PURPOSES : The number of snowfall and the amount of snowfall are gradually increasing, and due to the characteristics of Seoul, which has a lot of traffic, it is difficult to respond quickly with a snow removal method that relies on snow removal vehicles. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an IoT based eco-friendly snow removal system that can respond to unexpected heavy snow in winter. In this study, the low temperature operation and snow removal performance of the IoT road condition snow removal detector and the snow removal system using CNT and PCM are evaluated in the climatic environment chamber. METHODS : To make artificial snow, it consists of an climatic environment chamber that can simulate a low temperature environment and equipment that can supply compressed air and cold water. Depending on the usage characteristics of the climatic environment chamber, use an air-water type snow maker. In order to make artificial snow, wet temperature, which takes into account the actual air temperature and the amount of moisture in the air, acts as the most important variable and is suitable for making snow, below –1.5 ℃. The lower the water temperature, the easier it is to freeze, so the water source was continuously supplied at 0 ℃ to 4 ℃. One of the two different pipes is connected to the water tank to supply water, and the other pipe is connected to the compressor to supply high-pressure air. Water is dispersed by compressed air in the form of many small droplets. The sprayed microscopic water particles freeze quickly in the low temperature environmental climatic chamber air and naturally fall to the floor, forming snow. Based on the KS C IEC 60068-2-1 cold resistance test standard, an integrated environmental test procedure was prepared to apply to IoT-based snow removal systems and performance evaluation was performed accordingly. The IoT based eco-friendly snow removal system is needed to in winter, so visual check and inspect the operation at the climatic chamber before setting up it to the actual site. In addition, grid type equipment was manufactured for consistent and reliable snow removal performance evaluation under controlled environmental conditions. RESULTS : The IoT-based eco-friendly snow removal system normally carried out the task of acquiring data and images without damaging the appearance or freezing in a low temperature environment. It showed clear snow removal performance in areas where PCM and CNT heating technology were applied to the concrete slab. This experiment shows that normal snow removal tasks can be carried out in low temperature environments in winter. CONCLUSIONS : The integrated environmental test procedures and grid type evaluation equipment are applied to low temperature operation and snow removal performance evaluation of snow removal systems. In the climatic environment chamber, where low temperature environments can be simulated, artificial snow is created regardless of the season to derive quantitative experimental results on snow removal performance. PCM and CNT heating technology showed high snow removal performance. The system is expected to be applied to road site situations to preemptively respond to unexpected heavy snow in winter.

Concrete is the primary building material for nuclear facilities, making it one of the most common forms of radioactive waste generated when decommissioning a nuclear facility. Of the total waste generated at the Connecticut Yankee and Maine Yankee nuclear power plants in the United States, concrete waste accounts for 83.5% of the total for Connecticut Yankee and 52% for Maine Yankee. In order to dispose of the low- to medium-level radioactive concrete waste generated during the decommissioning of nuclear power plants, it is necessary to analyze the radioactivity concentration of gamma nuclides such as Co-58, Co-60, Cs-137, and Ce-144. Gamma-ray spectroscopy is commonly used method to measure the radioactivity concentration of gamma nuclides in the radioactive waste; however, due to the nature of gamma detectors, gamma rays from sequentially decaying nuclides such as Co-60 or Y-88 are subject to True Coincidence Summing (TCS). TCS reduces the Full Energy Peak Efficiency (FEPE) of specific gamma ray and it can cause underestimation of radioactivity concentration. Therefor the TCS effect must be compensated for in order to accurately assess the radioactivity of the sample. In addition, samples with high density and large volume will experience a certain level of self-shielding effect of gamma rays, so this must also be compensated for. The Radioactive Waste Chemical Analysis Center at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute performs nuclide analysis for the final disposal of low- and intermediate-level concrete waste. Since a large number of samples must be analyzed within the facility, the analytical method must simultaneously satisfy accuracy and speed. In this study, we report on the results of evaluating the accuracy of the radioactivity concentration correction by applying an efficiency transfer method that appears to satisfy these requirements to concrete standard reference material.

