• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.37-41
• /
• 2012

The Ag nanoparticles attached $La_{0.7}Sr_{0.3}Co_{0.3}Fe_{0.7}O_{3-{\delta}}$ (LSCF) perovskites were prepared by plasma method. The Ag nanoparticles with size of several nanometers deposited from the Ag target were coated on the surface of LSCF powders with size range from 0.2 to 3 ${\mu}m$. The agglomeration of Ag particles annealed at $800^{\circ}C$ under inert gas of Ar were rarely observed. The inter-diffusion between surface Ag and core LSCF is effectively strong to prevent aggregation of Ag nanoparticles. The wave number of FT-IR spectra for LSCF were largely shifted as the concentration of Ag on LSCF up to 2.11 wt.%. The ionic states of irons in LSCF were measured by M$\ddot{o}$ssbauer spectroscopy. The small amount of $Fe^{4+}$ ions are converted to $Fe^{3+}$ ions after Ag nanopartcles were coated on LSCF.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.8 no.8
• /
• pp.757-765
• /
• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the influence of fuel/oxygen ratio (F/O= 3.2, 3.0, 2.8) on the oxidation behavior of two kinds of (20wt%NiCr claded $\textrm{Cr}_{3}\textrm{C}_{2}$, and 7wt%NiCr mixed $\textrm{Cr}_{3}\textrm{C}_{2}$) composite powder with different manufacturing method. The results show that the oxidation behavior between the 20wt% NiCr claded $\textrm{Cr}_{3}\textrm{C}_{2}$ and 7wt% NiCr mixed $\textrm{Cr}_{3}\textrm{C}_{2}$ coating was widely different. The surface morphology of the coating composed of 7wt% NiCr mixed $\textrm{Cr}_{3}\textrm{C}_{2}$ was changed to porous with F/O ratio by the aggressive evolution of gas phases($\textrm{CO}_2$, CO and $\textrm{CrO}_3$) and the oxide cluster composed of Ni and Cr were grown after oxidation at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 50 hours. But the surface morphology of the coating composed of 20wt% NiCr claded $\textrm{Cr}_{3}\textrm{C}_{2}$ was not changed to porous after oxidation at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 50 hours. Therefore, the reason for high oxidation rate is due to activation of $\textrm{Cr}_{3}\textrm{C}_{2}$ to oxidation by entrapped oxygen gases within coating layer, and to closely relate with the decomposition of $\textrm{Cr}_{3}\textrm{C}_{2}$ to $\textrm{Cr}_{7}\textrm{C}_{3}$ phase. Accordingly, On the evidence of these results, the study about the oxidation behavoir of the HVOF sprayed $\textrm{Cr}_{3}\textrm{C}_{2}$ coating depending on hydrogen flow rate must be done.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.199-206
• /
• 2013

Electrowinning process in pyroprocessing recovers U (uranium) and TRU (Trans Uranium) elements simultaneously from spent fuels using a liquid cadmium cathode (LCC). When the solubility limit of U deposits over 2.35wt% in Cd, U dendrites were formed on the LCC surface during the electrodeposition at $500^{\circ}C$. Due to the high surface area of dendritic U, the deposits were not submerged into the liquid cadmium pool but grow out of the LCC crucible. Since the U dendrites act as a solid cathode, it prevents the co-deposition of U and TRUs. In this study, the electrodeposition of U onto a LCC was carried out at 440 and $500^{\circ}C$ to compare the morphology and component of U deposits. The U deposits at $440^{\circ}C$ have a specific shape and were stacked regularly at the center of the LCC pool, while the U dendrites (i.e., ${\alpha}$-phase) at $500^{\circ}C$ were grow out of the LCC crucible. Through the microscopic observation and XRD analysis, the electrodeposits at $440^{\circ}C$, which have a round shape, were identified as an intermetallic compound such as $UCd_{11}$. It can be concluded that the LCC electrowinning operation at $440^{\circ}C$ achieves the co-recovery of U and TRU without the formation of U dendrites.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 1991

