• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2015

During the course of a severe accident in a light water nuclear reactor, large amounts of hydrogen can be generated and released into the containment during reactor core degradation. Additional burnable gases [hydrogen ($H_2$) and carbon monoxide (CO)] may be released into the containment in the corium/concrete interaction. This could subsequently raise a combustion hazard. As the Fukushima accidents revealed, hydrogen combustion can cause high pressure spikes that could challenge the reactor buildings and lead to failure of the surrounding buildings. To prevent the gas explosion hazard, most mitigation strategies adopted by European countries are based on the implementation of passive autocatalytic recombiners (PARs). Studies of representative accident sequences indicate that, despite the installation of PARs, it is difficult to prevent at all times and locations, the formation of a combustible mixture that potentially leads to local flame acceleration. Complementary research and development (R&D) projects were recently launched to understand better the phenomena associated with the combustion hazard and to address the issues highlighted after the Fukushima Daiichi events such as explosion hazard in the venting system and the potential flammable mixture migration into spaces beyond the primary containment. The expected results will be used to improve the modeling tools and methodology for hydrogen risk assessment and severe accident management guidelines. The present paper aims to present the methodology adopted by Institut de Radioprotection et de $S{\hat{u}}ret{\acute{e}}$ $Nucl{\acute{e}}aire$ to assess hydrogen risk in nuclear power plants, in particular French nuclear power plants, the open issues, and the ongoing R&D programs related to hydrogen distribution, mitigation, and combustion.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.881-892
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• 2016

Following the Fukushima accident and its extended station blackout, attention was brought to the importance of the spent fuel pools' (SFPs) behavior in case of a prolonged loss of the cooling system. Since then, many analytical works have been performed to estimate the timing of hypothetical fuel uncovery for various SFP types. Experimentally, however, little was done to investigate issues related to the formation of a flammable gas mixture, distribution, and stratification in the SFP building itself and to some extent assess the capability for the code to correctly predict it. This paper presents the main outcomes of the Experiments on Spent Fuel Pool (ESFP) project carried out under the auspices of Swissnuclear (Framework 2012-2013) in the PANDA facility at the Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland. It consists of an experimental investigation focused on hydrogen concentration build-up into a SFP building during a predefined scaled scenario for different venting positions. Tests follow a two-phase scenario. Initially steam is released to mimic the boiling of the pool followed by a helium/steam mixture release to simulate the deterioration of the oxidizing spent fuel. Results shows that while the SFP building would mainly be inerted by the presence of a high concentration of steam, the volume located below the level of the pool in adjacent rooms would maintain a high air content. The interface of the two-gas mixture presents the highest risk of flammability. Additionally, it was observed that the gas mixture could become stagnant leading locally to high hydrogen concentration while steam condenses. Overall, the experiments provide relevant information for the potentially hazardous gas distribution formed in the SFP building and hints on accident management and on eventual retrofitting measures to be implemented in the SFP building.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2008

Polypropylene (PP)-layered silicate nanocomposites were developed using a new processing method involving a supercritical carbon dioxide ($scCO_2$)-assisted co-rotating twin-screw extrusion process. The nanocomposites were prepared through two step extrusion processes. In the first step, the PP/clay mixture was extruded with $CO_2$ injected into the barrel of the extruder and the resulting foamed extrudate was cooled and pelletized. In the second step, the foamed extrudate was extruded with venting to produce the final PP/clay nanocomposites without $CO_2$. In this study, organophilic-clay and polypropylene matrix were used. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizer. This study focused on the effect of $scCO_2$ on the dispersion characteristics of the clays into a PP matrix and the rheological properties of the layered silicate based PP nanocomposites. The dispersion properties of clays in the nanocomposites as well as the rheological properties of the nanocomposites were examined as a function of the PP-g-MA concentration. The degree of dispersion of the clays in the nanocomposites was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. Various rheological properties of the nanocomposites were measured using a rotational rheometer. In the experimental results, the $scCO_2$ assisted continuous manufacturing extrusion system was used to successfully produce the organophilic-clay filled PP nanocomposites. It was found that $scCO_2$ had a measurable effect on the clay dispersion in the polymer matrix and the melt intercalation of a polymer into clay layers.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.33-47
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• 2020

