• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.154-158
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• 2016

A CRDM (Control Rod Drive Mechanism) is an electromagnetic device which drives a control rod assembly linearly to regulate the reactivity of a nuclear core. An RPIS (Rod Position Indication System) is used as a position indicator for a control rod assembly of a CRDM of SMART, and an RPIS consists of permanent magnets and reed switches. SMART is designed for the maximum coolant temperature of $350^{\circ}C$, and the permanent magnets are installed inside of the reactor. The reed switches and electrical circuit are installed outside of the reactor on the other hand. Test coil for a reed switch is test equipment for quality verification of a reed switch, and a test coil consists of a coil and core. In this study, magnetic property of test coil and permanent magnet on a reed switch is compared by using finite element electromagnetic simulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.891-898
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• 2007

Optimal aerodynamic design for the pitch-controlled horizontal axis wind turbine and its aerodynamic performance for various pitch angles are performed numerically by using the blade element momentum theory. The numerical calculation includes effects such as Prandtl‘s tip loss, airfoil distribution, and wake rotation. Six different airfoils are distributed along the blade span, and the special airfoil i.e. airfoil of 40% thickness ratio is adopted at the hub side to have structural integrity. The nonlinear chord obtained from the optimal design procedure is linearized to decrease the weight and to increase the productivity with very little change of the aerodynamic performance. From the comparisons of the power, thrust, and torque coefficients with corresponding values of different pitch angles, the aerodynamic performance shows delicate changes for just $3^{\circ}$ increase or decrease of the pitch angle. For precisive pitch control, it requires the pitch control algorithm and its drive mechanism below $3^{\circ}$ increment of pitch angle. The maximum torque is generated when the speed ratio is smaller than the designed one.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1115-1130
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• 2012

In nuclear power plants, the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) upper head control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) penetration nozzles are fabricated using J-groove weld geometry. Recently, the incidences of cracking in Alloy 600 CRDM nozzles and their associated welds have increased significantly. The cracking mechanism has been attributed to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC), and it has been shown to be driven by welding residual stresses and operational stresses in the weld region. The weld-induced residual stress is the main factor contributing to crack growth. Therefore, an exact estimation of the residual stress is important for ensuring reliable operation. This study presents the residual stress computation performed for an RPV CRDM penetration nozzle in Korea. Based on two and three dimensional finite element analyses, the effect of welding variables on the residual stress variation is estimated for sensitivity analysis.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.1159-1168
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• 2013

In pressurized water nuclear reactors (PWRs), the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) upper head contains penetration nozzles that use a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM). The penetration nozzle uses J-groove weld geometry. Recently, the occurrence of cracking in alloy 600 CRDM penetration nozzle has increased. This is attributable to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC). PWSCC is known to be susceptible to the welding residual stress and operational stress. Generally, the tensile residual stress is the main factor contributing to crack growth. Therefore, this study investigates the effect on weld residual stress through different analysis methods for normal operating conditions using finite element analysis. In addition, this study also considers the effect of repeated normal operating condition cycles on the weld residual stress. Based on the analysis result, this paper presents a normal operating condition analysis method.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1105-1111
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• 2010

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institutes has been developing the SMART (System integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor), an environment-friendly nuclear reactor for the generation of electricity and to perform desalination. SMART reactors can be exposed to various external and internal loads caused by seismic and coolant flows. The CRDM(control rod drive mechanism), one of structures of the SMART, is a component which is adjusting inserting amount of a control rod, controlling output of reactor power and in an emergency situation, inserting a control rod to stop the reactor. The purpose of this research is performing the analysis of dynamic characteristic to ensure safety and integrity of structure of CRDM. This paper presents two FE-models, 3-D solid model and simplified Beam model of the CRDM in the coolant, and then compared the results of the dynamic characteristic about the two FE-models using a commercial Finite Element tool, ABAQUS CAE V6.8 and ANSYS V12. Beam 4 and beam 188 of simplified-model were also compared each other. And simplified model is updated for accuracy compare to 3-D solid.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.387-395
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• 2013

Recently, several circumferential cracks were found in the control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) nozzles of U.S. nuclear power plants. According to the accident analyses, coolant leaks were caused by primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC). The tensile residual stresses caused by welding, corrosion sensitive materials, and boric acid solution cause PWSCC. Therefore, an exact estimation of the residual stress is important for reliable operation. In this study, finite element simulations were conducted to investigate the effects of the tube geometry (thickness and radius) on the residual stresses in a J-groove weld for different CRDM tube locations. Two different tube locations were considered (center-hole and steepest side hill tube), and the tube radius and thickness variables ($r_o/t$=2, 3, 4) included two different reference values ($r_o$=51.6, t=16.9mm).