• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 1982

In 1977, spent fuel storage capacity of Ko-Ri Unit 1 was raised to contain 4-2/3 core, by reducing the center-to-center spacing between fuel assemblies from 53.34cm to 36cm. In this paper the adequacy is discussed in detail by examining the previous design analysis report. According to the analytic method presented by Core Performance Branch, study on credible abnormal moderator density condition is performed by using KENO-IV for the redesigned spent fuel storage facility. Result shows that 36cm for the center-to-center spacing between fuel assemblies is not enough to keep the storage safe at water density of 0.1143g/㎤, which gives the maximum $K_{eff}$ 0.9958$\pm$0.0048, which exceeds the CPB regulation limit 0.98. From sensitivity study regarding to the center-to-center spacing, it should be maintained to space greater than 43cm in order to meet the CPB requirements.s.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.213-217
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• 2012

The amount of spent fuel from nuclear power plants has been increasing. An effective management plan of the spent fuel becomes a critical issue, because the storage capacity of each plant will reach its storage limit in a few years. The volume of high toxic spent fuel can be reduced through a fuel processing. Advanced Fuel Cycle (AFC) system is considered to be one of the options to reduce the toxicity and volume of the spent fuel. It is necessary to set up a test facility to demonstrate the feasibility of the process at the engineering scale. The objective of the work is a development of the safety evaluation technology for the AFC system. The evaluation technology of the AFC structural integrity and processes were surveyed and reviewed. Key evaluation parameters for the main processes such as electrolytic reduction, electrorefining, and electrowinning were obtained. The survey results may be used for the establishment of the AFC regulatory licensing procedure. The establishment of the licensing criteria minimizes the trials and errors of the AFC facility design. Issues taken from the survey on the regulatory procedure and design safety features for the AFC facility provide a chance to resolve potential issues in advance.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2023

Since spent nuclear fuel assemblies (SFA) are transported to interim storage or final disposal facility after cooling the decay heat, finite element analysis (FEA) with simplification is widely used to show their integrity against cladding failure to cause dispersal of radioactive material. However, there is a lack of research addressing the comprehensive impact of shape and element simplification on analysis results. In this study, for the optimization of a typical pressurized water reactor SFA, different types of finite element models were generated by changing number of fuel rods, fuel rod element type and assembly length. A series of FEA in use of these different models were conducted under a shock load data obtained from surrogate fuel assembly transportation test. Effects of number of fuel rods, element type and length of assembly were also analyzed, which shows that the element type of fuel rod mainly affected on cladding strain. Finally, an optimal finite element model was determined for other practical application in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.947-955
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the awareness of spent nuclear fuel among residents in nuclear power plant areas and use it as basic data for establishing a disposal facility for high-level radioactive waste. 204 questionnaires collected online were analyzed using SPSS Window Ver 28.0. To verify differences between groups, t-test and one-way ANOVA were performed. And correlation analysis was conducted to confirm the relationship between variables. As a result, first, risk perception regarding nuclear-related accidents showed statistically significant differences depending on gender and educational level. The position on the construction of a permanent disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel showed a statistically significant difference depending on gender, education, and age, and the perception of the importance of each evaluation standard for establishing a spent nuclear fuel management plan showed a statistically significant difference depending on education and age. In terms of trust in information-providing institutions, trust in the National Assembly was found to be the lowest. Second, the results of the correlation analysis between variables showed that local residents are aware that an alternative to the current disposal of spent nuclear fuel is needed, and that financial support for the construction of a permanent disposal facility is needed. Therefore, in order to build a high-level radioactive waste disposal site, it is believed that it is necessary to increase trust in the government, collect opinions from local residents, and provide economic support.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.313-327
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• 1996

As an at-reactor(AR) storage method o( spent fuel, there are horizontal concrete module type, metal storage cask type, concrete storage cask type, dual purpose (transportation and storage) cask type and multi-purpose (transportation, storage and disposal) cask type. All other types except multi-purpose one have been already used for AR dry storage of spent fuels after obtaining operation license in various foreign countries. Also the development of multi-purpose type has been continued for operation license. In America, Japan, Germany, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, and Czech Republic, etc., AR dry storage facilities are under operation or on propulsion, and spent fuels are transported to interim storage facility or reprocessing plant after dry storage at reactor temporarily. At Wolsung site, in case of Korea, concrete silo type has already been introduced, and it is believed to be inevitable to store spent fuels at reactor temporarily, considering the reality that storage capacity of spent fuel is approaching to the limit in some nuclear power plants. In this report, the system characteristics, design requirements, technical standards and status of AR storage system, which is suitable for domestic site such as Kori, have been studied. In most cases, the licensed period of storage cask is limited up to 20 years and the integrity of material and maintenance of leaktightness are required during the whole service life.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.411-425
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• 2017

