• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.39-52
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• 2009

Theory-based models and high performance simulations are briefly reviewed starting with atomistic methods, such as Electronic Structure calculations, Molecular Dynamics, and Monte Carlo, continuing with meso-scale methods, such as Dislocation Dynamics and Phase Field, and ending with continuum methods that include Finite Element and Finite Volume. Special attention is paid to relating thermo-mechanical and chemical properties of the fuel to reactor parameters. By inserting atomistic models of point defects into continuum thermo-chemical calculations, a model of oxygen diffusivity in $UO_{2+x}$ is developed and used to predict point defect concentrations, oxygen diffusivity, and fuel stoichiometry at various temperatures and oxygen pressures. The simulations of coupled heat transfer and species diffusion demonstrate that including the dependence of thermal conductivity and density on composition can lead to changes in the calculated centerline temperature and thermal expansion displacements that exceed 5%. A review of advanced nuclear fuel performance codes reveals that the many codes are too dedicated to specific fuel forms and make excessive use of empirical correlations in describing properties of materials. The paper ends with a review of international collaborations and a list of lessons learned that includes the importance of education in creating a large pool of experts to cover all necessary theoretical, experimental, and computational tasks.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.64-71
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• 2003

In order to evaluate the effect of alloying elements (Nb and Sn) on the wear resistance of advanced Zr fuel claddings, sliding wear tests have been performed in room temperature air and water and these results were compared with those of commercial alloys such as Zircaloy-4, A and B alloys. As a result, the advanced Zr fuel claddings have a similar wear resistance compared with the commercial alloys. The wear resistance of the advanced Zr fuel claddings is closely releted to the content of Nb and Sn even though the effects of transition elements are involved in deforming wear properties. In the tested specimens with similar Sn content, wear volume became down to a minimum at $0.4\;wt\;\%$ Nb, then rapidly increased at 1.0 wt Nb. This behavior results in the variation of grain size with alloying contents. But Sn did not have a significant effect on the wear volume of advanced Zr fuel claddings below $1.1\;wt\%$. The relationship between alloying elements and wear behaviour was evaluated and discussed using material compatibility factor.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2014

Much research into fuel cells operating at a temperature below $800^{\circ}C$. is being performed. There are significant efforts to replace the yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte with a doped ceria electrolyte that has high ionic conductivity even at a lower temperature. Even if the doped ceria electrolyte has high ionic conductivity, it also shows high electronic conductivity in a reducing environment, therefore, when used as a solid electrolyte of a fuel cell, the powergeneration efficiency and mechanical properties of the fuel cell may be degraded. In this study, gadolinium-doped ceria nanopowder with $Al_2O_3$ and $Mn_2O_3$ as a reinforcing and electron trapping agents were synthesized by ultrasonic pyrolysis process. After firing, their microstructure and mechanical and electrical properties were investigated and compared with those of pure gadolinium-doped ceria specimen.

• Carbon letters
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2013

The bipolar plate is the most important and most costly component of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The development of a suitable low density bipolar plate is scientifically and technically challenging due to the need to maintain high electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. Here, bipolar plates were developed from different particle sizes of natural and expanded graphite with phenolic resin as a polymeric matrix. It was observed that the particle size of the reinforcement significantly influences the mechanical and electrical properties of a composite bipolar plate. The composite bipolar plate based on expanded graphite gives the desired mechanical and electrical properties as per the US Department of Energy target, with a bulk density of 1.55 $g.cm^{-3}$ as compared to that of ~1.87 $g.cm^{-3}$ for a composite plate based on natural graphite (NG). Although the bulk density of the expanded-graphite-based composite plate is ~20% less than that of the NG-based plate, the I-V performance of the expanded graphite plate is superior to that of the NG plate as a consequence of the higher conductivity. The expanded graphite plate can thus be used as an electromagnetic interference shielding material.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.457-466
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• 2008

