• Title/Summary/Keyword: operating nuclear facilities

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Analysis on Virtual reality-based information requirements for Nuclear power plant operation and maintenance (원전 가상현실기반 운영/정비를 위한 정보요건 분석)

  • Lee, Won-Hyung;Kim, Woo Jung;Byon, Sujin
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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    • 2013.05a
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    • pp.276-277
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    • 2013
  • Complex facilities and major equipment in nuclear power plants check to use analog measuring device. Operating and maintenance using 3D data for geometric information management method, which is a virtual reality technology development is urgently needed. Therefore, this paper defines the information requirements for the implementation of a virtual reality-based technology in nuclear power plant. Furthermore developing owner requirements for applying the virtual reality-based technology is purpose.

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Repurposing a Spent Nuclear Fuel Cask for Disposal of Solid Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste From Decommissioning of a Nuclear Power Plant in Korea

  • Mah, Wonjune;Kim, Chang-Lak
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.365-369
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    • 2022
  • Operating and decommissioning nuclear power plants generates radioactive waste. This radioactive waste can be categorized into several different levels, for example, low, intermediate, and high, according to the regulations. Currently, low and intermediate-level waste are stored in conventional 200-liter drums to be disposed. However, in Korea, the disposal of intermediate-level radioactive waste is virtually impossible as there are no available facilities. Furthermore, large-sized intermediate-level radioactive waste, such as reactor internals from decommissioning, need to be segmented into smaller sizes so they can be adequately stored in the conventional drums. This segmentation process requires additional costs and also produces secondary waste. Therefore, this paper suggests repurposing the no-longer-used spent nuclear fuel casks. The casks are larger in size than the conventional drums, thus requiring less segmentation of waste. Furthermore, the safety requirements of the spent nuclear fuel casks are severer than those of the drums. Hence, repurposed spent nuclear fuel casks could better address potential risks such as dropping, submerging, or a fire. In addition, the spent nuclear fuel casks need to be disposed in compliance with the regulations for low level radioactive waste. This cost may be avoided by repurposing the casks.

PROLONGATION OF THE BOR-60 REACTOR OPERATION

  • IZHUTOV, ALEXEY L.;KRASHENINNIKOV, YURI M.;ZHEMKOV, IGOR Y.;VARIVTSEV, ARTEM V.;NABOISHCHIKOV, YURI V.;NEUSTROEV, VICTOR S.;SHAMARDIN, VALENTIN K.
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.47 no.3
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    • pp.253-259
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    • 2015
  • The fast neutron reactor BOR-60 is one of the key experimental facilities worldwide to perform large-scale tests of fuel, absorbing, and structural materials for advanced reactors. The BOR-60 reactor was put into operation in December 1969, and by the end of 2014 it had been operating on power for ~265,000 hours. BOR-60 still demonstrates potential capabilities to extend the lifetime of sodium-cooled fast reactors. The BOR-60 lifetime should have expired at the end of 2014. Over the past few years, a great scope of work has been performed to justify the possibility of extending its lifetime. The work included inspection of the equipment conditions, calculations and experimental research on operating parameters and the conditions of nonremovable components, investigation of the structural material samples after their long-term operation under irradiation, etc. Based on the results of the work performed, the residual lifetime was evaluated and the reactor operator made a decision to extend the lifetime period of the BOR-60 reactor. After considering both a set of documents about the reactor conditions and the positive decision of independent experts, the Regulatory Authority of the Russian Federation extended the BOR-60 operating license up to 2020.

Monitoring and Analytical Techniques for the Discharged Radiocarbon from Nuclear Facility (핵시설로부터 발생되는 방사성탄소 분석기술 및 감시)

  • Chun, Sang-Ki;Kim, Nak-Bae;Kim, Kun-Han;Choi, Su-Young;Park, Chan-Jo;Lee, Joung-Dae;Shin, Jang-Sik
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.13 no.6
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    • pp.693-698
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    • 2000
  • The object of this series of experiments was aimed for the systematic and long-term radioactivity monitoring through indirect search of C-14 concentration level changes in the natural conditions around the operating nuclear facilities. The result of environmental radioactivity level through tree-ring analysis is increased after operating nuclear facilities and such a level can be proved to relate power generation closely. The measured result of ${\delta}^{13}C$ through the treatment of cellulose can be showed the level -30‰. This figure is very different from one which is measured the -17‰ of air sample by passive air sampling and -8‰ of air sample by active air sampling. And these differences can be assumed as isotope fractionation by photosynthesis, but the problem is more study as needed.