As unit 1 of Kori was permanently shut down in June 2017, domestic nuclear industry has entered the path of decommissioning. The most important thing in decommissioning is cost reduction. And volume reduction of radioactive waste is especially important. According to the IAEA report, more than 4,000 tons of metallic waste is generated during the decommissioning of a 1,000 MWe reactor and most of these wastes are LLW or VLLW. To reduce amount of metallic waste dramatically, we should choose efficient decontamination method. In this study, we conducted dry ice and bead blasting decontamination. We prepared Inconel-600 and STS-304 specimen with dimensions of 30 mm × 30 mm × 5 mm. Loose and fixed contamination was applied on the surface of specimen using SIMCON method. Bead and dry-ice blasting was conducted by spraying alumina and dry ice pellet at the same pressure and distance for the same time. The removal of loose contamination was observed using microscope. It was found that contaminants are significantly removed using both dry ice blasting and bead blasting. However, some abrasive material remained on the surface of specimen. The removal of fixed contamination was verified by weight comparison before and after experiment and cobalt concentration comparison before and after experiment using X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscope (XRF). At least 90% of the cobalt was removed, but some abrasive particle was also remained on the surface of specimen. In this study, it is confirmed that the effectiveness of manufacturing a large-scale abrasive decontamination facility, and it is expected that this technology can be used to effectively reduce the amount of metallic waste generated during decommissioning.

Recently, the nuclear decommissioning and environmental restoration industries has significantly attracted as a new industry field due to the decision to decommission the KORI#1 and WOLSONG #1 nuclear power plant. In order to dispose of the decommissioning radioactive wastes generated during nuclear decommissioning, proper analysis is required, and disposal decisions are determined based on the analysis results. When dismantling a nuclear power plant, a few thousand of tons decommissioning waste are produced, so these require analysis for proper disposal. Therefore, a radionuclide facility for decommissioning waste analysis is essential for the disposal of the large quantities of decommissioning waste generated during nuclear power plant decommissioning. Korea Research Institute of Decommissioning (KRID) was established radionuclide analysis facilities to address above issues and support nuclear power plant decommissioning projects. The plan is to perform classification by type and radionuclide for all waste produced during nuclear power plant decommissioning and to support the disposal of radioactive wastes. In addition, we plan to establish validation methods for samples where verification methods are not established, in order to conduct efficient analysis and management. In this presentation, we will introduce the radionuclide facility currently under construction at KRID and present the space design, equipment layout, and utilization plans.

Every engineering decision in radioactive waste management should be based on both technical and economic considerations. Especially, the management of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) is more critical on economic concerns, due to its long-term and continuous nature, which emphasizes the importance of economic analysis. In this study, economic factors for LLW management were discussed with appropriate engineering applications. Two major factors that should be taken into account when assessing economic expectations are the accuracy of the results and its proper balancing with ALARA philosophy (As Low As Reasonably Achievable). The accuracy of the results depends on the correct application of alternatives within a realistic framework of waste processing. This is because the LLW management process involves variables such as component type, physical dimensions, and the monetary value at the processing date. Two commonly used alternatives are the simplified lump sum present worth and levelized annual cost methods, which are based on annual and capital costs. However, these discussions on alternatives not only pertain to the time series value of operational costs but also to future technical advancements, which are crucial for engineers. As new research results on LLW treatment emerge, proper consideration and adoption should be given to technical cost management. As safety is the core value of the entire nuclear industry, the ALARA philosophy should also be considered in the cost management of LLW. The typical cost of exposure in man-rem has ranged from $1,000 to $20,000 over the past decades. However, with increasing concerns about health and international political threats, the cost of man-rem should be subject to stricter criteria, even the balancing of costs and safety concerns is much controverse issue. Throughout the study, the importance of incorporating proper engineering insights into the assessment of technical value for the financial management of LLW was discussed. However, it’s essential to remember that financial management should not be solely assessed based on the size of expenses but rather by evaluating the current financial status, the value of money at the time, and anticipated future costs, considering the specific context and timeframe.

