• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.1482-1494
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• 2022

Power conversion cycles (Subcritical Steam, Supercritical Steam, Open Air Brayton, Recuperated Air Brayton, Combined Cycle, Closed Brayton Supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂), and Stirling) are evaluated for land-based nuclear microreactors based on technical maturity, system efficiency, size, cost and maintainability, safety implications, and siting considerations. Based upon these criteria, Air Brayton systems were selected for further evaluation. A brief history of the development and applications of Brayton power systems is given, followed by a description of how these thermal-to-electrical energy conversion systems might be integrated with a nuclear microreactor. Modeling is performed for optimized cycles operating at 3 MW(e) with turbine inlet temperatures of 500 ℃, 650 ℃ and 850 ℃, corresponding to: a) sodium fast, b) molten salt or heat pipe, and c) helium or sodium thermal reactors, coupled with three types of Brayton power conversion units (PCUs): 1) simple open-cycle gas turbine, 2) recuperated open-cycle gas turbine, and 3) recuperated and intercooled open-cycle gas turbine. Aeroderivative turboshaft engines employing the simple Brayton cycle and two industrial gas turbine engines employing recuperated air Brayton cycles are also analyzed. These engines offer mature technology that can facilitate near-term deployment with a modest improvement in efficiency.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.28-31
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• 2023

This study presents a comprehensive procedure for the low cycle fatigue test of ultrasonically welded (UW) coated conductor (CC) lap-joints. The entire process is examined in detail, from the robust fabrication of the UW REBCO CC joints to the reliability testing under a low number of repeated cycle fatigue conditions. A continuous I_c measurement system enables real-time monitoring of I_c variations throughout the fatigue tests. The study aims to provide a step-by-step procedure that involves joint fabrication, electromechanical property (EMP) tests under uniaxial tension for stress level determination, and subsequent low-cycle fatigue tests. The joints are fabricated using a hybrid method that combines UW with adding In-Sn soldering, achieving a flux-free hybrid welding approach (UW-HW flux-free). The selected conditions for the low cycle fatigue tests include a stress ratio of R=0.1 and a frequency of 0.02 Hz. The results reveal some insights into the fatigue behavior, irreversible changes, and cumulative damage in the CC joints.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.272-280
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• 1999

A cycle analysis was achieved to predict the characteristics by comprehensive modeling and simulation of an air-cooled, double-effect absorption system using a new $H_2O/LiBr+HO(CH_2)_3OH$ solution. The simulation results showed that the new working fluid may provide the crystallization limit 8% higher than the conventional $H_2O/LiBr$ solution. With a crystallization margin of 3wt%(weight%), the optimal solution distribution ratio was found in the range of 36 to 40%. Variation of cooling air Inlet temperature has a sensitive effect on the cooling COP and corrosion problem. The simulation of heat exchangers with UA value revealed that the absorber and the evaporator are relatively important for an air-cooled system compared with the condenser and the low temperature generator. The effect of cooling air flow rate, circulation weak solution flow rate and chilled water inlet temperature were also examined. The new working fluid may provide the COP approximately 5% higher than the conventional $H_2O/LiBr$ solution.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.353-363
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• 2005

We developed a local-scale ecophysiological model, Sim-CYCLE Fine by modifying Sim-CYCLE which was developed for a global scale simulation. Sim-CYCLE fine is able to simulate not only carbon fluxes but also plant growth with various time-steps from an hour to a month. The model outputs of $CO_2$ flux and biomass/LAI were highly reliable; we validated the model results with measurements from the eddy covariance technique and the harvest method ($R^2$ values of around 0.9 for both). The results suggested that the phonology and the seasonal dynamics of the $C_3/C4$ plant communities affected significantly the carbon fluxes and the plant growth during the plant growing season.

• Clean Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2015

In this research, life cycle inventory database (LCI DB) was developed for liquid CO₂ employing life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. As are result of characterization and normalization process, production of liquid CO₂ puts on environmental impact in the order of resource depletion, global warming, acidification, eutrophication and photochemical oxidation, and among a wide variety of input, electricity contributes in most of the impact categories. Air emission plays a key role in the acidification and eutrophication while ammonia affects most on the ozone depletion. It is anticipated that development of liquid CO₂ LCI DB makes it possible for national environmental strategies to be more activated including environmental labeling scheme.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.946-953
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• 2003

A FEM-based analytical approach was used to evaluate the multiaxial high cycle fatigue damage of an automotive sub-frame. Elastic Multi Body Simulation (MBS) has been applied in order to determine the multiaxial load histories. The stresses due to these loads have been given by FE computation. These results have been used as the input for the multiaxial fatigue analysis. For the assessment of multiaxial high cycle fatigue damage, the signed von Mises, the signed Tresca, the absolute maximum principal stress and critical plane methods have been employed. In addition, the biaxiality ratio, a$\sub$e/, the absolute maximum principal stress, $\sigma$$\sub$p/ and the angle, $\phi$$\sub$P/, between $\sigma$$\sub$1/ and the local x-axis, have been calculated to evaluate the stress state at each node.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.279-286
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• 2020