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Failure Evaluation Plan of a Reactor Internal Components of a Decommissioned Plant

  • Hwang, Seong Sik;Kim, Sung Woo;Choi, Min Jae;Cho, Sung Hwan;Kim, Dong Jin
    • Corrosion Science and Technology
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.189-195
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    • 2021
  • A technology for designing and licensing a dedicated radiation shielding facility needs to be developed for safe and efficient operation an R&D center. Technology development is important for smooth operation of such facilities. Causes of damage to internal structures (such as baffle former bolt (BFB) of pressurized water reactor) of a nuclear power reactor should be analyzed along with prevention and countermeasures for similar cases of other plants. It is important to develop technologies that can comprehensively analyze various characteristics of internal structures of long term operated reactors. In high-temperature, high-pressure operating environment of nuclear power plants, cases of BFB cracks caused by irradiated assisted stress corrosion cracks (IASCC) have been reported overseas. The integrity of a reactor's internal structure has emerged as an important issue. Identifying the cause of the defect is requested by the Korean regulatory agency. It is also important to secure a foundation for testing technology to demonstrate the operating environment for medium-level irradiated testing materials. The demonstration testing facility can be used for research on material utilization of the plant, which might have highest fluence on the internal structure of a reactor globally.

Improvement on the Method of Estimating Radionuclide Concentrations in Agricultural Products for the Off-Site Internal Dose Calculation for Operating Nuclear Facilities (가동중 원자력 시설 주변 주민의 내부피폭선량 계산을 위한 농산물내 핵종 농도 평가법 개선)

  • Choi, Y.H.;Lim, K.M.;Hwang, W.T.;Choi, G.S.;Choi, H.J.;Lee, C.W.
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.73-90
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    • 2004
  • The Reg. Guide 1.109 model was reviewed against its applicability to calculating radionuclide concentrations in agricultural products for operating nuclear facilities and an improved method was proposed. The model was so modified that the radionuclides deposited since the start of operation could be considered in assessing the root uptake. Translocation factors were introduced in the equation for calculating the concentrations in edible parts due to direct plant deposition. Values specific to Korea were set up for the input parameters of the modified model. The concentrations of $^{54}Mn,\;^{60}Co,\;^{90}Sr\;and\;^{137}Cs$ in rice seeds, Chinese cabbage and radish root were calculated for various hypothetical deposition histories using the Reg. Guide 1.109 model and the modified model with parameter values in the guide and those specific to Korea put in alternately. Through comparisons among the results, it could be expected that the use of the modified model with the input of parameter values specific to Korea would result In a more resonable and realistic assessment.

Safety Evaluation on Real Time Operating Systems for Safety-Critical Systems (안전필수(Safety-Critical) 시스템의 실시간 운영체제에 대한 안전성 평가)

  • Kang, Young-Doo;Chong, Kil-To
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.11 no.10
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    • pp.3885-3892
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    • 2010
  • Safety-Critical systems, such as Plant Protection Systems in nuclear power plant, plays a key role that the facilities can be operated without undue risk to the health and safety of public and environment, and those systems shall be designed, fabricated, installed, and tested to quality standards commensurate with the importance of the functions to be performed. Computer-based Instrumentation and Control Systems to perform the safety-critical function have Real Time Operating Systems to control and monitoring the sub-system and executing the application software. The safety-critical Real Time Operating Systems shall be designed, analyzed, tested and evaluated to have capability to maintain a high integrity and quality. However, local nuclear power plants have applied the real time operating systems on safety critical systems through Commercial Grade Item Dedication method, and this is the reason of lack of detailed methodology on assessing the safety of real time operating systems, expecially to the new developed one. This paper presents the methodology and experiences of safety evaluation on safety-critical Real Time Operating Systems based upon design requirements. This paper may useful to develop and evaluate the safety-critical Real Time Operating Systems in other industry to ensure the safety of public and environment.

