In this study, a membrane electrode assembly(MEA) composed of three electrodes(anode, cathode, and reference electrode) is designed to investigate the effects of methanol concentration on the overpotentials of anode and cathode in direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs). Using the three-electrode cell, in-situ analyses of the overpotentials are carried out during direct methanol fuel cell operation. It is demonstrated that the three-electrode cell can work effectively in transient state operating condition as well as in steady-state condition, and the anode and cathode exhibit different overpotential curves depending on the concentration of methanol used as fuel. Therefore, from the real-time separation of the anode and cathode overpotentials, it is possible to more clearly prove the methanol crossover effect, and it is expected that in-situ analysis using the three-electrode cell will provide an opportunity to obtain more diverse results in the area of fuel cell research.

In this paper, a structural integrity on the test rig with assembly plug to perform intermediate examination is evaluated. Structural analysis results between the test rig with non assembly plug and assembly plug are compared, because the assembly plug has an effect on the flow of the coolant in the test rig. A equivalent stress value on the test rig with assembly plug is increased more than the stress on the test rig with non-assembly plug. A shape optimization of the assembly plug is performed to decrease the stress. Considering a connection with the transport tool, a optimized shape of the assembly plug is presented to minimize the stress on the test rig. Using the optimized assembly plug, the equivalent stress on the test rig with the optimized plug is less than the stress on the test rig with the non-optimized plug.

본 연구에서는 경수로용 핵연료집합체의 전체지지격자(Full Size Grid)와 부분지지격자(Small Size Grid)에 대한 정적 좌굴강도 실험과 전체 지지격자와 부분지지격자를 구성하는 지지격자판(Grid Strap)에 대한 정적 좌굴해석을 수행하여 지지격자의 좌굴특성을 분석하였으며, 분석결과를 이용하여 전체지지격자와 부분지지격자에 대한 좌굴하중값의 예측 가능성을 평가하였다. 좌굴강도 실험은 웨스팅하우스형 연료의 셀을 갖는 전체지지격자와 등의 셀을 갖는 부분지지격자에 대하여 수행하였으며, 실험결과를 이용하여 지지격자의 좌굴강도와 지지격자의 행(rows)과 열(columns) 사이의 관계식을 제시하였다. 좌굴강도 해석은 범용 유한요소해석코드인 ANSYS를 이용하여 수행하였으며, 해석결과를 이용하여 지지격자의 좌굴특성을 분석하고 실험결과와 비교평가 하였다.

경수로 원자로 하부구조물에서 발생되는 유포의 불균일성에 기인하는 교차류와 핵연료집합체의 수력저항의 차이에 의해 발생하는 교차류, 그리고 축류 등에 의해 유발되는 연료봉의 불안정성은 핵연료손상의 원인이 될 수 있으므로, 새로운 연료 개발 시 연료봉에 대한 진동 및 안정성 해석을 수행하여 연료봉 진동과 불안정성 발생 여부를 확인하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 새로 개발된 고리 2호기용 형 개량핵연료 집합체에 대한 연료봉의 진동 및 안정성 해석을 수행하여 지지격자 높이와 위치, 그리고 지지조건 등이 연료봉의 진동특성 및 안정성에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다 그리고 해석결과에 근거하여 개량연료 집합체에서 중간지지격자 높이와 각 지지격자의 위치를 제안하였다.

핵연료집합체 검증 프로그램의 일환으로 본 연구에서는 지진과 배과파단이 핵연료집합체의 건선성에 미치는 영향을 검토하였다 원자로 노심의 상세 동적해석을 이용하여 지진 및 배과파단시 핵연료 집합체에 발생하는 전단력 굽힘 모우멘트 및 변위를 계산하였고 또한 집합체를 지지하고 있는 지지격자체의 충격력을 검토하였다 이들 하중에 대한 핵연료집합체의 응력해석을 수행하여 사고조건하에서의 구조적 건전성에 대하여 언급하였고 추후 설계시 고려할 사항을 제시하였다.

본 논문에서는 MDO기법에 의한 핵연료교환장치의 구조해석 단계 중 핵연료교환장치의 휨 변형을 구하는 재료역학해석을 수행하였다. 이는 액체 금속로(LMR) 핵연료교환장치의 기본설계를 위하여 매우 중요하다. 해석대상 핵연료교환장치의 정적구조는 기 수행한 핵연료교환장치의 기구 동역 학 해석 결과를 활용하였다. 네 가지 핵연료교환동작에 대하여 핵연료 봉의 무게를 100㎏에서 500㎏까지 100㎏씩 증가시켜 휨 변형의 크기를 구하였다. 그 결과 회전 중심 축에서 가장 멀리 있는 핵연료 봉을 교환하는 핵연료교환동작에서 최대 휨 변형이 발생함이 밝혀졌다. 또한 이 최대 휨 변형이 발생하는 핵연료교환장치구조에 대하여 부재의 단면두께를 축소하면서, 또 단면형상을 여러 가지로 바꾸면서 휨 변형크기를 구하여 비교하였다. 비교결과 비교대상 단면형상 중에서 중공직사각형 단면이 최소 휨 변형이 발생하는 최적단면형상임이 밝혀졌다.