The bulk and partition geochemistry was studied in two sediment cores collected from the axial valley of the north-central Fonualei Rift and Spreading Center (FRSC), Lau back-arc Basin, southwest Pacific. The sediments consist of mostly volcanic ash, although minor amounts of biogenic and other components were present in some intervals. The major element composition of bulk sediments recalculated to a carbonate-free basis was in good agreement with the magma compositions of the adjacent Tofua Arc and the FRSC, with only significant difference in Mn content. The enrichment of Mn and other associated elements (e.g. Cu, Co, Ni, and P) is attributed to hydrothermal input to the sediments, as evidenced by their significant partitioning in the non-detrital phases according to the partition geochemistry. Hydrogenetic and diagenetic inputs were assessed to be relatively insignificant. Estimated hydrothermal Mn fluxes during the Holocene ranged between 5.0 and 37.1 mg cm^-2 kyr^-1, with the higher values in younger sediments, suggesting enhanced hydrothermal activity. The hydrothermal Mn fluxes comparable to or higher than those reported from other spreading centers with strong hydrothermal activities may indicate the presence of unknown hydrothermal vent sites and/or topographic restriction on the dispersal of hydrothermal plumes in the northern part of the FRSC.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.14 no.spc
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• pp.7-12
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• 2020

In this paper the new revision of Korean Airworthiness Standards (KAS) - Emissions was proposed for enforced environmental standards. The Aircraft Engine Fuel Venting and Exhaust Emissions Requirements have been only defined for smoke, HC, CO and NOx as management items in previous KAS. However, this standard has not covered the current situation that International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforced environmental regulations, such as emissions trading system, limitation of CO₂ emissions and restriction of exhaust gas. In order to overcome these outdated situations, we presented the new requirements for aircraft exhaust gas emissions standard of Korea based on the latest standards of United States, Europe and other countries.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.2230-2237
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• 2020

Self-priming venturi scrubber is one of the most effective devices used to collect aerosols and soluble gas pollutants from gaseous stream during severe accident in a nuclear power plant. The present study focuses on investigation of dust particle removal efficiency of the venturi scrubber both experimentally and theoretically. Venturi scrubber captures the dust particles in tiny water droplets flowing into it. Inertial impaction is the main mechanism of particles collection in venturi scrubber. The water injected into venturi throat is in the form of jets through multiple holes present at venturi throat. In this study, aerosols removal efficiency of self-priming venturi scrubber was experimentally measured for different operating conditions. Alumina (Al₂O₃) particles with 0.4-㎛ diameter and 3950 kg/㎥ density were treated as aerosols. Removal efficiency was calculated for different gas flow rates i.e. 3-6 ㎥/h and liquid flow rates i.e. 0.009-0.025 ㎥/h. Experimental results depict that aerosols removal efficiency increases with the increase in throat velocity and liquid head. While at lower air flow rate of 3 ㎥/h, removal efficiency decreases with the increase in liquid head. A theoretical model of venturi scrubber was also employed and experimental results were compared with mathematical model. Experimental results are found to be in good agreement with theoretical results.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.68-74
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• 2008

Measurements were performed to investigate the effects on flame and pressure development by varying locations of multiple obstacles in a top-venting explosion chamber. The chamber dimension was 1000 mm in height with a $700\;{\times}\;700\;mm^2$ cross-section and a rectangular vent area of $700\;{\times}\;700\;mm^2$. Three different multiple obstacles with blockage ratio of 30% were used by changing from 200 mm, 500 mm to 800 mm in heights within the chamber. Temporally resolved flame front images were recorded by a high speed camera to investigate the interaction between the propagating flame and the obstacles. The results showed that the triangular bar caused the fastest flame developments at given times whereas the lowest was obtained with the cylindrical bar. It was also found that local flame displacement speeds of different obstacles were sensitive to the locations of obstacles. The local speed becomes larger in going from 200 mm, to 500 mm and to 800 mm in heights. The obstacles in height of 800 mm yielded the highest overpressure whereas the lowest was in height of 200 mm.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.302-312
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• 2019

