• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2019

The 500 MW Korean standard coal-fired power plant is the largest standardized power plant in Korea and has played a pivotal role in domestic power generation for over 20 years. In addition to the aging degradation due to long term operation, the probability of failure of power generation facilities is increasing due to frequent startup and stop caused by the lower utilization rate due to air pollution problem caused by coal-fired power plants. Among them, steam piping plays an important role in transferring high-temperature & pressure steam produced in a boiler to turbine for power generation. In recent years, failure of steam piping of large coal-fired power plant has frequently occurred. Therefore, in this study, failure analysis of high pressure piping weld was conducted. We identify the damage caused by high stress due to abnormal supporting structure of the piping and suggest improved supporting structure to eliminate high stress through microstructure analysis and piping stress analysis to prevent the occurrence of the similar failure of other power plant in the case of repetitive damage to the main steam piping system of the 500 MW Korean standard coal-fired power plant.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.31-37
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• 2017

The heat transfer function or thermal performance is the most important function of the steam generator component in nuclear power plants. The declining of thermal performance, fouling does not affect the electric power of the nuclear power plant within a certain fouling level, but it affects the output when goes beyond the governor valve wide open of the turbine. The VWO steam pressure can be predicted through the thermal performance evaluation of steam generators in the nuclear power plant. In consideration of the fouling characteristics of the steam generator, methods of the thermal performance evaluation and fouling cases are reviewed, and also the critical VWO value is estimated through the actual thermal performance evaluation. It is necessary to apply the VWO theory based on the thermal performance of the steam generators.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.583-588
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• 2016

The high-temperature steam pipes of thermal power plants are subjected to severe conditions such as creep and fatigue due to the power plant frequently being started up and shut down. To prevent critical pipes from serious damage and possible failure, inspection methods such as computational analysis and online piping displacement monitoring have been developed. However, these methods are limited in that they cannot determine the life consumption rate of a critical pipe precisely. Therefore, we set out to develop a life assessment system, based on a three-dimensional piping displacement monitoring system, which is capable of evaluating the life consumption rate of a critical pipe. This system was installed at the "M" thermal power plant in Malaysia, and was shown to operate well in practice. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the increase safety of piping systems by minimizing stress and extending the actual life of critical piping.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2015

Nuclear power plant steam generator that is one of the main component has several thousands of thin tubes. And the steam generator tube is subject to damage because of the severe operation conditions such as the high temperature and pressure. Therefore periodic inspections are conducted to ensure the integrity of steam generator component. Hanul unit 3 also has been inspected in accordance with in-service inspection program and is scheduled to be replaced for exceeding the plugging rate which was recommended by manufacturer. During the steam generator replacement activity, we found several clustered porosity on inner surface of main feed water pipe. Additionally crack-like indications were found at weld interface between base material and weld of main feed water pipe. This paper describes the field experience and visual testing results for inner surface of main feed water pipes. The destructive test result had shown that these indications were porosities which were caused by manufacturing process not by operation service.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2017

When a sudden rupture occurs in high energy lines, ejection of inner fluid with high temperature and pressure causes blast wave as well as thrust forces on the ruptured pipe itself. The present study is to examine pipe whip behaviors and blast wave phenomena under postulated pipe break conditions. In this context, typical numerical models were generated by taking a MSL (Main Steam Line) piping, a steam generator and containment building. Subsequently, numerical analyses were carried out by changing break locations; one is pipe whip analyses to assess displacements and stresses of the broken pipe due to the thrust force. The other is blast wave analyses to evaluate the broken pipe due to the blast wave by considering the pipe whip. As a result, the stress value of the steam generator increased by about 7~21% and von Mises stress of steam generator outlet nozzle exceeded the yield strength of the material. In the displacement results, rapid movement of pipe occurred at 0.1 sec due to the blast wave, and the maximum displacement increased by about 2~9%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.183-190
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• 1996

