This study investigates the integration of astronomy-related topics in the Korean national science curricula spanning from 1945 to 2023. We analyze the placement and extent of astronomy content across different school levels. Astronomy contents in the science curricula have changed in response to social needs (e.g., practical knowledge required for agriculture and fishery) and advancement in astronomical research (e.g., the discovery of exoplanets and the suggestion of new cosmological parameters). Contents addressing the motions of celestial objects and stellar physical properties have remained relatively consistent. In the latest 2022 revised national curriculum, scheduled for implementation in 2024, several elements, such as coordinate systems, have been removed, while the inquiry activities using digital tools are emphasized. The incorporation of the cosmic perspectives in the national curriculum, as well as astronomy education within the context of education for sustainable development, remains limited even in the most recent curriculum. For future life revisions, the active participation of researchers is needed to reflect the latest astronomical research progress and scientific characteristics in the field of astronomy.

To precisely assemble the fuel test rod, an orbital TIG welding system was designed and developed to accurately conduct orbital TIG welding for the nuclear fuel test rod. Using this system, a welding process needs to confirm the welding properties for orbital TIG welding. Therefore, preliminary weld tests were performed on the cladding tubes under various conditions, and the results show that the width and depth of HAZ of the cladding specimen welded using identical power during an orbital TIG welding cycle was continuously increased from a welded start-point to a welded end-point because of heat accumulation. The performance tests were conducted under the welding conditions considered through preliminary welding tests, and the properties of the specimens were conformed through surface and microstructure analyses.

When a new nuclear fuel is developed, irradiation test needs to be carried out in the research reactor to analyze the performance of the new nuclear fuel. It is necessary to attach sensors in the fuel rod and connect them with instrumentation cables to check the performance of the nuclear fuel during the burn up test in the test loop. A thermocouple is installed at the center of the fuel rod to check the centerline temperature of a fuel rod during the irradiation test. Therefore, A hole needs to be made at the center of a fuel pellet to put the thermocouple. However, it is difficult to make a small fine hole on the sintered UO2 pellet with a simple drilling machine, because the hardness and density of a sintered UO2 pellet are very high. In this study, an instrumented fuel rod mock-up was fabricated using an automated precise drilling machine. Four sintered alumina were drilled off and assembled into the zircaloy tube and a thermocouple was instrumented in the fuel rod mock-up. Sealing of an instrumented fuel rod mock-up was performed in the following two methods. It is sealing of similar metals perform by welding method, and sealing of dissimilar metals perform by swagelok method.

Fuel Test Loop(FTL) is a facility which could conduct a fuel irradiation test at HANARO (High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor). FTL simulates commercial NPP’s operating conditions such as the pressure, temperature and neutron flux levels to conduct the irradiation and thermo- hydraulic tests. The In-Pile Test Section(IPS) installed in HANARO FTL is designed as a pressure vessel design conditions of 350℃, 17.5MPa. The instrumentation MI-cables for thermocouples, SPND and LVDT are passed through the sealing plug, which is in the pressure boundary region and is a part of instrumentation feedthrough of MI-cable. In this study, the brazing method and performance test results are introduced to the sealing plug with BNi-2 filler metal, which is selected with consideration of the compatibility for the coolant. The performance was verified through the insulation resistance test, hydrostatic test, and helium leak test.

Fuel test loop is an irradiation test facility which can conduct the irradiation tests of nuclear fuels and materials at HANARO. The FTL simulates the operating conditions of commercial nuclear power plants such as their pressure, temperature, flow and water chemistry to conduct the irradiation and thermo-hydraulic tests. The passivation of the fuel test loop was performed for the main cooling system in the commissioning stage with satisfaction of the operation criterion such as temperature and water chemistry conditions. The experimental results show that the passivation was completed successfully.

In-Pool By-Pass Pipe is a structure which connects the 2 In-Pool Pipes instead of In-Pile Test Section(IPS). It is designed to accommodate the 17.5 MPa and 80 ℃ under the consideration of the FTL pre-operation conditions but the need for high temperature, over 200 ℃, during FTL pre-operation make the additional assessment to be performed. For this study 2 models are used. One is an In-Pool By-Pass Pipe model which affected by HANARO water's elevation, another is an In-Pool By-Pass Pipe Nozzle which has 2 boundary conditions; water and air. After the heat transfer analysis linear stress analysis was performed to achieve Tresca stress. In the region of high stress model's detailed behavior is observed by ASME SectionⅢ NB code. Consequentially it concluded that the model of In-Pool By-Pass Pipe Structure is in reasonable agreement with those code.