액체 금속로(LMIR) 핵연료교환장치의 기본설계를 위해서는 여러 분야(예를 들면, 기구학, 동역 학, 재료역학 등)의 해석을 동시에 수행해야 한다. 그러나 이와 같은 해석들은 각각 별개로 연속적으로 수행되는 것이 아니라, 상호 유기적인 연관을 갖고 수행되어야 한다. 이와 같은 해석에 적합한 기법이 MDO 기법이다. 본 논문에서는 MDO기법에 의한 핵연료교환장치 구조해석의 한 단계로 핵연료교환장치의 기구 동역 학 해석을 수행하여 핵연료 교환장치 작동에 대한 기구운동학적 특성 및 동역학적 특성을 분석하였다. 분석결과 해석대상 핵연료교환장치는 예상한대로 원활하게 작동됨이 확인되었다. 아울러 이 분석 결과를 토대로 핵연료교환장치의 정적 휨 변형을 구하기 위한 재료역학해석에서 요구되는 정적구조를 결정하였다.

Noble metal phase, present in used fuel, are fission products that can be found as metallic precipitates in used nuclear fuel. They exist as small particles (nm~um) in grain boundaries of the used fuels. Since they are particles deposited between the grain structures, they can be considered as defects in the pellet structure. Thermal expansion of fuels with noble metal is slightly higher than that of bare fuels. The fuels at high temperature, such as immediately after being discharged from nuclear reactors, may be subject to fuel failure if sufficient cooling is not provided. Recent research has shown that the noble metals can migrate into the rim space between the pellet and the cladding, and be deposited in the inner layer of the claddings. therefore, the mechanical integrity of the cladding can be degraded by noble metals, as well as the pellets. The concentration of the noble metal phase should be considered to evaluate the effect of the noble metals on the fuel integrity, after discharge from the reactors. SCALE/ORIGEN code was used to evaluate the noble metals in fuel assembly-scale, and the radial distribution in the fuel assembly. The radial distribution of the reactor power was derived from the SCALE/TRITON, considering Westinghouse 17×17. Square cell model was chosen for the geometry and 1/4 model was applied to reduce the computation time.

A comparison and validation between the analysis and vibration test data of a nuclear fuel assembly were conducted. During the comparison and validation process, various parameters that govern the vibration behavior of the fuel assembly were determined, including nuclear fuel rod’s stiffness, spring constants of the dimple and spring of support structures, and damping coefficients. The calibration of the vibration analysis model aimed to find analysis parameters that can accurately simulate the vibration behavior of the test data. For calibration, power spectral density (PSD) diagrams were generated for both the measured signals from the test and the calculated signals from the analysis. The correlation coefficient between these two PSD plots was calculated. To find the analysis parameters, each parameter was defined as a variable with an appropriate range. Latin hypercube sampling was used to generate multiple sample points in the variable space. Analysis was performed for the generated sample points, and PSD plot correlation coefficients were calculated. Using the generated sample points and their corresponding results, a Gaussian Process Regression model was implemented for PSD plot correlation coefficients and the maximum PSD value. Based on the constructed surrogate model, the optimal analysis parameters were easily found without additional computations. Through this method, it was confirmed that the analysis model using the optimal parametes appropriately simulates the vibration behavior of the test.

Nuclear fuel assemblies are exposed to high temperature and high pressure environments underwater for long periods of time in a reactor, leading to deterioration of the assembly structure. These assembly consists of fuel rods, grids, a top nozzle, a bottom nozzle and guide tubes. In particular, the integrity of the guide tube made of Zircaloy-4 is a very important part in handling the assembly. In the Post Irradiation Examination Facility (PIEF), there are 14×14 Westinghouse STD assemblies that have lost their handleability due to the top nozzle being removed for damaged fuel rod test. To handle these assemblies, it is reasonable to use cut guide tubes whenever possible. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the irradiation embrittlement state of the guide tube before designing or manufacturing parts that can connect the top nozzle and the guide tubes. Therefore, in this paper, the location for installing the top nozzle-guide tube connection parts was selected in the height range of 3,460 to 3,713 mm, and guide tube specimens were made within that range. Offset strain was derived from the load-displacement curve obtained through compression testing to confirm whether the ductility of guide tubes was maintained. As a result, there was no significant difference in strength and ductility of the guide tube within the above length range. In addition, it was confirmed that the ductility was maintained enough to install the top nozzle-guide tube connection parts. Therefore, it is judged that there will be no problem even if the top nozzle-guide tube connection parts are installed in the guide tube to restore the handleability of the assemblies.