The voltage produced from the salinity gradient in reverse electrodialysis (RED) increases proportionally with the number of cell pairs of alternating cation and anion exchange membranes. Large-scale RED systems consisting of hundreds of cell pairs exhibit high voltage of more than 10 V, which is sufficient to utilize water electrolysis as the electrode reaction even though there is no specific strategy for minimizing the overpotential of water electrolysis. Moreover, hydrogen gas can be simultaneously obtained as surplus energy from the electrochemical reduction of water at the cathode if the RED system is equipped with proper venting and collecting facilities. Therefore, RED-driven water electrolysis system can be a promising solution not only for sustainable electric power but also for eco-friendly hydrogen production with high purity without $CO_2$ emission. The RED system in this study includes a high membrane voltage from more than 50 cells, neutral-pH water as the electrolyte, and an artificial NaCl solution as the feed water, which are more universal, economical, and eco-friendly conditions than previous studies on RED with hydrogen production. We measure the amount of hydrogen produced at maximum power of the RED system using a batch-type electrode chamber with a gas bag and evaluate the interrelation between the electric power and hydrogen energy with varied cell pairs. A hydrogen production rate of $1.1{\times}10^{-4}mol\;cm^{-2}h^{-1}$ is obtained, which is larger than previously reported values for RED system with simultaneous hydrogen production.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.531-537
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• 2022

Wide-awake, local anesthesia, no tourniquet (WALANT) is a technique that removes the requirement for operations to be performed with a tourniquet, general/regional anesthesia, sedation or an anesthetist. We reviewed the WALANT literature with respect to the diverse indications and impact of WALANT to discuss the importance of future surgical curriculum integration. With appropriate patient selection, WALANT may be used effectively in upper and lower limb surgery; it is also a useful option for patients who are unsuitable for general/regional anesthesia. There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of WALANT in more complex operations in both upper and lower limb surgery. WALANT is a safe, effective, and simple technique associated with equivalent or superior patient pain scores among other numerous clinical and cost benefits. Cost benefits derive from reduced requirements for theater/anesthetic personnel, space, equipment, time, and inpatient stay. The lack of a requirement for general anesthesia reduces aerosol generating procedures, for example, intubation/high-flow oxygen, hence patients and staff also benefit from the reduced potential for infection transmission. WALANT provides a relatively, but not entirely, bloodless surgical field. Training requirements include the surgical indications, volume calculations, infiltration technique, appropriate perioperative patient/team member communication, and specifics of each operation that need to be considered, for example, checking of active tendon glide versus venting of flexor tendon pulleys. WALANT offers significant clinical, economic, and operative safety advantages when compared with general/regional anesthesia. Key challenges include careful patient selection and the comprehensive training of future surgeons to perform the technique safely.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.48-53
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• 2004

This study is objected to estimate the variation of the coefficient of leachate according to designs in landfill cover systems. Design (a) is the unsanitary landfill cover system with 50 cm soil. But Design (b), (c) are sanitary cover systems which are composed of soil top layer, drainage layer, barrier liner(Design (b): Geomembrane(1.5 mm) and compacted clay liner(30 cm), Design (c) compacted clay liner(45 cm)), gas venting layer. Quantity of leachate estimates Rational Method generally and depend on the coefficient of leachate, on one of the factors in Rational Method largely. The coefficient of leachate is defined as the leachate production ratio result from incident precipitation. To estimate the variation of the coefficient of leachate, the authors use HELP(Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance) Simulation and Pilot Test. As a result of HELP Simulation, the coefficient of leachate is 0.36∼0.42 in Design (a) and 0.03∼0.15 in Design (b), (c) according to designs in landfill cover systems and quality of barrier liner placement. These numerical values are similar to 0.13 with the coefficient of leachate in Pilot Test.