• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2019

This work is experimental study of 10 kW specialized Combined Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. We propose a C-OTEC technology that directly uses exhaust thermal energy from power station condensers to heat the working fluid (R134a), and tests the feasibility of such power station by designing, manufacturing, installing, and operating a 10 kW-pilot facility. Power generation status was monitored by using exhaust thermal energy from an existing power plant located on the east coast of the Korean peninsula, heat exchange with 300 kW of heat capacity, and a turbine, which can exceed enthalpy efficiency of 45%. Output of 8.5 kW at efficiency of 3.5% was monitored when the condenser temperature and seawater temperature are $29^{\circ}C$ and $7.5^{\circ}C$, respectively. The evaluation of the impact of large-capacity C-OTEC technology on power station confirmed the increased value of the technology on existing power generating equipment by improving output value and reducing hot waste water. Through the research result, the technical possibility of C-OTEC has been confirmed, and it is being conducted at 200 kW-class to gain economic feasibility. Based on the results, authors present an empirical study result on the 200 kW C-OTEC design and review the impact on power plant.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2018

A buffer in a geological disposal system minimizes groundwater inflow from the surrounding rock and protects the disposed high-level waste (HLW) against any mechanical impact. As decay heat of a spent fuel causes temperature variation in the buffer that affects the mechanical performance of the system, an accurate estimation of the temperature variation is substantial. The temperature variation is affected by thermal and material properties of the system such as thermal conductivity, density and specific heat capacity of the buffer, and thus these factors should be properly included in the design of the system. In particular, as the thermal properties are variable depending on the density and water content of the buffer, consideration of the effects should be included in the analysis. Hence, in this study, a numerical model based on finite element method (FEM) which is able to consider the change of density and water content of the buffer was established. In addition, using the numerical model, a parametric study was conducted to investigate the effect of each thermal property on the temperature variation of the buffer.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.1540-1554
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• 2023

To use nuclear energy sustainably, spent nuclear fuel, classified as high-level radioactive waste and inevitably discharged after electricity generation by nuclear power plants, must be managed safely and isolated from the human environment. In Korea, the land area is limited and the amount of high-level radioactive waste, including spent nuclear fuels to be disposed, is relatively large. Thus, it is particularly necessary to maximize disposal efficiency. In this study, a high-efficiency deep geological repository concept was developed to enhance disposal efficiency. To this end, design strategies and requirements for a high-efficiency deep geological repository system were established, and engineered barrier modules with a disposal canister for pressurized water reactor (PWR)-type and pressurized heavy water reactor type Canada deuterium uranium (CANDU) plants were developed. Thermal and structural stability assessments were conducted for the repository system; it was confirmed that the system was suitable for the established strategies and requirements. In addition, the results of the nuclear safety assessment showed that the radiological safety of the new system met the Korean safety standards for disposal of high-level radioactive waste in terms of radiological dose. To evaluate disposal efficiency in terms of the disposal area, the layout of the developed disposal areas was assessed in terms of thermal limits. The estimated disposal areas were 2.51 km² and 1.82 km² (existing repository system: 4.57 km²) and the excavated host rock volumes were 2.7 Mm³ and 2.0 Mm³ (existing repository system: 4.5 Mm³) for thermal limits of 100 ℃ and 130 ℃, respectively. These results indicated that the area and the excavated volume of the new repository system were reduced by 40-60% compared to the existing repository system. In addition, methods to further improve the efficiency were derived for the disposal area for deep geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The results of this study are expected to be useful in establishing a national high-level radioactive waste management policy, and for the design of a commercial deep geological repository system for spent nuclear fuels.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2018

Recently, the development of a heat pump technology to recover process waste heat and to generate steam of $120^{\circ}C$ or higher required for industrial processes, has attracted attention. The research of conventional heat pump utilizing the available energy is used primarily for air conditioning, and the production temperature is about $60^{\circ}C$, so it is difficult to utilize it for industrial use. Therefore, in this study, we developed a steam heat pump (SGHP) which recovers the waste heat of process and generates steam at $120^{\circ}C$. The low-pressure refrigerant R245fa, considered to be an eco-friendly refrigerant, has been selected as the refrigerant for SGHP in this study since its Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) is zero and the Global Warming Potential (GWP) is relatively low. A flash tank functioning as a phase separator was installed in the rear stage of the condenser, and the saturated water of high temperature was decompressed to generate steam. It was started at the initial temperature of $70^{\circ}C$, and it was confirmed that $120^{\circ}C$ steam was produced after the system stabilized. We have conducted experiments by modifying the system, and ultimately achieved a heating capacity of 101.4 kW and a COP of 3.05.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.697-700
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• 2005

Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) system can be very cost-effective and renewable energy sources, depending on site-specific parameters and load characteristics. In order to develop an ATES system which has certain hydrogeological characteristics, understanding of the thermo hydraulic processes of an aquifer is necessary for a proper design of an aquifer heat storage system under given conditions. The thermo hydraulic transfer for heat storage is simulated using FEFLOW according to two sets of pumping and waste water reinjection scenarios of heat pump operation in a two layered confined aquifer. In the first set of model, the movement of the thermal front and groundwater level are simulated by changing the locations of injection and pumping well in seasonal cycle. However, in the second set of model the simulation is performed in the state of fixing the locations of pumping and injection well. After 365 days simulation period, the temperature distribution is dominated by injected water temperature and the distance from injection well. The small temperature change is appears on the surface compared to other slices of depth because the first layer has very low porosity and the transfer of thermal energy are sensitive at the porosity of each layer. The groundwater levels and temperature changes in injection and pumping wells are monitored to validate the effectiveness of the used heat pump operation method and the thermal interference between wells is analyzed.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.271-280
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• 2013

Since the decommissioning of nuclear plants and facilities, large quantities of slightly contaminated concrete waste have been generated. In Korea, the decontamination and decommissioning of the KRR-1, 2 at the KAERI have been under way. And concrete waste was generated about 800 drums of 200 L. The conditioning of concrete waste is needed for final disposal. The concrete waste is conditioned as follows: mortar using coarse and fine aggregates is filled void space after concrete rubble pre-placement into 200 L drum. Thus, this research has developed an optimizing mixing ratio of concrete waste, water, and cement and has evaluated characteristics of a cement waste form to meet the requirements specified in disposal site specific waste acceptance criteria. The results obtained from compressive strength test, leaching test, thermal cycling test of cement waste forms conclude that the concrete waste, water, and cement have been suggested to have 75:15:10wt% as the optimized mixing ratio. Also, the compressive strength of cement waste form was satisfied that including fine powder up to maximum 40wt% in concrete debris wastes about 75%. As a result of scale-up test, the mixture of concrete waste, water, and cement is 75:10:15wt% meet the satisfied compressive strength because the free water increased with and increased in particle size.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.11b
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• pp.776-781
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• 2001

To enhance thermal efficiency of thermal facility through recovery of low and medium temperature waste heat, 1MW organic Rankine cycle system was designed and developed. The exhaust gases of $175^{\circ}C$ at two 100MW power plants in pohang steel works were selected as the representative of low and medium temperature waste heat in industrial process for the heat source of the organic Rankine cycle system. HCFC-123, a kind of harmless refrigerant, was chosen as the working fluid for Rankine cycle. The organic Rankine cycle system with selected exhaust gases and working fluid was designed and constructed. From the operation, it was confirmed that the organic Rankine cycle system is available for low and medium temperature waste heat recovery in industrial process. The optimum operating manuals, such as heat-up of hot water, turbine start-up, and the process of electric power generation, were derived. However, electric power generated was not 1MW as designed but only 670kW. It is due to deficiency of pump capacity for supply of HCFC-123. So it is necessary to increase the pump capacity or to decrease the pressure loss in pipe for more improved HCFC-123 supply.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.55-64
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• 2017

A geological repository has been considered one of the most adequate options for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. A geological repository will be constructed in a host rock at a depth of 500~1,000 meters below the ground surface. The geological repository system consists of a disposal canister with packed spent fuel, buffer material, backfill material, and intact rock. The buffer is very important to assure the disposal safety of high-level radioactive waste. It can restrain the release of radionuclide and protect the canister from the inflow of groundwater. High temperature in a disposal canister is released into the surrounding buffer material, and thus the thermal transfer behavior of the buffer material is very important to analyze the entire disposal safety. Therefore, this paper presents a thermal conductivity prediction model for the Kyungju compacted bentonite buffer material which is the only bentonite produced in Korea. Thermal conductivity of Kyungju bentonite was measured using a hot wire method according to various water contents and dry densities. With 39 data obtained by the hot wire method, a regression model to predict the thermal conductivity of Kyungju bentonite was suggested.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2004

This paper is to study the heat transfer performance of the copper-water heat pipe with screen wicks. Recently, the semiconductor capacity of an electronic unit becomes larger, but its size becomes much smaller. As a result, a high- performance cooling system is needed. Experimental variables are inclination angles, temperatures of cooling waters and the mesh number of screen wicks. The distilled water was used as a working fluid. Based on the experimental results, when the copper-water heat pipe of 6mm diameter is used at the top heat mode, the heat transfer performance of 100 mesh 2 layers heat pipe is better than that of 150 and 200 mesh. The thermal resistance of the two layers with the 100-mesh screen was 0.7-$0.8^{\circ}C$/W.

• The Magazine of the Society of Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers of Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 1985

A computer program for thermal design analysis has been developed to predict the performance of an absorption heat transformer. The effects of temperature boost, cooling water temperature and effectiveness of components on the performance were investigated. Not only the detailed thermodynamic states such as temperatures, concentration of the solution, and mass flow rate at each point of the process but also the heat transfer rate in each component could be easily determined with given input parameters. The system's coefficient of performance (COP) was seen to increase with increased effectiveness of components, decreased temperature boost of hot water, and decreased cooling water temperature. Even though the COP increases with increased effectiveness of the components, the variation in the COP is not substantial above certain values of the effectiveness. A reference design point can be selected on this basis.