• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.131-144
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• 2010

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has been developing pyroprocessing technology for recycling useful resources from spent fuel since 1997. The process includes pretreatment, electroreduction, electrorefining, electrowinning, and a waste salt treatment system. This paper briefly addresses unit processes and related innovative technologies. As for the electroreduction step, a stainless steel mesh basket was applied for adaption of granules of uranium oxide. This basket was designed for ready handling and transfer of feed material. A graphite cathode was used for the continuous collection of uranium dendrite in the electrorefining system. This enhances the throughput of the electrorefiner. A particular mesh type stirrer was designed to inhibit uranium spill-over at the liquid Cd crucible. A residual actinide recovery system was also tested to recover TRU tracer. In order to reduce the waste volume, a crystallization method is employed for Cs and Sr removal. Experiments on the unit processes were tested successfully, and based on the results, engineering-scale equipment has been designed for the PRIDE (PyRoprocess Integrated inactive DEmonstration facility).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2006.02a
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• pp.226-226
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• 2006

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2016

Continued miniaturization and increasingly exact requirements for thin film deposition in the semiconductor industry is driving the search for new effective, efficient, selective precursors and processes. The requirements of defect-free, conformal films, and precise thickness control have focused attention on atomic layer deposition (ALD). ALD precursors so far have been developed through a trial-and-error experimental approach, leveraging the expertise and tribal knowledge of individual research groups. Precursors can show significant variation in performance, depending on specific choice of co-reactant, deposition stage, and processing conditions. The chemical design space for reactive thin film precursors is enormous and there is urgent need for the development of computational approaches to help identify new ligand-metal architectures and functional co-reactants that deliver the required surface activity for next-generation thin-film deposition processes. In this paper we discuss quantum mechanical simulation (e.g. density functional theory, DFT) applied to ALD precursor reactivity and state-of-the-art automated screening approaches to assist experimental efforts leading toward optimized precursors for next-generation ALD processes.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2009

With an aim of comparison, single grain Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) bulk superconductors were fabricated using a liquid infiltration growth (LIG) process and a conventional melt growth (MTG) process with top seeding. The MTG process uses an $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$(Y123) powder as a precursor, while the LIG process uses $Y_2BaCuO_5(Y211)/Ba_3Cu_5O_8(Y035)$ pre-forms. The growth of a single Y123 domain on the top seed was successful in the both processes. Different feature between the two processes is the interior microstructure regarding the critical current density ($J_c$). The LIG-processed YBCO sample showed a lower porosity, more uniform distribution of Y211 particles and the enhanced Y211 refinement compared to the conventional MTG process. The $J_c$ improvement in the LIG process is attributed to the dispersion of finer Y211 particles as well as lower porosity within the Y123 superconducting matrix.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.26-33
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• 2017

Pyro project, one of complex project, is now under research and development. To manage this kind project successfully, it is essential to apply the processes of technical management (TM) based on systems engineering (SE) and project management (PM). In this paper, the project management processes from ISO-21500 standard, PMBOK guide, and PRINCE2 guide were reviewed, and then some common PM for the large national R&D project were selected. An integrated technical management and project management frame work was finally established and suggested for Pyro project.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.255-263
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• 2005

Migration experiments of THO and 237Np have performed through a sampled granite core in Chemlab2 probe at the Aspo hard Rock laboratory. The elution curves of THO were analysed to determine hydraulic properties such as the extent of dispersion effect according to flow rates. The retardation phenomena of the solutes were observed and described with elution curves and migration plumes. After migration test, the rock core was opened, and the remaining radioactivities on the rock fracture surfaces were measured. The transport process was simulated with a two-dimensional channel model. The mass transport process was described with three types of basic processes ; advection, sorption and matrix diffusion. By the combination of these processes, effects of each process on transport were described in terms of elution curves and migration plumes. By comparing the simulation results to the experimental one, it was possible to analyse the retardation effect quantitatively.

• Proceedings of the Korea Association of Crystal Growth Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.69-80
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• 1999

Computer simulations have played a central role in the development of out understanding of the atomic scale processes involved in crystal growth. The assumptions underlying computer modeling will be discussed and out recent work on modeling of the kinetic formation of thermodynamically unstable phases in alloys or mixtures will be reviewed. Our Monte Carlo computer simulations have reproduced the experimental results on the rapid recrystallization of laser-melted doped silicon. An analytical model for this phenomenon has been developed, and its applicability to other materials will be discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 1999

Computer simulations have played a central role in the development of our understanding of the atomic scale processes involved in crystal growth. The assumptions underlying computer modeling will be discussed and our recent work on modeling of the kinetic formation of thermodynamically unstable phases in alloys or mixtures will be reviewed. Our Monte Carlo computer simulations have reproduced the experimental results on the rapid recrystallization of laser-melted doped silicon. An analytical model for this phenomenon has been developed, and its applicability to other materials will be discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1997.05b
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• pp.407-412
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• 1997

The predictive results between a dynamic food-chain model (DYNACON) and an equilibrium model (NRC model) were compared to show the physical validity of DYNACON. Although the mathematical formulations and transport processes of radionuclides in the environment are different between two models, the comparative study shows good agreement for deposition events that occur during the growing season of plants.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.1206-1212
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• 2022

Cold-crucible induction melting (CCIM) technology has been intensively studied as an advanced vitrification process for the immobilization of highly radioactive waste. This technology uses high-frequency induction to melt a glass matrix and waste, while the outer surface of the crucible is water-cooled, resulting in the formation of a frozen glass layer (skull). In this study, for the fabrication of borosilicate glass waste form, CCIM operation test with 60 kg of glass per batch was conducted using surrogate wastes composed of Cs, Sr, and Nd as a representative of highly radioactive nuclides generated during spent nuclear fuel management. A 60 kg-scale glass waste form was successfully fabricated through melting and draining processes using a CCIM system, and its physicochemical properties were analyzed. In particular, to enhance the controllability and reliability of the draining process, an air-cooling drain control method that can control draining through air-cooling near drain holes was developed, and its validity for draining control was verified. The method can offer controllability on various draining processes, such as molten salt or molten metal draining processes, and can be applied to a process requiring high throughput draining.