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of weld line on the mechanical strengths and the process of weld line elimination in the Zircaloy-4 resistance upset welding for the fabrication of heavy water reactor fuel rods. The weld current and the amount of upset increased linearly with the main heat, in which two relations between them were derived. It was found that the threshold to obtain sound weld was 50% of main heat in terms of weld upset size, mechanical strengths and weld line elimination. The weld microstructure of resistance upset welds of Zircaloy-4 comprsied basketweave, Widmanstatten and martensite respectively by changing the main heats. Dimples on uniaxially fractured surface at weld line in the Zr-4 welds were larger and deeper compared with those on biaxially fractured surface. It was also found that the process of the weld line elimination in the resistance upset weld of Zircaloy-4 could be divided into three stages in terms of the presence of many pores, their shrinkage and elimination, and the shrinkage of the original weld interface with increasing weld currents.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.127-137
• /
• 2019

Zr electrorefining is demonstrated herein using Zirlo tubes in a chloride-fluoride mixed molten salt in the presence of $AlF_3$. Cyclic voltammetry reveals a monotonic shift in the onset of metal reduction kinetics towards positive potential and an increase in intensity of the additional peaks associated with Zr-Al alloy formation with increasing $AlF_3$ concentration. Unlike the galvanostatic deposition mode, a radial plate-type Zr growth is evident at the top surface of the salt during Zr electrorefining at a constant potential of -1.2 V. The diameter of the plate-type Zr deposit gradually increases with increasing $AlF_3$ concentration. Scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses for the plate-type Zr deposit show that trace amount of Al is incorporated as Zr-Al alloys with different chemical compositions between the top and bottom surface of the deposit. Addition of $AlF_3$ is effective in lowering the residual salt content in the deposit and in improving the current efficiency for Zr recovery.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.1104-1116
• /
• 2019

In this study, we investigated the potential of using sediment bioelectrochemical systems (SBESs) for in situ treatment of the water and sediment in brackish aquaculture ponds polluted with uneaten feed. An SBES integrated into a laboratory-scale tank simulating a brackish aquaculture pond was established. This test tank and the control (not containing the SBES) were fed with shrimp feed in a scheme that mimics a situation where 50% of feed is uneaten. After the SBES was inoculated with microbial sources from actual shrimp pond sediments, electricity generation was well observed from the first experimental week, indicating successful enrichment of electrochemically active bacteria in the test tank sediment. The electricity generation became steady after 3 weeks of operation, with an average current density of $2.3mA/m^2$ anode surface and an average power density of $0.05mW/m^2$ anode surface. The SBES removed 20-30% more COD of the tank water, compared to the control. After 1 year, the SBES also reduced the amount of sediment in the tank by 40% and thus could remove approximately 40% more COD and approximately 52% more nitrogen from the sediment, compared to the control. Insignificant amounts of nitrite and nitrate were detected, suggesting complete removal of nitrogen by the system. PCR-DGGE-based analyses revealed the dominant presence of Methylophilus rhizosphaerae, Desulfatitalea tepidiphila and Thiothrix eikelboomii, which have not been found in bioelectrochemical systems before, in the bacterial community in the sediment of the SBES-containing tank. The results of this research demonstrate the potential application of SBESs in helping to reduce water pollution threats, fish and shrimp disease risks, and thus farmers' losses.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.421-429
• /
• 2018

Hydrazine based reductive dissolution applied on magnetite oxide was investigated. Dissolution of Fe(II) and Fe(III) from magnetite takes place either by protonation, surface complexation, or reduction. Solution containing hydrazine and sulfuric acid provides hydrogen to break bonds between Fe and oxygen by protonation and electrons for the reduction of insoluble Fe(III) to soluble Fe(II) in acidic solution of pH 3. In terms of dissolution rate, numerous transition metal ions were examined and Cu(II) ion was found to be the most effective to speed up the dissolution. During the cycle of Cu(I) ions to Cu(II) ions, the released electron promoted the reduction of Fe(III) and Cu(II) ions returned to Cu(I) ion due to the oxidation of hydrazine. In the experimental results, the addition of a very low amount of cupric ion (about 0.5 mM) to the solution increased the dissolution rate about 40% on average and up to 70% for certain specific conditions. It is confirmed that even though the coordination structure of copper ions with hydrazine is not clear, the $Cu(II)/H^+/N_2H_4$ system is acceptable regarding the dissolution performance as a decontamination reagent.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.321-328
• /
• 2019

