• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.29-39
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• 2024

Background: The gamma emission tomography (GET) device has been reported a reliable technique to inspect partial defects within spent nuclear fuel (SNF) of pin-by-pin level. However, the existing GET devices have low accuracy owing to the high attenuation and scatter probability for SNF inspection condition. The purpose of this study is to design and optimize a Yonsei single-photon emission computed tomography version 2 (YSECT.v.2) for fast inspection of SNF in water storage by acquisition of high-quality tomographic images. Materials and Methods: Using Geant4 (Geant4 Collaboration) and DETECT-2000 (Glenn F. Knoll et al.) Monte Carlo simulation, the geometrical structure of the proposed device was determined and its performance was evaluated for the ¹³⁷Cs source in water. In a Geant4-based assessment, proposed device was compared with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-authenticated device for the quality of tomographic images obtained for 12 fuel sources in a 14 × 14 Westinghouse-type fuel assembly. Results and Discussion: According to the results, the length, slit width, and septal width of the collimator were determined to be 65, 2.1, and 1.5 mm, respectively, and the material and length of the trapezoidal-shaped scintillator were determined to be gadolinium aluminum gallium garnet and 45 mm, respectively. Based on the results of performance comparison between the YSECT.v.2 and IAEA's device, the proposed device showed 200 times higher performance in gamma-detection sensitivity and similar source discrimination probability. Conclusion: In this study, we optimally designed the GET device for improving the SNF inspection accuracy and evaluated its performance. Our results show that the YSECT.v.2 device could be employed for SNF inspection.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권9호
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• pp.1907-1916
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• 2020

In this work, the depletion capability implemented in Monte Carlo code MCS is investigated to predict the isotopic compositions of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). By comparison of MCS calculation results to post irradiation examination (PIE) data obtained from one pressurized water reactor (PWR), the validation of this capability is conducted. The depletion analysis is performed with the ENDF/B-VII.1 library and a fuel assembly model. The transmutation equation is solved by the Chebyshev Rational Approximation Method (CRAM) with a depletion chain of 3820 isotopes. 18 actinides and 19 fission products are analyzed in 14 SNF samples. The effect of statistical uncertainties on the calculated number densities is discussed. On average, most of the actinides and fission products analyzed are predicted within ±6% of the experiment. MCS depletion results are also compared to other depletion codes based on publicly reported information in literature. The code-to-code analysis shows comparable accuracy. Overall, it is demonstrated that the depletion capability in MCS can be reliably applied in the prediction of SNF isotopic inventory.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.442-449
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• 2017

Risk management of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station decommissioning is a great challenge. In the present study, a risk management framework has been developed for the decommissioning work. It is applied to fuel assembly retrieval from Unit 3 spent fuel pool. Whole retrieval work is divided into three phases: preparation, retrieval, and transportation and storage. First of all, the end point has been established and the success path has been developed. Then, possible threats, which are internal/external and technical/societal/management, are identified and selected. "What can go wrong?" is a question about the failure scenario. The likelihoods and consequences for each scenario are roughly estimated. The whole decommissioning project will continue for several decades, i.e., long-term perspective is important. What should be emphasized is that we do not always have enough knowledge and experience of this kind. It is expected that the decommissioning can make steady and good progress in support of the proposed risk management framework. Thus, risk assessment and management are required, and the process needs to be updated in accordance with the most recent information and knowledge on the decommissioning works.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.363-374
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• 2005

A heterogeneous thorium-based Kyung Hee Thorium Fuel (KTF) assembly design was assessed for application in the APR-1400 to study the feasibility of using thorium fuel in a conventional pressurized water reactor (PWR). Thermal hydraulic safety was examined for the thorium-based APR-1400 core, focusing on the Departure from Nucleate Boiling Ratio (DNBR) and Large Break Loss of Coolant Accident (LBLOCA) analysis. To satisfy the minimum DNBR (MDNBR) safety limit condition, MDNBR>1.3, a new grid design was adopted, that enabled grids in the seed and blanket assemblies to have different loss coefficients to the coolant flow. The fuel radius of the blanket was enlarged to increase the mass flow rate in the seed channel. Under transient conditions, the MDNBR values for the Beginning of Cycle (BOC), Middle of Cycle (MOC), and End of Cycle (EOC) were 1.367, 1.465, and 1.554, respectively, despite the high power tilt across the seed and blanket. Anticipated transient for the DNBR analysis were simulated at conditions of $112\%$ over-power, $95\%$ flow rate, and $2^{\circ}C$ higher inlet temperature. The maximum peak cladding temperature (PCT) was 1,173K for the severe accident condition of the LBLOCA, while the limit condition was 1,477K. The proliferation resistance potential of the thorium-based core was found to be much higher than that of the conventional $UO_2$ fuel core, $25\%$ larger in Bare Critical Mass (BCM), $60\%$ larger in Spontaneous Neutron Source (SNS), and $155\%$ larger in Thermal Generation (TG) rate; however, the radio-toxicity of the spent fuel was higher than that of $UO_2$ fuel, making it more environmentally unfriendly due to its high burnup rate.

