• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.72-78
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• 2009

Reverse logistics is the process of planning and controlling the recovery flow of end of life products. Industry is increasingly being confronted with the need to solve several reverse logistics issues because of not only stringent environmental legislations but also economic reasons. Recently, thanks to the advent of emerging technologies, such as RFID, enhancing the productivity of reverse logistics operations has been highlighted. The application of RFID technology is going beyond forward logistics, which is the delivery of manufactured goods to consumers, and being expanded, though not frequently yet, to reverse logistics, which includes return, recovery, reuse, reproduction and disposal. However, it requires a deep insight for the research of reverse logistics and new environment. In this regard, we studied effectiveness by applying RFID middleware technology to reverse logistics.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.102-118
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• 1994

Thermomechanical analysis is conducted on the radioactive repository in deep rock mass considering the in-situ stress, excavation and thermal loading of a radioactive waste. Thermomechanical properties of a discontinuous rock mass are estimated by a theoretical method so called sequential analysis. Using the estimated properties as input for finite element analysis, the influence on temperature distribution and thermal stress is analyzed within the scope of 2-dimensional steady state and transient heat transfer and coupled thermal elastic plastic behaviour. Granitic rock mass is taken for this analysis. The analysis is done for two different rock mass conditions, i.e. continuous-homogeneous and highly jointed conditions, for the purpose of comparison. In the case of steady state, the extent of disturbed zone around the storage tunnel due to the heat production of the spent-fuel canister varies depending on the thermomechanical properties of the rock mass. In the case of transient analyses, the response of the jointed rock mass to the thermal loading after radioactive waste disposal varies significantly with time, resulting in dramatic changes in the both size and location of disturbed zone.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.243-269
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• 2021

Since the early 2010s, the social importance of research and practical projects targeting deep geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste, underground CO₂ storage and characterization of deep subsurface by borehole investigation has been increasing. In this regard, there is also a significant increase in the need for in situ test technology to obtain quantitative and reliable information on the hydraulic characteristics of deep rock mass. Through years of research and development, we have independently set up Deep borehole Hydraulic Test System (DHTS) based on the key apparatuses designed and made with our own technology. Using this system, high precision constant pressure injection tests were successfully completed at the two 1 km boreholes located in Mesozoic granite and sedimentary rock regions, Gyeongju. During the field tests, it was possible to measure very low flow rate below 0.01 l/min with micro flow rate injection/control module. In this paper, the major characteristics of DHTS are introduced and also some results obtained from the high precision field tests under the deep and low permeable rock mass environment are briefly discussed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.363-373
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• 2018

The evaluation of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) coupling behavior is important for the development of underground space for various purposes. For a high-level radioactive waste repository excavated in a deep underground rock mass, the accurate prediction of the complex THM behavior is essential for the long-term safety and stability assessment. In order to develop reliable THM analysis techniques effectively, an international cooperation project, Development of Coupled models and their Validation against Experiments (DECOVALEX), was carried out. In DECOVALEX-2015 Task B2, the in situ THM experiment that was conducted at Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory(URL) by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), was modeled by the research teams from the participating countries. In this study, a THM coupling technique that combined TOUGH2 and FLAC3D was developed and applied to the THM analysis for the in situ experiment, in which rock, buffer, backfill, sand, and heater were installed. With the assistance of an artificial neural network, the boundary conditions for the experiment could be adequately implemented in the modeling. The thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical results from the modeling were compared with the measurements from the in situ THM experiment. The predicted buffer temperature from the THM modelling was about $10^{\circ}C$ higher than measurement near by the overpack. At the other locations far from the overpack, modelling predicted slightly lower temperature than measurement. Even though the magnitude of pressure from the modeling was different from the measurements, the general trends of the variation with time were found to be similar.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.33-42
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• 2010

This research propose a practical guidance system considering ocean currents in real sea operation. Optimality of generated path is not an issue in this paper. Way-points from start point to possible goal positions are selected by experienced human supervisors considering major ocean current axis. This paper also describes the implementation of a precise underwater navigation solution using multi-sensor fusion technique based on USBL, GPS, DVL and AHRS measurements in detail. To implement the precise, accurate and frequent underwater navigation solution, three strategies are chosen. The first one is the heading alignment angle identification to enhance the performance of standalone dead-reckoning algorithm. The second one is that absolute position is fused timely to prevent accumulation of integration error, where the absolute position can be selected between USBL and GPS considering sensor status. The third one is introduction of effective outlier rejection algorithm. The performance of the developed algorithm is verified with experimental data of mine disposal vehicle and deep-sea ROV.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 1998