The In-Pile Section(IPS) is located inside the reactor pool. It is divided into 3-parts; the in-pool pipes, the IVA(IPS Vessel Assembly) and the support structures. The test fuel is loaded inside a double wall, inner pressure vessel and outer pressure vessel, to keep the functionality of the reactor coolant pressure boundary. The IVA is manufactured by local company and the functional test and verification were done through pressure drop, vibration, hydraulic and leakage tests. A IVA has been manufactured by local technique and have finally tested under high temperature and high pressure. The IVA and piping did not experience leakage, as we have checked the piping, flanges, assembly parts. We have obtained good data during the three cycle test which includes a pressure test, pressure and temperature cycling, and constant temperature.

The small break loss-of-coolant accidents for the HANARO fuel test loop have been predicted by MARS code. Conservative method was used for the prediction of the loss-of-coolant accidents. The maximum peak cladding temperature was calculated as 1286K, which was lower than the design limit temperature (1477K) of nuclear fuels for the HANARO fuel test loop. The maximum peak cladding temperature occurred for the cold leg break in the HANARO pool. The hydrogen generation and oxidation of the fuel cladding were also negligible. Consequently, it is ensured that the emergency cooling water system for the HANARO fuel test loop is appropriate for the small break loss-of-coolant accidents.

FTL(Fuel Test Loop) is a facility that confirms performance of nuclear fuel at a similar irradiation condition with that of nuclear power plant. FTL construction work began on August, 2006 and ended on March, 2007. During Construction, ensuring the worker's safety was the top priority and installation of the FTL without hampering the integrity of the HANARO was the next one. The installation works were done successfully overcoming the difficulties such as on the limited space, on the radiation hazard inside the reactor pool, and finally on the shortening of the shut down period of the HANARO. The Commissioning of the FTL is on due to check the function and the performance of the equipment and the overall system as well. The FTL shall start operation with high burn up test fuels in early 2008 if the commissioning and licensing progress on schedule.

The Fuel Test Loop(FTL) which is capable of an irradiation testing under a similar operating condition to those of PWR(Pressurized Water Reactor) and CANDU(CANadian Deuterium Uranium reactor) nuclear power plants has been developed and installed in HANARO, KAERI(Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute). It is consisted of In-Pile Section(IPS) and Out-of Pile System(OPS). The IPS which is localed inside the pool is divided into 3-parts; they are in-pool pipes, IVA(IPS Vessel Assembly) and the support structures. The test fuel is loaded inside a double wall, inner pressure vessel and outer pressure vessel, to keep the functionality of the reactor collant pressure boundary. The localization of the IVA is achieved by manufacturing through local company and the functional test and verification were done through pressure drop, vibration, hydraulic and leakage tests. The brazing technique of the instrument lines has been checked for its functionality and yield. A IVA has been manufactured by local technique and will be finally tested under out of the high temperature and high pressure test.

The nuclear fuel cladding temperatures of the HANARO fuel test loop have been calculated by MARS code for the large break loss-of-coolant accidents. Conservative method was used for the analysis of the loss-of-coolant accidents. Consequently, the maximum peak cladding temperature was predicted as 1235K, which was lower than the design limit temperature (1477K) of nuclear fuels for the HANARO fuel test loop. This means that the cooling capability of the emergency cooling water system for the HANARO fuel test loop is sufficient for the large break loss-of-coolant accidents.

The conservative method on the analysis of loss-of-coolant accidents for the HANARO fuel test loop was established based on the guide of evaluation method for the emergency core cooling systems of pressurized light water reactors. The evaluation models, the Moody model for discharge rate calculation and the Baker-Just model for water-metal reaction calculation, were used. In order to calculate conservative peak cladding temperatures for accidents the multipliers to the correlations of heat transfer coefficients in the MARS were also introduced. Consequently it is found that the maximum peak cladding temperature predicted by using the conservative method is sufficiently greater than that calculated by using the best-estimated models.