Leak-before-break(LBB) approach has been shown to be both cost and risk effective by reducing maintenance cost and occupational exposure when applied to high energy piping in nuclear power plants. For Korean Next Generation Reactor(KNGR) development, LBB is considered for the Main Steam Line(MSL) piping inside containment. Unlike the reactor coolant piping leakages which can be detected by particulate and gaseous radiation monitoring, main steam line leak detection systems must be based on principles that do not involve radioactivity. Ceramics are widely used as humidity sensor materials which can be further developed for nuclear applications. In this paper, we describe the progress in the development of ceramic humidity sensors for use with the main steam lines of KNGR.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.51-56
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• 2011

Steam generator is one of the main equipments that affect safety and long term operation in nuclear power plants. Fluid flows inside and outside of the steam generator tubes and induces vibration. To prevent the vibration the tubes are supported by AVB (anti vibration bar). When the steam generator tube contact to AVB, it is damaged by the accumulation of wear and corrosion. Therefore studies are required to determine the effects of the gap between the steam generator tube and AVB. In order to obtain the stress and the displacement distributions of the steam generator tube, three dimensional finite element analyses were performed by using the commercial program ANSYS. Using the calculated the stress and the displacement distributions, the static residual strength of the steam generator tube can be evaluated. The results show that the stress and displacement of the steam generator tube increase significantly compared with the results from a zero-gap model.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.227-232
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• 2013

A number of components installed in the secondary system of nuclear power plants are exposed to aging mechanisms such as FAC (Flow-Accelerated Corrosion), Cavitation, Flashing, and LDIE (Liquid Droplet Impingement Erosion). Those aging mechanisms can lead to thinning of the components. In April 2013, one (1) inch small bore piping branched from the main steam line experienced leakage resulting from wall thinning in a 1,000 MWe Korean PWR nuclear power plant. During the normal operation, extracted steam from the main steam line goes to condenser through the small bore piping. The leak occurred in the downstream of an orifice. A control valve with vertical flow path was placed on in front of the orifice. This paper deals with UT (Ultrasonic Test) thickness data, SEM images, and numerical simulation results in order to analyze the extent of damage and the cause of leakage in the small bore piping. As a result, it is concluded that the main cause of the small bore pipe wall thinning is liquid droplet impingement erosion. Moreover, it is observed that the leak occurred at the reattachment point of the vortex flow in the downstream side of the orifice.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.599-605
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• 2015

The revised U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC), Regulatory Guide(RG) 1.20, rev.3 requires the evaluation of the potential adverse effects from pressure fluctuations and vibrations on piping and components for the reactor coolant, steam, feedwater, and condensate systems. Detailed vibration analyses for the systems attached to the steam generator are very difficult, because these piping systems are very complicated. This paper suggests a screening method for the flow-induced vibration of acoustic resonances and pump-induced vibration of the piping systems attached to the steam generator in order to conduct the APR1400 comprehensive vibration assessment program. This paper seeks to address the areas such as potential vibration sources, and methods to prevent the occurrence of acoustic resonances and pump-induced vibration of piping systems attached to the steam generator, for conducting the APR1400 comprehensive vibration assessment program. The screening method in this paper will be used to estimate the flow-induced vibration of the piping systems attached to the steam generator for the APR1400.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.26-33
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• 2011

To evaluate steam oxidation behaviours of Alloy 617 and Haynes 230, oxidation test were performed at $900^{\circ}C$ in steam and $steam+20\;vol.-%\;H_2$ environments. Oxidation rate in steam condition was similar to that in air for Alloy 617, while it was slightly lower for Haynes 230. When hydrogen was added to steam, oxidation rate was enhanced. Isolated $MnTiO_3$ particle were formed on $Cr_2O_3$ oxide layer and sub layer $Cr_2O_3$ were formed in steam and $steam+20\;vol.-%\;H_2$ for Alloy 617. On the other hands, $MnCr_2O_3$ layer were formed on top of $Cr_2O_3$ oxide layer for Haynes 230. The extensive sub layer $Cr_2O_3$ formation was resulted from the oxygen inward diffusion in such environments. When hydrogen was added, the oxide morphology was changed from polygonal to platelet because of the accelerated diffusion of cations under the oxide layer. In addition, decarburized zone was extended as hydrogen participated into the reactions causing carbide dissolution.