MIGSHIELD: A new model-based interactive point kernel gamma ray shielding package for virtual environment

  • Li, Mengkun;Xu, Zhihui;Li, Wei;Yang, Jun;Yang, Ming;Lu, Hongxin;Dai, Xinyu
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.52 no.7
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    • pp.1557-1564
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    • 2020
  • In this paper, 3D model-based interactive gamma ray shielding package (MIGSHIELD) is developed in virtual reality platform for windows operating system. In MIGSHIELD, the computational methodology is based on point kernel algorithm (PK), several key parameters of PK are obtained using new technique and new methods. MIGSHIELD has interactive capability with virtual world. The main features made in the MIGSHIELD are (i) handling of physical information from virtual world, (ii) handling of arbitrary shapes radioactive source, (iii) calculating the mean free path of gamma ray, (iv) providing interactive function between PK and virtual world, (v) making better use of PK for virtual simulation, (vi) plug and play. The developed package will be of immense use for calculations involving radiation dose assessment in nuclear safety and contributing to fast radiation simulation for virtual nuclear facilities.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO NUCLEAR POWER PLANT SAFETY

  • GHOSH S. TINA;APOSTOLAKIS GEORGE E.
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.207-220
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    • 2005
  • Nuclear power plants (NPP) are complex socio-technological systems that rely on the success of both hardware and human components. Empirical studies of plant operating experience show that human errors are important contributors to accidents and incidents, and that organizational factors play an important role in creating contexts for human errors. Current probabilistic safety assessments (PSA) do not explicitly model the systematic contribution of organizational factors to safety. As some countries, like the United States, are moving towards increased use of risk information in the regulation and operation of nuclear facilities, PSA quality has been identified as an area for improvement. The modeling of human errors, and underlying organizational weaknesses at the root of these errors, are important sources of uncertainty in existing PSAs and areas of on-going research. This paper presents a review of research into the following questions: Is there evidence that organizational factors are important to NPP safety? How do organizations contribute to safety in NPP operations? And how can these organizational contributions be captured more explicitly in PSA? We present a few past incidents that illustrate the potential safety implications of organizational deficiencies, some mechanisms by which organizational factors contribute to NPP risk, and some of the methods proposed in the literature for performing root-cause analyses and including organizational factors in PSA.

Systems Engineering Approach to develop the FPGA based Cyber Security Equipment for Nuclear Power Plant

  • Kim, Jun Sung;Jung, Jae Cheon
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.73-82
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    • 2018
  • In this work, a hardware based cryptographic module for the cyber security of nuclear power plant is developed using a system engineering approach. Nuclear power plants are isolated from the Internet, but as shown in the case of Iran, Man-in-the-middle attacks (MITM) could be a threat to the safety of the nuclear facilities. This FPGA-based module does not have an operating system and it provides protection as a firewall and mitigates the cyber threats. The encryption equipment consists of an encryption module, a decryption module, and interfaces for communication between modules and systems. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)-128, which is formally approved as top level by U.S. National Security Agency for cryptographic algorithms, is adopted. The development of the cyber security module is implemented in two main phases: reverse engineering and re-engineering. In the reverse engineering phase, the cyber security plan and system requirements are analyzed, and the AES algorithm is decomposed into functional units. In the re-engineering phase, we model the logical architecture using Vitech CORE9 software and simulate it with the Enhanced Functional Flow Block Diagram (EFFBD), which confirms the performance improvements of the hardware-based cryptographic module as compared to software based cryptography. Following this, the Hardware description language (HDL) code is developed and tested to verify the integrity of the code. Then, the developed code is implemented on the FPGA and connected to the personal computer through Recommended Standard (RS)-232 communication to perform validation of the developed component. For the future work, the developed FPGA based encryption equipment will be verified and validated in its expected operating environment by connecting it to the Advanced power reactor (APR)-1400 simulator.