• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP) accident, new regulatory requirements were enforced in July 2013 and a backfit was required for all existing nuclear power plants. It is required to take measures to prevent severe accidents and mitigate their radiological consequences. The Regulatory Standard and Research Department, Secretariat of Nuclear Regulation Authority (S/NRA/R) has been conducting numerical studies and experimental studies on relevant severe accident phenomena and countermeasures. This article highlights fission product (FP) release and hydrogen risk as two major areas. Relevant activities in the S/NRA/R are briefly introduced, as follows: 1. For FP release: Identifying the source terms and leak mechanisms is a key issue from the viewpoint of understanding the progression of accident phenomena and planning effective countermeasures that take into account vulnerabilities of containment under severe accident conditions. To resolve these issues, the activities focus on wet well venting, pool scrubbing, iodine chemistry (in-vessel and ex-vessel), containment failure mode, and treatment of radioactive liquid effluent. 2. For hydrogen risk: because of three incidents of hydrogen explosion in reactor buildings, a comprehensive reinforcement of the hydrogen risk management has been a high priority topic. Therefore, the activities in evaluation methods focus on hydrogen generation, hydrogen distribution, and hydrogen combustion.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.632-637
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• 2017

Even though the potential for an accident in nuclear power plants is very low, multiple emergency plans are necessary because the impact of such an accident to the public is enormous. One of these emergency plans involves a robotic system for investigating accidents under conditions of high radiation and contaminated air. To develop a robot suitable for operation in a nuclear power plant, we focused on eliminating the three major obstacles that challenge robots in such conditions: the disconnection of radio communication, falling on uneven floors, and loss of localization. To solve the radio problem, a Wi-Fi extender was used in radio shadow areas. To reinforce the walking, we developed two- and four-leg convertible walking, a floor adaptive foot, a roly-poly defensive falling design, and automatic standing recovery after falling methods were developed. To allow the robot to determine its location in the containment building, a bar code landmark reading method was chosen. When a severe accident occurs, this robot will be useful for accident condition monitoring. We also anticipate the robot can serve as a workman aid in a high radiation area during normal operations.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.493-505
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• 2023

Comprehensive condition monitoring of large industry systems such as nuclear power plants (NPPs) is essential for safety and maintenance. In this study, we developed novel system-scale diagnostic technology based on deep-learning and IR thermography that can efficiently and cost-effectively classify system conditions using compact Raspberry Pi and IR sensors. This diagnostic technology can identify the presence of an abnormality or accident in whole system, and when an accident occurs, the type of accident and the location of the abnormality can be identified in real-time. For technology development, the experiment for the thermal image measurement and performance validation of major components at each accident condition of NPPs was conducted using a thermal-hydraulic integral effect test facility with compact infrared sensor modules. These thermal images were used for training of deep-learning model, convolutional neural networks (CNN), which is effective for image processing. As a result, a proposed novel diagnostic was developed that can perform diagnosis of components, whole system and accident classification using thermal images. The optimal model was derived based on the modern CNN model and performed prompt and accurate condition monitoring of component and whole system diagnosis, and accident classification. This diagnostic technology is expected to be applied to comprehensive condition monitoring of nuclear power plants for safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.9-21
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• 2024

Static-electricity-induced fires and explosions persistently occur every year, averaging approximately 80 and 20 cases annually according to fire statistics provided by the National Fire Agency and industrial accident statistics provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, respectively. Despite the relatively low probabilities of these accidents, their potential risks are high. Consequently, effective risk assessment methodologies and accident investigation strategies are essential for efficiently managing static-electricity hazards in fire- and explosion-prone areas. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify the causal variables essential for accident investigations, thereby facilitating risk assessments and the implementation of effective recurrence prevention measures to mitigate static-electricity hazards in fire-and explosion-prone regions. To this end, industrial accident statistics recorded over the past decade (2012 to 2021) by the Ministry of Employment and Labor were analyzed to identify major fire and explosion incidents and related industrial accidents wherein static electricity was identified as a potential ignition source. Subsequently, relevant investigation reports (63 cases) were thoroughly analyzed. Based on the results of this analysis, existing electrostatic fire and explosion risk assessment techniques were refined and augmented. Moreover, factors essential for investigating electrostatic fire and explosion disasters were delineated, and the primary causal variables necessary for effective risk assessments and scientific investigations were derived.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.5-24
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• 1994