In this article, we develop a reactive distillation (RD) column configuration for the production of hydrogen. This RD column is in the HI decomposition section of the sulphur - iodine (SI) thermochemical cycle, in which HI decomposition and H₂ separation take place simultaneously. The section plays a major role in high hydrogen production efficiency (that depends on reaction conversion and separation efficiency) of the SI cycle. In the column simulation, the rigorous thermodynamic phase equilibrium and reaction kinetic model are used. The tuning parameters involved in phase equilibrium model are dependent on interactive components and system temperature. For kinetic model, parameter values are adopted from the Aspen flowsheet simulator. Interestingly, there is no side reaction (e.g., solvation reaction, electrolyte decomposition and polyiodide formation) considered aiming to make the proposed model simple that leads to a challenging prediction. The process parameters are determined on the basis of optimal hydrogen production as reflux ratio = 0.87, total number of stages = 19 and feeding point at 8th stage. With this, the column operates at a reasonably low pressure (i.e., 8 bar) and produces hydrogen in the distillate with a desired composition (H₂ = 9.18 mol%, H₂O = 88.27 mol% and HI = 2.54 mol%). Finally, the results are compared with other model simulations. It is observed that the proposed scheme leads to consume a reasonably low energy requirement of 327 MJ/kmol of H₂.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.470-475
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• 2009

We deposited $Al_2O_3$ thin films on GaN by remote plasma atomic layer deposition (RPALD) technique, trimethylaluminum(TMA) and oxygen were used as precursors, at fixed process condition, the number of cycle were changed. Growth rate per cycle was $1.2\;{\AA}$/cycle. and Growth rate was in proportion to a number of cycle, the GaN MIS capacitors that $Al_2O_3$ thin film were deposited above 12 nm, have excellent electrical properties, a low electrical leakage current density(${\sim}10^{-10}\;A/cm^2$ at 1.5 MV), but below 12 nm, we can see the degradation of the leakage current density. After post deposition annealing, Dielectric constant was estimated by 1 MHz high-frequency C-V method, it was varied with the anealing temperature from 6.9 at no post anealed to 7.6 at $800^{\circ}C$, and we can see a improvement of the leakage current density and breakdown voltage by post deposition anealing below $700^{\circ}C$, but, after anealed at $800^{\circ}C$, we can see the degradation of the leakage current density and breakdown voltage.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.253-260
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• 2022

In this study, the microstructural characteristics of a high-speed-extruded Mg-5Bi-3Al (BA53) alloy and its tensile, compressive, and high-cycle fatigue properties are investigated. The BA53 alloy is successfully extruded at a die-exit speed of 16.6 m/min without any hot cracking using a large-scale extruder for mass production. The homogenized BA53 billet has a large grain size of ~900 ㎛ and it contains fine and coarse Mg₃Bi₂ particles. The extruded BA53 alloy has a fully recrystallized microstructure with an average grain size of 33.8 ㎛ owing to the occurrence of complete dynamic recrystallization during high-speed extrusion. In addition, the extruded BA53 alloy contains numerous fine lath-type Mg₃Bi₂ particles, which are formed through static precipitation during air cooling after exiting the extrusion die. The extruded BA53 alloy has a high tensile yield strength of 175.1 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of 244.4 MPa, which are mainly attributed to the relative fine grain size and numerous fine particles. The compressive yield strength (93.4 MPa) of the extruded BA53 alloy is lower than its tensile yield strength, resulting in a tension-compression yield asymmetry of 0.53. High-cycle fatigue test results reveal that the extruded BA53 alloy has a fatigue strength of 110 MPa and fatigue cracks initiate at the surface of fatigue test specimens, indicating that the Mg₃Bi₂ particles do not act as fatigue crack initiation sites. Furthermore, the extruded BA53 alloy exhibits a higher fatigue ratio of 0.45 than other commercial extruded Mg-Al-Zn-based alloys.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.95-103
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• 2014

During the international effort to develop the next generation nuclear reactor technologies, many new power cycle concepts were derived to improve efficiency and reduce the capital cost. Among many innovative power cycles, it was identified that the supercritical $CO_2$ (S-$CO_2$) Brayton cycle technology has a big potential to outperform the existing steam cycle and eventually replace it. The S-$CO_2$ cycle achieves high efficiency with very compact size, which is the ultimate advantage for a power cycle to have. The S-$CO_2$ cycle has a great potential not only for the future nuclear applications but also for general heat sources such as coal, natural gas, and concentrated solar. In this paper, a brief introduction to the S-$CO_2$ power cycle technologies will be first provided, and a short summary of current research and development status of the power cycle technology around the world will be followed. Especially the research works performed by KAIST, KAERI and several related research institutions in Korea will be reviewed in more detail, since they have recently developing a strong infrastructure to test these ideas by constructing a demonstration facility while producing many innovative ideas to improve and realize the concept.