형로 소듐-물 반응 압력완화계통의 급수배출부와 수소방출부의 설계요건 도출을 목적으로 한다. 증기발생기 전열관 누설에 의한 소듐-물 반응 발생 시, 증기발생기 내의 급수 증기를 신속하게 배출하는 조건을 도출하기 위해 급수덤프탱크 가스방출배관의 단면적과 증기발생기 급수배출배관의 수직길이를 변화시켜 연구를 수행하였다. 정상운전과 재장전운전에 대해 각각 계산을 수행하여 급수덤프탱크 가스방출배관의 단면적과 증기발생기 급수배출배관의 수직길이를 결정하였다. 정상운전 조건에서 소듐-물 반응 발생 시, 생성물인 수소에 의해 형성되는 과압이 소듐덤프탱크의 설계압력을 만족시킬 수 있도록 하는 가스방출배관의 직경을 도출하였고, 이 때 대기로 방출되는 수소의 유량과 농도를 계산하였다. 본 논문의 계산결과는 향후 소듐냉각고속로 원형로의 소듐-물 반응 압력완화계통의 설계요건으로 활용될 예정이다.