The relation between the phase separated morphologies and their transport properties in the polymer blend membrane for direct methanol fuel cell application was studied. In order to enhance the proton conductivity and reduce the methanol crossover, sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) copolymer, with a sulfonation of 60 mol% (sPAES-60), was blended with nonsulfonated poly(ether sulfone) copolymer (RH-2000, Solvay). Various morphologies were obtained by varying the drying condition and the concentration of the casting solution (10, 15, 20 wt%). The transport properties of proton and methanol molecule through the polymer blend membranes were studied according to the absorbed water. AC impedance spectroscopy was used to measure the proton conductivity and a liquid permeability measuring instrument was designed to measure the methanol permeability. The state of water in the blend membranes was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and was used to correlate the morphology of the membrane with the membrane transport properties.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.76-82
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• 2004

Biodiesel fuel(BDF) which is easily produced from vegetable oils such as soybean oil and rice bran oil can be effectively used as an alternative fuel in diesel engine. However, BDF can affect the performance and emissions in diesel engine because it has different chemical and physical properties from diesel fuel. To investigate the effects of injection timing on the characteristics of performance and emissions with BDF in IDI diesel engine, BDF derived from rice bran oil was considered in this study. The engine was operated at six different injection timings and six loads at a single engine speed of 2000rpm. When the injection timing was retarded, better results were obtained, which may confirm the advantage of BDF. The reduction of NOx and smoke was observed for a 2$^{\circ}$ retarded injection timing without any sacrifice of BSEC.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.117-122
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• 2004

In order to improve the fuel economy by design change of automatic transmission, various technologies such as increased shift stages, slip control of lock-up clutch and compact and low-weight design have been developed. And also many OEMs have developed their own ATFs as a part of these automatic transmissions. In this study. to investigate the effects of ATF characteristics on fuel economy, we got the worldwide OEM ATFs and made some reference fluids. And physical properties, frictional characteristics and fuel economy using dynamometer test for these fluids were evaluated. From the investigation, it was found that viscosities of ATFs are correlated with fuel economy in dynamometer test and reducing the viscosities made it possible to obtain fuel economy.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.73-78
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• 2004

The liquid phase LPG injection (LPLi) system (the third generation technology) has been considered as one of the next generation fuel supply systems for LPG vehicles, since it has a very strong potential to accomplish the higher power, higher efficiency, and lower emission characteristics than the mixer type(the second generation technology) fuel supply system. To investigate the durability property of core part of injector in liquid phase LPG injection system, leakage test, SEM test of injectors and analysis of unvaporized fuel components with various LPG fuel qualities were tested. The experimental results showed that no serious problem in durability test using favorable LPG fuel quality, while high leakage amount due to the large scratches in the needle and nozzle of the injector were found using LPG fuel with highly containing olefin components, especially butadiene species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.169-174
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• 1998

An 1200-day time-dependent fuel-management for the transition from 37-element fuel to CANFLEX-NU fuel in a CANDU 6 reactor has been simulated to show the compatibility of the CANFLEX-NU fuel with the reactor operation. The simulation calculation were carried out with the RFSP code, provided by cell averaged hel properties obtained from the POWDERPUFS-V code. The refueling scheme for both fuels was an eight bundle shift art a time. The simulation results show that the maximum channel and bundle powers were maintained below the licence limit of the CANDU 6. This indicates that the CANFLEX-NU fuel bundle is compatible with the CANDU 6 reactor operation during the transition period.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.142-148
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• 2005

In order to improve the fuel economy by design change of automatic transmission, various technologies such as increased shift stages, slip control of lock-up clutch and compact and low-weight design have been developed. And also many OEMs have developed their own ATFs as a part of these automatic transmissions. In this study, to investigate the effects of ATF characteristics on fuel economy, we got the worldwide OEM ATFs and made some reference fluids. And physical properties, frictional characteristics and fuel economy using dynamometer test for these fluids were evaluated. From the investigation, it was found that viscosities of ATFs are correlated with fuel economy in dynamometer test and reducing the viscosities made it possible to obtain fuel economy.