Post Irradiation Examination Facility (PIEF) is a test facility for nuclear fuel research and development and performance evaluation. From the past to the present, assemblies and fuel rods have been transported from nuclear power plants (NPP) several times, and various destructive and non-destructive tests have been performed. Among these, in the case of the 14×14 Westinghouse STD assemblies that are transported as a whole assembly, the top nozzle is connected to the guide tube by welding. Therefore, the fuel rods could not be removed from the assembly at the NPP, so the assemblies were transported to PIEF as is. Then, after cutting between the top nozzle and the guide tube in the pool, and the fuel rods were extracted and tested. In order to transport the assembly in the future, it is necessary to maintain stability by inserting the dummy rod into the unit cell from which the fuel rod is extracted. However, since the length of the dummy rod is almost 4 m and the diameter is about 10 mm, the dummy rod often bends while passing through the dimple spring of the grid. Additionally, when dummy rods are inserted into unit cells that are continuously empty after the fuel rods are extracted, there may be cases where the dummy rods are not inserted into the desired unit cell but are bent and incorrectly inserted into the next unit cell. The moment the dummy rods are inserted into the dimple spring of grid, a load is applied to the dummy rod due to the tension of the spring. If it can be inserted while offsetting the load, the work can be performed more smoothly. Accordingly, an underwater handling tool was developed that can be inserted while offsetting the tension of the spring. Using this handling tool applies a load to the dummy rod and rotates the dummy rod itself, offsetting the tension of the spring and allowing the dummy rod to be inserted without bending. This handling tool is equipped with a shock absorbing device to protect the dummy rod and spring, and a module to rotate the dummy rod. As a result of inserting the dummy rod using the developed handling tool, it was possible to easily insert the dummy rod into unit cells that were previously impossible to insert.

Various types of spent fuel assembly in nuclear power plants have been transported to a post irradiation examination facility (PIEF) in KAERI to examine the mechanical and chemical properties of fuel and cladding. Once the fuel assembly arrive at PIEF, it is dismantled in a pool area to extract the fuel rods. Dismantling of the fuel assembly is performed by cutting the top nozzle. Currently, couple of dismantled assemblies have been stored in a storage pool without the top nozzle in PIEF. These assemblies cannot be handled directly using a gantry crane in the pool, and thus are contained in a special basket to handle. In this research, we developed a restoration method for a dismantled spent fuel assembly, especially for 16×16 Korea Optimized Fuel Assembly (KOFA). After reviewing the original design document and reports of KOFA, two tools are devised; an assembly tool and a tightening tool for a bolt. Since the top nozzle and dismantled KOFA can be re-assembled using a bolt, we follow the original design, size, and materials of the previously used bolt. The bolt to restore the top nozzle of KOFA is made of 321 stainless steel and has a design that fits the guideline of DIN 13-21 international standard. Our procedure can potentially be used to restore and repair the dismantled spent fuel assembly.

The thermal integrity of spent nuclear fuels has to be maintained during their long-term dry storage. The detailed temperature distributions of spent fuel assemblies are essential for evaluating the integrity of their dry storage systems. In this study, a subchannel analysis model was developed for a canister of a single fuel assembly using the COBRA-SFS code. The thermal parameters affecting the peak cladding temperature (PCT) of the spent fuel assembly were identified, and sensitivity analyses were performed based on these parameters. The subchannel analysis results indicated the presence of a recirculation flow, based on natural convection, between the fuel assembly and downcomer region. The sensitivity analysis of the thermal parameters indicated that the PCT was affected by the emissivity of the fuel cladding and basket, convective heat transfer coefficient, and thermal conductivity of the fluid. However, the effects of the wall friction factor of the canister, form loss coefficient of the grid spacers, and thermal conductivities of the solid materials, on the PCT were predominantly ignored.

To ensure radiological safety margin in the transport and storage of spent nuclear fuel, it is crucial to perform source term and shielding analyses in advance from the perspective of conservation. When performing source term analysis on UO2 fuel, which is mostly used in commercial nuclear power plants, uranium and oxygen are basically considered to be the initial materials of the new fuel. However, the presence of impurities in the fuel and structural materials of the fuel assembly may influence the source term and shielding analyses. The impurities could be radioactive materials or the stable materials that are activated by irradiation during reactor power operation. As measuring the impurity concentration levels in the fuel and structural materials can be challenging, publicly available information on impurity concentration levels is used as a reference in this evaluation. To assess the effect of impurities, the results of the source term and shielding analyses were compared depending on whether the assumed impurity concentration is considered. For the shielding analysis, generic cask design data developed by KEPCO-E&C was utilized.