After the Fukushima disaster, overseas nuclear power plants have established conditions for issuing a red alert in the event of fuel damage within the spent fuel pool and they have already implemented conditions for issuing a blue alert when fuel is exposed above the water surface. In South Korean nuclear power plants, a real-time monitoring system is in place to oversee the exposure of spent fuel to the surface within the spent fuel pool. To achieve this, a water level indicator gauge is installed within the spent fuel pool, allowing for continuous real-time monitoring. This paper conducted a comparative assessment of radiation levels from water level monitoring system in two units’ spent fuel pools based on the low water levels (1 feet from the storage rack), utilizing the radiation analysis code (MCNP).

In the automotive information display device industry, products with high reliability and wide temperature conditions are required, and interest in products that do not cause lighting defects even under extremely low temperature conditions is increasing. In this experiment, we produced an LED backlight unit for car navigation in a cryogenic environment. And to make this backlight unit, we used 12 side-emitting white LEDs with 3[W] high power LEDs. This backlight unit emits up to 18,000[nits] at a power consumption of 36[W] and has a startup voltage time of less than 1[ms] at -50° ambient temperature.

Cars using diesel have always had problems with reducing exhaust fumes, and have been studied steadily in this regard. There were studies on the remanufacturing effect of DOC catalyst deactivated by diesel vehicle smoke reduction device, analysis of vehicle fire accident cases caused by damage to diesel vehicle smoke reduction device, and related studies on the remanufacturing effect of diesel vehicle smoke reduction device DPF. This study is also to develop an exhaust flow control unit suitable for an exhaust engine to completely burn smoke generated by an engine using a diesel engine in a low temperature exhaust gas. The main systems to be developed are high-performance heaters, burner structures that can maintain ignition in exhaust flows, and exhaust flow control units that reduce exhaust gas backflow effects caused by diesel engines.

ars using diesel have always had problems with reducing exhaust fumes, and have been studied steadily in this regard. There were studies on the remanufacturing effect of DOC catalyst deactivated by diesel vehicle smoke reduction device, analysis of vehicle fire accident cases caused by damage to diesel vehicle smoke reduction device, and related studies on the remanufacturing effect of diesel vehicle smoke reduction device DPF. This study also developed an optimized system for complete combustion of smoke generated by institutions using diesel engines in low-temperature exhaust gases. The main systems to be developed are high-performance heaters, burner structures that can maintain ignition in exhaust flows, and exhaust flow control units that reduce exhaust gas backflow effects caused by diesel engines.

High-strength low-alloy steel is one of the widely used materials in onshore and offshore plant engineering. We investigated the alloying effect of solute atoms in α-Fe based alloy using ab initio calculations. Empirical equations were used to establish the effect of alloying on the Vicker’s hardness, screw energy coefficient, and edge dislocation energy coefficient of the steel. Screw and edge energy coefficients were improved by the addition of V and Cr solute atoms. In addition, the addition of trace quantities of V, Cr, and Mn enhanced abrasion resistance. Solute atoms and contents with excellent mechanical properties were selected and their thermal conductivity and thermal expansion behavior were investigated. The addition of Cr atom is expected to form alloys with low thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient. This study provides a better understanding of the state-of-the-art research in low-alloy steel and can be used to guide researchers to explore and develop α-Fe based alloys with improved properties, that can be fabricated in smart and cost-effective manners.

The effects of exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP, nitric oxide donor) on the growth, yield, photosynthetic characteristics, and antioxidant enzyme activity of kimchi cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis (Lour.) Hanelt) was studied under the low temperature conditions. Kimchi cabbages were treated with SNP of three concentrations (7.5, 15, 30 mg·L-1) for three times at four-day intervals and exposed to low temperature (16/7°C) stress for seven days. SNP treatment induced increases of net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intracellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and transpiration rate (Tr) under the stress condition with the highest level after the third treatment. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 were significantly lower in the treatment of SNP compared to the non-treated control. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), increased in treated plants by up to 38, 187, 24 and 175%, respectively compared to the non-treated control. SNP-treated and untreated plants had similar growth characteristics. Compared to the control group, SNP-treatment increased fresh weight and leaf area by 5%. Overall, our findings suggest that the application of sodium nitroprusside to the leaves contributes to reducing physiological damage and enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, thereby improving low temperature stress tolerance in kimchi cabbage.

