• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 1996

The change in spent fuel characteristics by DUPIC fuel cycle(burnup of spent PWR fuel again in CANDU) is examined with time elapse since discharge. Major characteristics examined include isotopic concentration, radioactivity, decay heat radiotoxicity and radiation source-term of spent fuel material, which is existing in a type of spent PWR and DUPIC fuel. Behaviors of major nuclides contributing to such changes are also analyzed in terms of radionuclide concentration. From the analysis, the change in radionuclide concentration by DUPIC shows approximately 2% decrease in actinides concentration and 20% increase in fission products concentration. Radioactivity and decay heat of spent DUPIC fuel does not depend upon radionuclides concentrations, which is a unique in sence of general characteristics of spent fuel. In terms of gamma spectrum, spent DUPIC fuel shows lower values than that of spent PWR fuel by 40 to 50% in the range of $0.01{\sim}0.575$ MeV but much higher over 3.5MeV. Neutron Intensities of both spent fuels are mainly determined by $({\alpha},\;n)$ reaction and spontaneous fission reaction of actinides. Of them, especially, the spontaneous fission reaction Is a major neutron source-term, which causes that neutron intensities of spent DUPIC fuel $having{\sim}3.3$ times higher Cm-244 concentration are ${\sim}4$ times higher than that of spent PWR fuel.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.27 no.6 s.65
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• pp.943-954
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• 1997

Forces needed for orthodontic tooth movement are obtained from various appliances such as orthodontic wires or elastic rubber. Orthodontic elastic rubber is widely used clinically, but permanent deformation and force decay may occur from the environmental changes, time of clinical use and the extent of the stretch, making the Prediction of force being applied difficult. The Present study examined and compared the changes in residual force between three brands of elastomeric chains (Ormco Generation II Power Chains ; brand A, RMO : Energy-Chain ; brand B, Unitek : AlastiK ; brand C) under various environmental conditions, amount of initial force, types of elastomer and the rate of extension. The characteristic physical properies of the elastomeric chains were as follows. 1. In all three brands, the residual force ratio was largest when the chains were stored in air, with no difference between water and saliva. 2. In all three brands, after 24 hours, there was no statistical difference in residual force ratio according to the initial force level. 3. In Brand A and B, the presence of filament had no correlation with the residual force ratio. In Brand C force decay was more severe when the chain contained filament. 4. In each brand, rate of extension had no effect on residual force ratio. 5. Brand B showed relatively higher residual force ratio compared to other brands.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.268-273
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• 2016

An innovative safety concept for a light water reactor has been developed at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. It is a unique concept that adopts both a fast heat transfer mechanism for a small containment and a changing mechanism of the cooling geometry to take advantage of the potential, thermal, and dynamic energies of the cold water in the containment. It can bring about rapid cooling of the containment and long-term cooling of the decay heat. By virtue of this innovative concept, nuclear fuel damage events can be prevented. The ultimate heat transfer mechanism contributes to minimization of the heat exchanger size and containment volume. A small containment can ensure the underground construction, which can use river or seawater as an ultimate heat sink. The changing mechanism of the cooling geometry simplifies several safety systems and unifies diverse functions. Simplicity of the present safety system does not require any operator actions during events or accidents. Therefore, the unique safety concept of PX can realize both economic competitiveness and inherent safety.

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1989.02a
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• pp.20-25
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• 1989

The nonlinear, time dependent photon transport equations of Frantz and Nodvik, which describe the amplification of an optical pulse in an active medium, are modified to a simpler equation which describes only the amplification of energy. with this equation, the output energy of the high power YLF(Nd3+)-Phosphate Glass(Nd3+) Laser System is calculated. When the stored energy density Est is 0.10J/㎤, 0.16J/㎤, 0.228J/㎤, and 0.50J/㎤, and with the assumption of uniform population inversion density, the final output energy of this laser system is 5.38J, 176J, 317J, and 283J, respectively. The gain saturation causes distortion of the output beam. This phenomenon is described in detail at the first three rod amplifier systems in the case of E=0.228J/㎤. The peak current and decay time constant of the flashlamps, which are used to obtain population inversion in the active medium, are investigated. The flashlamp driving circuit which has optimum operational performance should have {{{{ SQRT { LC} }} time about 100$\mu$sec.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.1191-1198
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• 2023