The purpose of this study is to develop an accident hazard index model in order to be used for the evaluation of regional traffic safety and to develop a driver violation index model in order to identify the primary causes of traffic accidents. The accident hazard index model was developed considering the accident rates based on population and the vehicle registration. The driver violation index model was developed considering the accident rates of each item of driver violation. Using the models developed in this study, it is identified that in the provincial level analysis the degree of the traffic safety of Chungbuk, Chungnam, and Kyungbuk Province are evaluated to be low. In the county level analysis of Kyungnam Province, the degree of the traffic safety of Yangsan, Euirung, Haman, Sachun and Tongyung County are evaluated to be low. Also, it is found that the major driver violations causing accidents in the nation are driving by unlicensed drives, improper passing, and improper railroad crossing : in Kyungnam Province, improper passing is the most driver violation.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2004

Domestic city gas is supplying in an about 10 million household on present 34 city gas companies because is begun to supply regularly after two 1980 years middle. But, result that focus on city gas supply spread and stable supply for supply area and neglects about safety problem, hundreds casualties such as Ahyun explosion accident and Deagu city gas explosion accident were reached in situation that occurred large size calamity occurs it is dizzliness. In the case of advanced nation, can see that accomplish system and progress that in technology after experience major accident. Therefore, grasp problem investigating safety actual conditions for city gas institution and study about solvable plan is required this. Also, must guide reform and level elevation of a domestic company safety technology through induction and development of safety technology that is suitable in supply, domestic real condition etc. Must help in power positivity that is full text executing high-quality safety education about step High firing mechanism safety technology than present safety education.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.107-112
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• 2013

Base on insurance vehicle collision and bodily injury claim reports, 23,655 cases of vehicle to vehicle accidents occurred in Korea 2010 are investigated in order to understand vehicle damage severities, repair costs and occupant injury types. The results of our statistical analysis reveal that minor damages with small dent or scratches on vehicle body panels which is assumed to imply during very low speed crashes are major portion of accident severities types. The most vulnerable body regions due to the real-world accident are neck. The 86.3% of total injured driver in minor rear damaged vehicles has reported neck pains and they are followed by whole bodies and head but with much lower occurrence rates.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.2511-2521
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• 2020

The Fukushima accident is characterized by the fact that three reactors at the same site experienced reactor vessel failure and the accident resulted in significant radiological release to the environment, which was about 1/10 of the Chernobyl releases. The safe removal of fuel debris in the reactor vessel and Primary Containment Vessel (PCV) and treatment of huge amount of contaminated water are the major issues for the decommissioning in coming decades. Discussions on the new researches efforts being carried out in the area of investigation of the end state of fuel debris and Boling Water reactor (BWR) specific core melt progression, development of technologies for the mitigation of radiological releases to comply with the strengthened safety requirement set after the Fukushima accident are discussed.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.115-147
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• 2023

The Fukushima accident in 2011 revealed some major flaws in traditional nuclear fuel materials under accidental conditions. Thus, the focus of research has shifted toward "accident tolerant fuel" (ATF). The aim of this approach is to develop fuel material solutions that lead to improved reactor safety. The application of protective coatings on the surface of nuclear fuel cladding has been proposed as a near-term solution within the ATF framework. Many coating materials are being developed and evaluated. In this article, an overview of different zirconium-based alloys currently in use in the nuclear industry is provided, and their performances in normal and accidental conditions are discussed. Coating materials proposed by different institutions and organizations, their performances under different conditions simulating nuclear reactor environments are reviewed. The strengths and weaknesses of these coatings are highlighted, and the challenges addressed by different studies are summarized, providing a basis for future research. Finally, technologies and methods used to synthesize thin-film coatings are outlined.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2023

Recently, the crisis of demographic extinction is rising in Korea more than any other country, and it is difficult for industrial sites to maintain without 'foreign workers'. Industrial accidents and accident deaths of foreign workers account for 7.6% and 12.3% of the total, through an in-depth analysis of fatal accidents in the manufacturing industry, differences and similarities between fatal accidents of foreign workers and all fatal accidents were confirmed in terms of occurrence type, workplace size, length of service, employment type, etc. In this study, customized countermeasures were found.