In order to dispose radioactive wastes safely, it is needed to understand the mechanical, thermal, fluid behavior of rockmass and physico-chemical interactions between rockmass and water. Also, the knowledge about mechanical and hydraulic properties of rocks is required to predict and to model many conditions of geological structure, underground in-situ stress, folding, hot water interaction, intrusion of magma, plate tectonics etc. This study is based on researches about rock mechanics issues associated with a waste disposal in deep rockmass. This paper includes the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of rocks in varying temperature conditions, thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling analysis in rock mass and deformation behavior of discontinuous rocks. The mechanical properties were measured with Interaken rock mechanics testing systems and hydraulic properties were measured with transient pulse permeability measuring systems. In all results, rock properties were sensitive to temperature variation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.1037-1040
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• 2019

For the past 50 years, graphite has been widely used as a moderator, reflector and fuel matrix in different kinds of gas-cooled reactors. Resulting in approximately 250,000 metric tons of irradiated graphite waste. One of the most significant long-lived radioisotope from graphite reactors is carbon-14 ($^{14}C$) with a half-life of 5730 years, this makes it a huge concern for deep geologic disposal of nuclear graphite (NG). Considering the lifecycle of NG a number of waste management options have been developed, mainly focused on the achievement the radiological requirements for disposal. The existing approaches for recycling depend on the cost to be economically viable. In this new study, an affordable process to remove $^{14}C$ has been proposed using samples taken from the Nuclear Power Plant in Latina (Italy) which have been used to investigate the capability of organic and inorganic solvents in removing $^{14}C$ from exfoliated nuclear graphite, with the aim to design a practicable approach to obtain graphite for recycling or/and safety disposed as L& LLW.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.143-147
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• 2008

U(IV) ion, the valance state of uranium presumed at in a deep-depth disposal of a spent fuel, was prepared and separated from U(VI) ion. In order to prepare U(IV) ion, tests were performed by adding several reducing agents into a uranyl solution or by dissolution of uranium oxide in a mixed acid added with a reducing agent. The valance states of the uranium in the prepared solutions were identified by separating two ions with a Dowex AG 50W-X8 cation exchange resins and measuring the solutions using a laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. However, U(IV) and U(VI) were not separated by a Lichroprep Si60 exchange resin in the same separation condition of Pu(IV) and Pu(VI).

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.71-87
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• 2024

In deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, the surrounding rock at the immediate vicinity of the deposition hole may experience localized changes in permeability due to in-situ stress at depth, swelling pressure from resaturated bentonite buffer, and the heat generated from the decay of radioactive isotopes. In this study, experimental data on changes in permeability of granite, a promising candidate rock type in South Korea, were obtained by applying various confining pressures and temperature conditions expected in the actual disposal environment. By conducting the permeability test on KURT granite specimens under three or more hydrostatic pressure conditions, the relation in which the permeability decreases exponentially as the confining pressure increases was derived. The temperature-induced changes in permeability were found to be negligible at temperatures below the expected maximum of 90℃. In addition, by establishing a relation in which the initial permeability is proportional to the power of the initial porosity, it was possible to estimate permeability value for granite with a specific porosity under a certain confining pressure.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 2024

The robustness of a numerical method means that its computational performance is maintained under various modeling conditions. New numerical methods or codes need to be assessed for robustness through benchmark testing. The TOUGH-FLAC modeling approach has been applied to various fields such as subsurface carbon dioxide storage, geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel, and geothermal development both domestically and internationally, and the modeling validity has been examined by comparing the results with experimental measurements and other numerical codes. In the present study, a benchmark test of the TOUGH-FLAC approach was performed based on a coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical behavior problem with an analytical solution. The analytical solution is related to the temperature, pore water pressure, and mechanical behavior of a fully saturated porous medium that is subjected to a point heat source. The robustness of the TOUGH-FLAC approach was evaluated by comparing the analytical solution with the results of numerical simulation. Additionally, the effects of thermal-hydro-mechanical coupling terms, fluid phase change, and timestep on the computation of coupled behavior were investigated.