To harvest marketable cucumbers, high quality seedlings must be used. Producing seedlings in the greenhouse during the low radiation period decreases marketability due to insufficient light for growth. Supplemental lighting with artificial light of different quality can be used to improve low light conditions and produce high quality seedlings. Therefore, this study was conducted to select the appropriate supplemental light sources on the growth and seedling quality of grafted cucumber seedlings during the low radiation period. Three cultivars of cucumber were used as scions for grafting; ‘NakWonSeongcheongjang’, ‘Sinsedae’, and ‘Goodmorning baekdadagi’. Figleaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia) ‘Heukjong’ was used as the rootstock. The seeds were sown on January 26, 2023, and grafted on February 9, 2023. After graft-taking, cucumbers in plug trays were treated with RB light-emitting diodes (LED, red and blue LED, red:blue = 8:2), W LED (white LED, R:G:B = 5:3:2), and HPS (high-pressure sodium lamp), respectively. Non-treatment was used as the control. Supplemental lighting was applied 2 hours before sunrise and 2 hours after sunset for 19 days. The stem diameter and fresh and dry weights of roots did not differ significantly by supplemental light sources. The plant height and hypocotyl length were decreased in W LED. However, the leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and fresh and dry weights of shoots were the highest in the RB LED. Seedling qualities such as crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, and compactness were also increased in RB LED and W LED. After transplanting, most of the growth was not significant, but early yield of cucumber was higher in LED than non-treatment. In conclusion, using RB LED, W LED for supplemental light source during low radiation period in grafted cucumber seedlings improved growth, seedling quality, and early yield of cucumber.

해양산업시설에서는 많은 종류의 유해물질의 배출 가능성이 존재하기 때문에 이에 대한 체계적인 대응체계가 필요하다. 그 중 연속자동 측정이 가능하면서 ppb 수준의 낮은 검출하한 (limit of detection:LOD)를 갖는 센서 구현은 매우 중요하다. 이를 위해 본 연구에서 는 활성탄소(carbon black)와 Indium tin oxide (ITO) 나노입자를 혼합한 film의 표면저항의 변화를 이용한 고성능 센서 제안 및 구현을 위해 성능인자를 최적화하였다. 센서 구조는 접촉 면적과 전극 간격을 최적화하였다. 접촉 면적이 증가하면 감도, LOD 성능이 향상되었으며 60 mm2에서 최적화되었다. 또한, 전극 간격은 접촉 면적을 일정하게 유지한 상태에서 변화시켰으며 센서 응답은 전극 간격이 감소함에 따라 증가하는 것을 확인하였다. 마지막으로 센서 표면에서의 유해물질의 잔류시간 증가를 위해 화학흡착제를 적용하였다. 화학흡착제는 유해 물질을 선택적으로 흡수할 수 있는 polyester계를 선택하였다. 그 결과 농도가 증가함에 따라 응답이 선형적으로 증가하여 센서로 활용이 가능한 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 3가지의 방법을 통해 센서를 제작하였을 때 액상 유해물질을 기존 센서의 LOD(89.9 ppb)와 비교 10~40 ppb 정도의 낮은 농도를 검출할 수 있는 센서를 구현하였다.

Although ethylformate and phosphine fumigants are widely used for pest quarantine, studies related to their mechanism of action and metabolic physiological changes in Drosophila models are still unclear. In this study, we investigated how key metabolites altered by fumigants and cold treatment are associated with and affect insect physiology by comparative metabolome analysis. Fumigant treatment significantly altered cytochrome P450 and glutathione metabolites involved in the detoxification mechanism and showed lower expression of PGF2α involved in the immune response compared to the control. Additionally, most of the metabolites functioned in metabolic pathways related to the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleotides and cofactors.