Modeling CRUD Behaviors and Plant Coolant Chemistry in PWR
The move toward higher burnup fuels and the introduction of SMRs are creating new challenges for coolant chemistry, surface deposition, and purification performance in water-cooled systems.​
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In PWRs, higher burnup and power uprates promote the formation of CRUD deposits on fuel rods, leading to issues such as CIPS and CILC. Accurately predicting CRUD formation requires coupling transport phenomena, surface chemistry, and evolving coolant conditions, which become even more complex with changes such as zinc injection, LiOH–KOH transition, and Cr-coated ATF cladding.​
At the same time, SMRs like Korea’s i-SMR impose strict size constraints on purification systems. The compact chemistry control and coolant purification systems must operate at ~150 bar and 50–70 °C without pressure-relief stages, relying on small ion-exchange units to control coolant chemistry. These conditions raise critical questions about the integrity and adsorption performance of nuclear-grade resins under high-pressure, high-temperature operation.​​
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Research Topics
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Multi-physics high-fidelity modeling of CRUD growth, boron chemistry, and localized corrosion
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Postdoctoral researchers:
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Graduate Students: Dongmin Kim, Hiring
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Interns: Hiring​
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Ion exchange resins and purification for SMR coolants under high pressure and elevated temperature
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Postdoctoral researchers: Stuart Aberdeen
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Graduate Students: Wook-Jin Yeo, Jungdae Choi (KEPCO E&C)
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Interns: Yongjoon Lee
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Sponsors: KHNP, KOFONS, KETEP
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Collaborating Partners:
Soonchunhyang University, FNC Technology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, KEPCO Engineering & Construction