• 한국방사성폐기물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국방사성폐기물학회 2018년도 춘계학술논문요약집
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• pp.45-46
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• 2018

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.87-93
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• 2006

제2차 전력수급기본계획에 의거 2017년까지 계획된 원자로만을 대상으로 심지층 처분시스템 설계 시 필요한 국내 사용후핵연료의 발생량, 제원적 특징, 초기농축도 및 방출연소도 등에 대하여 현재 및 미래 현황을 파악하고 예측하였다. 2057년까지 PWR 및 CANDU 사용후핵연료 발생량은 각각 20,500 및 14,800 MTU로 나타났다. 초기 농축도에 대해서는 4.5 wt.% 이하를 갖는 사용후핵연료가 96.5%를 차지하는 것으로 나타났다. 사용후핵연료의 평균 방출연소도는 90년대 후반에는 36 GWD/MUT 전도, 2000년대 초반에는 40 GWD/MTU를 나타냈으며, 2000년대 중 후반부터는 45 GWD/MTU가 될 것으로 나타났다. 광범위한 분석 및 예측 결과, 총 처분물량을 대표할 수 있는 가상적인 기준 사용후핵 연료는 16 6 한국표준형연료, 단면적 $21.4cm\times21.4cm$, 길이 453cm, 무게 672 kg, 초기 농축도 4.5 wt.%, 방출연소도 55 GWD/MTU로 나타났다.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.947-955
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• 2023

본 연구는 원전 지역 주민들을 대상으로 사용후핵연료에 대한 인식을 조사하여 고준위방사성폐기물 처분시설 마련을 위한 기초자료로 활용하고자 수행하였다. 온라인으로 수집한 204부의 설문을 SPSS Window Ver 28.0을 이용하여 분석하였다. 집단 간 차이 검증을 위해 t-test, 일원배치분산분석(one way ANOVA)을 실시하였다. 그리고 변수 간의 연관성을 확인하기 위하여 상관분석을 실시하였다. 그 결과 첫째, 원자력 관련 사고에 대한 위험 인식은 성별과 학력에 따라 통계적으로 유의미한 차이를 보였다. 사용후핵연료 영구처분시설 건설에 대한 입장은 성별, 학력, 연령에 따라 통계적으로 유의미한 차이를 보였고, 사용후핵연료 관리 방안 마련 평가 기준별 중요성 인식은 학력, 연령에 따라 통계적으로 유의미한 차이를 나타냈다. 정보 제공 기관 신뢰도에서는 국회에 대한 신뢰도가 가장 낮은 것으로 조사되었다. 둘째, 변수 간 상관관계 분석 결과 지역 주민들이 현재 사용후핵연료 처리에 대한 대안이 필요하다는 것을 인식하고 있고, 영구처분시설 건설에 따른 재정지원이 필요한 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 고준위방사성폐기물 처분장 건립을 위해서는 정부에 대한 신뢰도를 높이고, 지역 주민 의견 수렴과 경제적 지원이 필요한 것으로 사료된다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.299-309
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• 1997

The neutronic feasibility of typical Korean three-loop 900MWe class PWR core loaded with mixed oxide fuels for both annual and 18-month cycle strategies has been investigated as a means for spent fuel management. For this study, a method of determining equivalent plutonium content was developed under the equivalence concept which gives the same cycle length as uranium fuel. Optimal plutonium zoning within the MOX assembly was also designed with the aim of minimizing the peak md power. Conceptual core designs hate hen developed for equilibrium cycle with the following variations: annual and 18-month cycle, 1/3 and full MOX loading schemes, and typical and high moderation lattice. The analysis of key core physics parameters shows that in all cases considered satisfactory core designs seem to be feasible, though addition of control rod system and change in Technical Specification for soluble boron concentration are required for full MOX loading in order to meet the current design requirements.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권7호
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• pp.2095-2103
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• 2021

A small power ADS design using thorium oxide and diluent matrix reprocessed fuel is proposed for a high transmutation rate, small reactivity swing, and strong safety features. Two fuel matrices (CERCER and CERMET) and different recycled fuel compositions recovered from UO₂ spent fuels with 45 GWd/tU and 60 GWd/tU burnup were investigated to determine the suitable fuel for the ADS. It was found that the transmutation of each isotope depends on TRU initial loading amount. After examining the cores, the results show that CERCER fueled ADS has a negative coolant void reactivity (CVR) and a smaller radiotoxicity at discharge compared to that of CERMET core. It implies that CERCER fuel has enhanced safety features and more flavor in terms of radiotoxicity management. To increase fuel utilization and core operation efficiency, a simple assembly shuffling pattern for the CERCER fueled ADS is also proposed. Eigenvalue and burnup calculations were conducted using Serpent 2 with ENDF/B-VII.0 library in both kcode and external source modes, and it indicates that the results of transmutation analyses obtained by kcode only is reliable to discuss the transmutation potential of ADS. Burnup calculation with the fixed-source mode is essential to be used for more practical results of the transmutation by ADS.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.97-102
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• 1984

KSC-1 핵연료(核燃料) 수송용기(輸送容器)에 대(對)한 핵림계분석(核臨界分析)을 KENO-IV 몬테칼로 전산(電算)코드와 AMPX 전산(電算)코드계(系)로 부터 생산(生産)한 CSLIB 19 19-에너지군(群) 단면적(斷面積) 자료(資料)를 써서 수행(修行)하였다. 이때 미국(美國) B&W 사(社) CX-10 핵림계장치(核臨界裝置)를 대상으로 하여 KENO-IN 및 CSLIB 19단면적(斷面積) 시스템에 대한 검증계산(檢證計算)을 수행(遂行)한 후(後), 이 시스템의 타당성을 먼저 확인(確認)하였다. 핵림계분석(核臨界分析) 결과(結果), 1개(個)의 가압경수로(加壓輕水爐) 사용후(使用後) 핵연료집합체(核燃料集合體)를 운반할 수 있는 핵연료수송용기(核燃料輸送容器)는 정상적(正常的)인 수송조건(輸送條件)뿐만 아니라 가상적(假想的)인 수송사고조건하(輸送事故條件河)에서도 핵림계(核臨界)에 관(關)한 한(限) 안전(安全)한 것 같았다.