Fukushima No More

A research team led by professor Bang In-cheol at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (left) hold a trophy after receiving the Best Paper Award at NURETH-16 on Sept. 2 (local time).
A research team led by professor Bang In-cheol at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (left) hold a trophy after receiving the Best Paper Award at NURETH-16 on Sept. 2 (local time).

 

A safety device that can prevent another Fukushima nuclear disaster has been suggested. It is a hybrid control rod to halt and cool a nuclear power plant in the event of an accident. 

According to Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology on Sept. 8, one of its research teams headed by Bang In-cheol, professor of the School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, received the Best Paper Award and the Best Student Paper Award at the 16th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-16) in Chicago, the U.S. on Sept. 2 (local time). Hosted every other year by the Chicago Local Section of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), the event is the most prestigious academic conference in the thermal hydraulic power area.

The Fukushima nuclear accident occurred in 2011, as the supply of electrical power to the Fukushima nuclear power plant was suddenly stopped by a powerful earthquake and tsunami. At that time, the safety system worked and so the operation of three reactors at the nuclear power plant successfully halted. However, a lack of sufficient cooling led to the meltdown of the reactor core and the release of radioactive materials some time afterwards. 

After the disaster, studies have been conducted to find ways to cool nuclear power plants in case of a power outage. Bang In-cheol's work is one of these.

Copyright © BusinessKorea. Prohibited from unauthorized reproduction and redistribution