The detection performances of the NaI(Tl), $LaBr_3$(Ce) and $CeBr_3$ scintillation detectors, which can be used to rapidly evaluate the major artificial radionuclides deposited on the soil surface in a nuclear accident or radiological emergency, were compared. Detection performance was assessed by calculating the minimum detectable activity (MDA). The detection efficiency of each detector for artificial radionuclides was semi-empirically determined using mathematical modelling and point-like sources having certified radioactivity. The background gamma-ray energy spectrum for MDA evaluation was obtained from relatively wide and flat grassland, and the MDA values of each detector for the major artificial radionuclides that could be released in nuclear accidents were calculated. As a result, the relative MDA values of each detector regarding surface deposition distribution at normal environmental radiation level were evaluated as high in the order of the NaI(Tl), $LaBr_3$(Ce), and $CeBr_3$ detectors. These results were compared based on each detector's intrinsic and measurement environment background, detection efficiency, and energy resolution for the gamma-ray energy region of the radionuclide of interest.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2019

The accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) resulted in the deposition of large quantities of radionuclides over parts of eastern Japan. Radioactive contaminants have been observed over a large area including forests, cities, rivers and lakes. Due to the strong adsorption of radioactive cesium by soil particles, radioactive cesium migrates with the eroded soil, follows the surface flow paths, and is delivered downstream of population-rich regions and eventually to coastal areas. In this study, we developed a model to simulate the transport of contaminated sediment in a watershed hydrological system and this model was compared with observation data from eroded soil observation instruments located at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Two methods were applied to analyze the soil particle size distribution of the collected soil samples, including standardized sieve analysis and image analysis methods. Numerical models were developed to simulate the movement of soil along with actual rainfall considering initial saturation, rainfall infiltration, multilayer and rain splash. In the 2019 study, a numerical model will be used to add rainfall shield effect by trees, evaporation effect and shield effects of surface water. An eroded soil observation instrument has been installed near the Wolsong nuclear power plant since 2018 and observation data are being continuously collected. Based on these observations data, we will develop the numerical model to analyze long-term behavior of radionuclides on land as they move from land to rivers, lakes and coastal areas.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.75-83
• /
• 2021

To cope with automobile exhaust gas regulations, ISG (Idling Stop & Go) and charging control systems are applied to HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) for the purpose of improving fuel economy. These systems require quick charge/discharge performance at high current. To satisfy this characteristic, improvement of the positive electrode plate is studied to improve the charge/discharge process and performance of AGM(Absorbent Glass Mat) lead-acid batteries applied to ISG automotive systems. The bonding between grid and A.M (Active Material) can be improved by applying the Sand-Blasting method to provide roughness to the surface of the positive grid. When the Sand-Blasting method is applied with conditions of ball speed 1,000 rpm and conveyor speed 5 M/min, ideal bonding is achieved between grid and A.M. The positive plate of each condition is applied to the AGM LAB (Absorbent Glass Mat Lead Acid Battery); then, the performance and ISG life characteristics are tested by the vehicle battery test method. In CCA, which evaluates the starting performance at -18 ℃ and 30 ℃ with high current, the advanced AGM LAB improves about 25 %. At 0 ℃ CA (Charge Acceptance), the initial charging current of the advanced AGM LAB increases about 25 %. Improving the bonding between the grid and A.M. by roughening the grid surface improves the flow of current and lowers the resistance, which is considered to have a significant effect on the high current charging/discharging area. In a Standard of Battery Association of Japan (SBA) S0101 test, after 300 A discharge, the voltage of the advanced AGM LAB with the Sand-Blasting method grid was 0.059 V higher than that of untreated grid. As the cycle progresses, the gap widens to 0.13 V at the point of 10,800 cycles. As the bonding between grid and A.M. increases through the Sand Blasting method, the slope of the discharge voltage declines gradually as the cycle progresses, showing excellent battery life characteristics. It is believed that system will exhibit excellent characteristics in the vehicle environment of the ISG system, in which charge/discharge occurs over a short time.