Patents by Inventor Cheon-Woo Kim

Cheon-Woo Kim has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11456084
    Abstract: A device for removing shielding balls from calandria of a heavy water reactor is provided. The device includes a head for moving the shielding balls positioned inside of an end shield of the calandria to an outside of the end shield; and a mover for moving the head to the end shield of the calandria. The head includes a head body, an opening former installed on the head body and configured to form an opening in the end shield, and a gate installed on the head body and configured to control an amount of the shielding balls discharged to the outside through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Hwan Hwang, Seok-Ju Hwang, Mi-Hyun Lee, Cheon-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 11417436
    Abstract: An apparatus for decommissioning heavy-water reactor facilities includes a shielding device including a drawing-out space that is mounted on the reactivity mechanism deck and communicates with one through-hole among the plurality of through-holes, a separating device that is inserted into the inside of one of the plurality of guide tubes through the drawing-out space and the one through-hole and cuts an end portion of the one guide tube connected to the calandria, and a drawing-out device that is inserted into the inside of the one guide tube through the drawing-out space and the one through-hole and supports the end portion of the one guide tube to draw out the one guide tube into the inside of the drawing-out space through the one through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok-Ju Hwang, Young Hwan Hwang, Sung-Hoon Hong, Cheon-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 11391516
    Abstract: A metal oxide barrier and a connecting method for solving the problems in which sectors of an existing cold crucible are connected by means of a mica plate and the mica plate is damaged due to arcing and the like and in which the sectors are strongly connected by means of the mica plate and thus are difficult to replace and maintain. A cold crucible, comprising a metal oxide barrier, according to the present invention can prevent arcing, enables reduction of damage on the edge part of a water cooling sector due to a molten material and thus enhances durability. Moreover, the metal oxide barrier can easily be replaced compared to an existing mica plate and thus enables easy maintenance and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD
    Inventors: Young Hwan Hwang, Seok Ju Hwang, Cheon Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20220165440
    Abstract: A method for decommissioning a nuclear facility includes: floating the nuclear reactor pressure vessel above the cavity; rotating the reactor pressure vessel so that the upper portion of the nuclear reactor pressure vessel is closer to the bio-protective concrete than the lower portion; mounting the upper portion of the nuclear reactor pressure vessel on the neighboring upper surface of the bio-protective concrete; and cutting and decommissioning the nuclear reactor pressure vessel mounted on the neighboring upper surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Young Hwan HWANG, Seok-Ju HWANG, Mi-Hyun LEE, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Publication number: 20220165439
    Abstract: A method for complex-decommissioning a nuclear facility is disclosed. The method for complex-decommissioning the nuclear facility includes: cutting and expanding an inner wall of the cavity; installing a cutting device that cuts and decommissions the nuclear reactor pressure vessel inside the cavity; fixing the nuclear reactor pressure vessel inside the cavity by using a fixture; and cutting and decommissioning the nuclear reactor pressure vessel fixed inside the cavity by using a cutting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Young Hwan HWANG, Seok-Ju HWANG, Ju-Young YOON, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Patent number: 11342087
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor decommissioning system according to an embodiment includes a cutting device to cut a reactor, a lifting device inserted inside the reactor to lift the reactor, and a shielding device that is positioned between the reactor and the lifting device and blocks radioactive dust generated by the cutting device from spreading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Hwan Hwang, Mi-Hyun Lee, Ju-Young Yoon, Cheon-Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20220148749
    Abstract: A safety cover structure of a nuclear facility is disclosed. The safety cover structure of a nuclear facility includes: a cover portion rotatably provided over body protection concrete so as to cover a cavity in which a reactor pressure container is positioned; a driving part for providing rotational driving power to the cover part; an opening and closing portion provided at the cover portion and thus products from the cutting and dismantling of the reactor pressure contain move therethrough; a fire extinguishing portion for extinguishing a fire occurring inside the cover portion; a radiation sensor which is provided on the cover portion and which measures radiation dose; and an alarming portion, which receives a sensing signal of the radiation sensor so as to issue an alert when radiation greater than or equal to a predetermined value is discharged from the reactor pressure container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Young Hwan HWANG, Seok-Ju HWANG, Mi-Hyun LEE, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Publication number: 20220148748
    Abstract: A method for decommissioning a heavy water reactor facility includes: opening an upper part of the calandria vault; inserting a support device into an inner part of the calandria vault through the upper part of the calandria vault to support the main shell of the calandria; cutting between the main shell and the sub-shell of the calandria by inserting a cutting device into the inner part of the calandria vault through the upper part of the calandria vault; and drawing out the main shell of the calandria to the outside of the calandria vault by moving the support device from the inner part of the calandria vault to the outside through the upper part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Seok-Ju HWANG, Young Hwan HWANG, Mi-Hyun LEE, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Publication number: 20220139583