Bentonite buffer material is a critical component in an engineered barrier system (EBS) for disposing high-level radioactive waste (HLW). The bentonite buffer material protects the disposal canister from groundwater penetration and releases decay heat to the surrounding rock mass; thus, it should possess high thermal conductivity, low hydraulic conductivity, and moderate swelling pressure to safely dispose the HLWs. Bentonite clay is a suitable buffer material because it satisfies the safety criteria. Several additives have been suggested as mixtures with bentonite to increase the thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical (THMC) properties of bentonite buffer materials. Therefore, this study investigated the geotechnical, mineralogical, and THMC properties of several candidate additives such as sand, graphite, granite, and SiC powders. Datasets obtained in this study can be used to select adequate additives to improve the THMC properties of the buffer material.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.3811-3815
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• 2022

Ni-63 is pure beta source which emits low energy beta particles. The Ni-63 sources were fabricated to develop the beta-voltaic battery which converts decay energy into electrical energy for power generation. Activity distribution of the source was important factor of power producibility of the beta-voltaic battery. Liquid scintillation counter widely used for measurement of low energy beta emitters was not suitable to measure activity distribution. In this study, we used the peeled-off Gafchromic™ EBT3 film to measure the activity distribution of the Ni-63 source. Absorbed dose was increased proportionally to the source activity and exposure duration. The low energy beta particles could transport the energy into the active layer without the polyester protective layer. Also, Activity distribution was measured by using the peeled-off EBT3 film. Two-dimensional dosimetric distribution was suitable to measure the activity distribution. To use the peeled-off EBT3 film is user-friendly and cost-effective method for quality assurance of the Ni-63 sources for the beta-voltaic battery.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2011

Following the reactor shutdown, the reactor shutdown cooling system must be designed to supply the coolant sufficiently not only to remove the decay heat but to maintain the adequate cooling rate to protect the reactor equipments. In this study, KDESCENT code for the light water reactor and SOPHT, SDCS codes for the heavy water reactor were compared and analyzed to investigate the cooling capability during the shutdown cooling process. The shutdown cooling system design requirements were satisfied during cooling process for both the SDCP and the HTP modes and the design cooling rate of $2.8^{\circ}C/min$ or below was maintained using the SDC heat exchangers. This study shows that the shutdown cooling system in the Wolsong 2, 3, 4 reactors provides sufficient cooling to maintain the nuclear fuel integrity by removing the decay heat of the nuclear fission product.

• 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.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.281-291
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• 2013

A hypothetical repository was assumed to be located at the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) site, and the travel times of radionuclides released from three source positions were calculated. The groundwater flow around the KURT site was simulated and the groundwater pathways from the hypothetical source positions to the shallow groundwater were identified. Of the pathways, three pathways were selected because they had highly water-conductive features. The transport travel times of the radionuclides were calculated by a TDRW (Time-Domain Random Walk) method. Diffusion and sorption mechanisms in a host rock matrix as well as advection-dispersion mechanisms under the KURT field condition were considered. To reflect the radioactive decay, four decay chains with the radionuclides included in the high-level radioactive wastes were selected. From the simulation results, the half-life and distribution coefficient in the rock matrix, as well as multiple pathways, had an influence on the mass flux of the radionuclides. For enhancing the reliability of safety assessment, this reveals that identifying the history of the radionuclides contained in the high-level wastes and investigating the sorption processes between the radionuclides and the rock matrix in the field condition are preferentially necessary.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.1396-1408
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• 2020

Filtered containment venting system (FCVS) is one of the severe accident mitigation systems designed to release containment pressurization to maintain its integrity. The thermal-hydraulic behaviors in FCVSs are important since they affect the operation characteristics of the FCVS. In this study, a representative FCVS was modeled by RELAP5/Mod3.3 code, and the Station BlackOut (SBO) was chosen as an accident scenario. The thermal-hydraulic behaviors of an FCVS during long-term operation with two venting strategies (open-and-close strategy, open-and-non-close strategy) and the sensitivity analysis of important parameters were investigated. The results show that the FCVS can operate up to 250 h with a periodic open-and-close strategy during an SBO. Under the combined effects of steam condensation and water evaporation, the solution inventory in the FCVS increases during the venting phase and decreases during the intermission phase, showing a periodic pattern. Under this condition, the appropriate initial water level is 3-4 m; however, it should be adjusted according to the environment temperature. The FCVS can accommodate a decay heat power of 150-260 kW and may need to feed water for a higher decay heat power or drain water for a lower decay heat power during the late phase. The FCVS can function within an opening pressure range from 450 kPa to 500 kPa and a closing pressure range between 250 kPa and 350 kPa. When the open-and-non-close strategy is adopted, the solution inventory increases quickly in the early venting phase due to steam condensation and then decreases gradually due to the evaporation of water; drying-up may occur in the late venting phase. Decreasing the venting pipe diameter and increasing the initial water level can mitigate the evaporation of the scrubbing solution. These results are expected to provide useful references for the design and engineering application of FCVSs.