It has been known that as oxide layer (ZrO2) forms on the nuclear fuel cladding during irradiation in nuclear power plants, the corrosion kinetics are influenced by various parameters such as chemical environments. One of those environments, crud deposition driven by coolant chemistry has an adverse effect on the formation of oxide (ZrO2) and leads to increase thickness of the layer. In this study, crud formation was performed through loop experiment equipment on the surface of intentionally-made oxide layer (ZrO2) on cladding tubes and then the composition and characteristics of cruds were examined for the investigation of nuclear power plant environment. As a result, various cruds in composition and microstructure were formed depending on the exquisite methods and conditions such as metal ion concentration.

This study evaluated a potential sterilization process that uses calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)2) as a disinfectant and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a neutralizing agent for monoculture processes of microalgae (Nannochloropsis oculata). The results showed that no contaminants (prokaryote) were present when the Ca(ClO)2 concentration was greater than 0.010%. The use of an equivalent amount of H2O2 completely neutralized Ca(ClO)2 and had an additional bactericidal effect because of the formation of singlet oxygen. No substantial difference was observed in the biomass accumulation and chlorophyll contents compared to those in cultures sterilized using conventional physical methods such as autoclaving. Therefore, chemical sterilization using Ca(ClO)2 and H2O2 has an excellent economic advantage, and we expect the proposed ecofriendly chemical sterilization method to become a critical culture technology for microalgae-related industrialization.

한국형처분시스템에 이용될 가압경수로형 사용후핵연료를 위한 KDC-1 처분용기를 개발하였다. 처분용기 안전성 평가의 일환으로서 처분용기에 대한 구조적 안전성을 평가하였다. 처분용기의 구조적 안전성은 처분조건과 취급조건 2가지로 구분하여 평가하였다. 처분조건에서는 3가지 하중 조건, 정상하중 조건, 비정상 하중 조건, 암반의 움직임을 고려하였다. 처분조건에서 평가 결과 3가지 조건에 대해 모두 안전계수가 설계기준보다 컸다. 취급조건에서는 처분용기 취급 중 구조해석과 처분용기 낙하 사고시 구조해석을 수행하였다. 취급장비 고장 시나리오 평가결과 1개 혹은 2개의 취급 장치가 고장을 일으켰을 때도 취급장비를 계속 운전하는 것이 가능하였다. 처분용기 낙하 시나리오에서는 계산결과 최대 응력은 0.762 MPa 이었으며, 이 값은 주철의 항복응력과 비교하면 거의 무시할 수 있는 값이었다. 본 논문에서 제안한 KDC-1 처분용기에 대한 처분조건 및 취급조건에서의 구조해석 결과, 한국형처분시스템에서 고려하고 있는 조건에서 그 구조적 안전성을 확인하였다.

Recycling of bottom ash which is the part of the non-combustible residues of waste combustion is very important for saving energy and resource recycling. In this research, we tried to develop recycling method for the bottom ash as the roadbase, the layer of aggregates under the paved layer of a road. We first removed ferrous and non-ferrous metals from the bottom ash with a 20 mm mesh strainer. After grinding ceramics and glass using jaw crusher, we mixed them with the bottom ash, and then they were further finely grounded up to the particle size less than 150 mm with ball mill. XRD analysis of the final ground material showed that the main ingredients were CaO, SiO2, Al2O3, P2O5, Fe2O3 and MgO. Also there were some heavy metals such as Cu2+, Pb2+ and Cr6+ in it. To make roadbase out of the processed bottom ash, we mixed it with purified sludge, pink kaolin (from Hadong, Gyeongnam, Korea), and silica sludge, and fired in an electric kiln at 1150 ~ 1200oC. Finally, the usefulness of the roadbase made of bottom ash was analyzed by testing absorption rate, crystallizing and strength as well as indoor California Bearing Ration (CBR) test, abrasion test, sand reduction test. The developed material from recycling the wasted bottom ash satisfied the requirement of roadbase properties.