Korean visitors explore collaboration with NPRE faculty

3/30/2018 Susan Mumm

Written by Susan Mumm

Korean visitors explore collaboration with NPRE faculty

Scientists from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Argonne National Laboratory and Purdue University joined Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering faculty recently on the Urbana campus to discuss cooperation on nuclear reactor safety research and development.

Five Korean researchers joined their colleague, Dr. Chul-Hwa Song, who is working within NPRE this year as an Adjunct Research Professor and who helped organize the Workshop on Nuclear Reactor Safety held March 5. The Korean visitors were Dr. Ki-Yong Choi, Director of the KAERI Thermal Hydraulics & Severe Accident Research Division (THSARD); Dr. Kyung-Doo Kim, THSARD KAERI; Dr. Kyoung-Ho Kang, THSARD KAERI; Dr. Jae-Seok Heo, Senior Researcher THSARD KAERI; and Prof. Byong-Jo Yun of Pusan National University, South Korea.

Song said the workshop was intended “to exchange information on nuclear power safety research and development, mainly focusing on thermal hydraulic and severe accidents research and development, for establishing and practically launching the bilateral cooperation between THSARD and NPRE.”

Near term, the scientists from both sides plan to identify technical subjects of mutual interest by formally establishing a Memorandum of Agreement. Subjects could include the installation of thermal-hydraulic analysis tools that KAERI has been developing for more than a decade. Areas of interest also may include a nuclear plant simulator and CUPID computer code, a transient, three-dimensional analysis of a two-phase flow in light water nuclear reactor components.

Longer term, the collaborators from both sides hope to implement the cooperation and expand it to cover all areas of nuclear reactor safety, including risk assessment, nuclear instrumentation and control systems, and materials. Ideally, the collaboration could lead to partnerships on U.S. Department of Energy or Nuclear Regulatory Commission sponsored projects, and implementation of KAERI research products into education and training at NPRE.

The presentations given during the workshop were:

  • Introduction of KAERI Activity on Nuclear Safety Research – Dr. Ki-Yong Choi, Director of the THSARD KAERI;
  • System- and Component-scaled Code Development Program – Dr. Kyung-Doo Kim, THSARD KAERI
  • Thermal-Hydraulic Integral Effect Test of ATLAS Program – Dr. Kyoung-Ho Kang, THSARD KAERI
  • Fundamental Experimental Activity for TH Model Development – Prof. Byong-Jo Yun of Pusan National University, South Korea
  • Implementation of BEPU Method on Code V&V – Dr. Jae-Seok Heo, Senior Researcher THSARD KAERI
  • Research Overviews – NPRE Associate Prof. Tomasz Kozlowski and Assistant Profs. Caleb Brooks and Kathryn Huff
  • Advanced Computational Thermal-Hydraulic Research at Argonne National Laboratory: Nek5000 and SAM – Elia Merzari, Principal Nuclear Engineering, ANL Nuclear Engineering Division.

 

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This story was published March 30, 2018.