• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.302-304
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• 2004

Nuclear fuel elements containing dry recycling nuclear fuel pellets for the irradiation test in a reactor were remotely fabricated from spent PWR fuel materials in a hot cell. End closure welding as well as seal tube welding for thermal sensor of the elements was performed by Nd:YAG laser. The soundness of the end closure welds and seal tube welds for the elements were evaluated by a precise X-ray inspection system composed of a micro-focus X-ray generator with an image intensifier and a real time camera system. Then, helium leak test was performed for the elements. The soundness of the welds of the fuel elements was confirmed by the X-ray inspection and helium leak test. The irradiation test for the fuel elements were successfully completed at the HANARO research reactor.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.1669-1676
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• 2020

The IAEA held the IAEA Robotics Challenge 2017 (IRC2017) to protect workers during inspections of spent nuclear fuel and to improve work efficiency and accuracy rates. To this end, we developed an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) system called the spent fuel check vehicle (SCV). The SCV extracts and tracks the target through image processing, and it is necessary to find suitable parameters for the SNF storage environment in advance. This preliminary work takes time. It is also difficult to prepare the environment in which the work will proceed. In addition, if the preliminary work does not proceed as planned, the system will not move at the proper speed and will become unstable, with yawing and overshoot. To solve this problem, we developed a controller with a camera that can extract the depth at which the target is stored and allow distance-adaptive control. This controller is able to attenuate system instability factors such as yawing and overshoot better than existing controllers by continuously changing system operation parameters according to the depth. In addition, the time required for preliminary work during inspections can be shortened.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 1999

SCAI(spent CANDU fuel bundle serial number identifier) was developed to read serial numbers of spent fuel bundles in the spent fuel storage. For the purpose of effectively identifying the serial number of fuel bundle. SCAI was composed of underwater camera & light part. guiding & supporting part and control & monitor part. So it is easy to assemble and disassemble, and operate. It was tested to read serial numbers of spent fuel bundles loaded in basket during the recent spent fuel transfer campaign at Wolsong Unit 1. And it was also applied to read serial numbers of spent fuel bundles discharging from the initial core at Wolsong Unit 3 by slight change of camera and light. Inspectors could easily operate SCAI after several practices in the storage pond, which was a user friendly. And SCAI provided clear and immediate picture for identification of serial numbers of spent fuel bundles. It was interally evaluated that SCAI greatly contributed to cut inspection efforts for national and international safeguards at Wolsong power plant.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-119
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• 2022

Excavation-Disturbed Zone (EDZ) is an important design factor in constructing final disposal facilities for spent nuclear fuel, since EDZ affects mechanical stability including a spacing between disposal holes, and the hydraulic properties within EDZ plays a significant role in estimating in-flow rate of groundwater as well as a subsequent corrosion rate of a canister. Thus, it is highly required to characterize in-situ EDZ with precision and control the EDZ occurrence while excavating disposal facilities and constructing relevant underground research facilities. In this report, we not only reviewed EDZ-related researches carried out in the ONKALO facility of Finland but also examined appropriate methods for field inspection and quality control of EDZ occurrence. From the review, GPR can be the most efficient method for in-situ characterization of EDZ since it does not demand drilling a borehole that may disturb a surrounding environment of caverns. And the EDZ occurrence was dominant at a cavern floor and it ranged from 0 to 70 cm. These can provide useful information in developing necessary EDZ-related regulations for domestic disposal facilities.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.517-532
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• 2021

Safe geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) requires knowledge of the deep hydrochemical characteristics of the repository site. Here, we conducted a set of deep hydrochemical investigations using a 750-m borehole drilled in a model granite system in Wonju, South Korea. A closed investigation system consisting of a double-packer, Waterra pump, flow cell, and water-quality measurement unit was used for in situ water quality measurements and subsequent groundwater sampling. We managed the drilling water labeled with a fluorescein dye using a recycling system that reuses the water discharged from the borehole. We selected the test depths based on the dye concentrations, outflow water quality parameters, borehole logging, and visual inspection of the rock cores. The groundwater pumped up to the surface flowed into the flow cell, where the in situ water quality parameters were measured, and it was then collected for further laboratory measurements. Atmospheric contact was minimized during the entire process. Before hydrochemical measurements and sample collection, pumping was performed to purge the remnant drilling water. This study on a model borehole can serve as a reference for the future development of deep hydrochemical investigation procedures and techniques for siting processes of SNF repositories.