Using a probabilistic safety assessment, a risk evaluation framework for an aircraft crash into an interim spent fuel storage facility is presented. Damage evaluation of a detailed generic cask model in a simplified building structure under an aircraft impact is discussed through a numerical structural analysis and an analytical fragility assessment. Sequences of the impact scenario are shown in a developed event tree, with uncertainties considered in the impact analysis and failure probabilities calculated. To evaluate the influence of parameters relevant to design safety, risks are estimated for three specification levels of cask and storage facility structures. The proposed assessment procedure includes the determination of the loading parameters, reference impact scenario, structural response analyses of facility walls, cask containment, and fuel assemblies, and a radiological consequence analysis with dose-risk estimation. The risk results for the proposed scenario in this study are expected to be small relative to those of design basis accidents for best-estimated conservative values. The importance of this framework is seen in its flexibility to evaluate the capability of the facility to withstand an aircraft impact and in its ability to anticipate potential realistic risks; the framework also provides insight into epistemic uncertainty in the available data and into the sensitivity of the design parameters for future research.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.118-119
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• 2017

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2015

For the purpose of improving the efficiency of the radiation impact assessment of dry interim storage facilities for the spent nuclear fuel of pressurized water reactors (PWRs), radiation impact assessment was performed after the application of sensitivity assessment according to the radiation source term designation method, development of a 2-step calculation technique, and cooling time credit. The present study successively designated radiation source terms in accordance with the cask arrangement order in the shielding building, assessed sensitivity, which affects direct dose, and confirmed that the radiation dosage of the external walls of the shielding building was dominantly affected by the two columns closest to the internal walls. In addition, in the case in which shielding buildings were introduced into storage facilities, the present study established and assessed the 2-step calculation technique, which can reduce the immense computational analysis time. Consequently, results similar to those from existing calculations were derived in approximately half the analysis time. Finally, when radiation source terms were established by adding the storage period of the storage casks successively stored in the storage facilities and the cooling period of the spent nuclear fuel, the radiation dose of the external walls of the buildings was confirmed to be approximately 40% lower than the calculated values; the cooling period was established as being identical. The present study was conducted to improve the efficiency of the Monte Carlo shielding analysis method for radiation impact assessment of interim storage facilities. If reliability is improved through the assessment of more diverse cases, the results of the present study can be used for the design of storage facilities and the establishment of site boundary standards.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.375-387
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• 2019

In this study, the radiation dose rates for the design basis fuel of 360 assemblies CANDU spent nuclear fuel transportation cask were evaluated, by measuring radiation source terms for the design basis fuel of a pressurized heavy water reactor. Additionally, radiological safety evaluation was carried out and the validity of the results was determined by radiological technical standards. To select the design basis fuel, which was the radiation source term for the spent fuel transportation cask, the design basis fuels from two spent fuel storage facilities were stored in a spent fuel transportation cask operating in Wolsung NPP. The design basis fuel for each transportation and storage system was based on the burnup of spent fuel, minimum cooling period, and time of transportation to the intermediate storage facility. A burnup of 7,800 MWD/MTU and a minimum cooling period of 6 years were set as the design basis fuel. The radiation source terms of the design basis fuel were evaluated using the ORIGEN-ARP computer module of SCALE computer code. The radiation shielding of the cask was evaluated using the MCNP6 computer code. In addition, the evaluation of the radiation dose rate outside the transport cask required by the technical standard was classified into normal and accident conditions. Thus, the maximum radiation dose rates calculated at the surface of the cask and at a point 2 m from the surface of the cask under normal transportation conditions were respectively 0.330 mSv·h^-1 and 0.065 mSv·h^-1. The maximum radiation dose rate 1 m from the surface of the cask under accident conditions was calculated as 0.321 mSv·h^-1. Thus, it was confirmed that the spent fuel cask of the large capacity heavy water reactor had secured the radiation safety.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.1723-1729
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• 2021

Energy and directional distribution of neutrons at the Beloyarsk NPP workplaces is a subject of this study. Measurements of H^*(10) rate and neutron energy distribution were taken at 8 workplaces, which can be divided into three categories: work with spent or fresh nuclear fuel, work with radionuclide neutron sources, work at the rooms adjusted to reactors. The Hp(10) measurements were performed only at 6 out of 8 locations, due to the fact that long term placing of an effective neutron moderator in fresh nuclear fuel storage facility is forbidden. As a result of the research energy and direction distribution of the neutron fields at 8 locations of the Beloyarsk NPP workplaces was obtained. To estimate the accuracy of the H^*(10) rate and Hp (10) measurements the reference values of dose equivalents were calculated using energy and directional distribution. To take into account the difference between the reference values and the measured results site-specific correction factors were calculated.