    Abstract: An underwater decommissioning method of a nuclear facility is disclosed. An underwater decommissioning method of a nuclear facility that includes a nuclear reactor pressure vessel and bio-protective concrete including a cavity in which the nuclear reactor pressure vessel is positioned, includes: (a) floating the nuclear reactor pressure vessel above the cavity; (b) forming an insertion part filled with water in a side spaced apart from the cavity, and installing a support part on a bottom surface of the insertion part; (c) mounting a lower portion of the nuclear reactor pressure vessel on the support part; and (d) repeatedly cutting and decommissioning the nuclear reactor pressure vessel mounted on the support part by using a cutting device in an underwater position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Ju-Young YOON, Young Hwan HWANG, Mi-Hyun LEE, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Publication number: 20220130563
    Abstract: A radioactive structure dismantling method of a heavy water reactor facility that includes a calandria including a main shell and a sub shell, a calandria vault that receives the calandria therein, and a cover assembly that covers the calandria according to an embodiment, includes: preparing dismantling of the calandria; dismantling a reactor pipe installed in the calandria; dismantling the cover assembly that covers the calandria; dismantling the calandria; and dismantling the calandria vault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Seok-Ju HWANG, Young Hwan HWANG, Ju-Young YOON, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Patent number: 11306017
    Abstract: A device for forming a molten solidified body by receiving a molten material discharged from a vitrification device or the like on a lower mold, and a method for forming a molten solidified body and, particularly, to a mold supporting device for forming a uniform molten solidified body such that a height deviation on a mold of a dropping molten material is reduced by providing movement to the mold, and a method for forming an uniform molten solidified body. The mold supporting device and the method for forming a uniform molten solidified body to prevent the formation of a high columnar shape at a specific position by the molten effluent not being uniformly contained in the mold due to the high viscosity thereof, thereby forming a uniform solidified body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co.; LTD
    Inventors: Young Hwan Hwang, Seok Ju Hwang, Cheon Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20220108810
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for dismantling for heavy water reactor facilities, including: a cutting device configured to divide a calandria of the heavy water reactor facilities into a main shell and a sub-shell; and a transfer device configured to draw the main shell cut by the cutting device to the outside, wherein the transfer device includes a fixing unit configured to fix the calandria; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the fixing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Seok-Ju HWANG, Young Hwan HWANG, Sung-Hoon HONG, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Publication number: 20220068514
    Abstract: A heavy-water reactor facility dismantling apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a first cutting device for cutting the periphery of a first nozzle portion of a calandria, wherein the first nozzle portion is connected to the upper end of a first pipe positioned in the calandria of a heavy-water reactor facility; a second cutting device for cutting a first support part of the calandria, wherein the first support portion is connected to the lower end of the first pipe connected to the first nozzle portion; and a fixing and drawing device for fixing and drawing the first nozzle portion cut by the first cutting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Seok-Ju HWANG, Young Hwan HWANG, Ju-Young YOON, Cheon-Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20220068515
    Abstract: An exposure prevention device for dismantling a heavy water reactor facility according to an embodiment includes: a shielding film that covers a front surface and a rear surface of a heavy water facility including a calandria and a calandria vault that accommodates the calandria; a plurality of radiation measuring instruments installed in the shielding film; and a motion detector installed in the shielding film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Seok-Ju HWANG, Young Hwan HWANG, Ju-Young YOON, Cheon-Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20220044832
    Abstract: A method for decommissioning a nuclear facility includes: floating a nuclear reactor pressure vessel above a cavity; positioning a mounting device on bio-protective concrete to cover the cavity with the mounting device; mounting a lower portion of the nuclear reactor pressure vessel on the mounting device; and cutting and decommissioning the nuclear reactor pressure vessel mounted on the mounting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Young Hwan HWANG, Seok-Ju HWANG, Mi-Hyun Lee, Cheon-Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20220037044
    Abstract: A device for separating a shielding slab for a heavy water reactor according to an embodiment includes: a body; a circular rail installed on at least one side of the body; and a decommissioner for decommissioning a shielding slab installed on the circular rail and installed on an inner wall of a heavy water reactor, wherein the decommissioner includes a decommission head moving on the circular rail, a separator installed in the decommission head and separating and desalinizing the shielding slab, and a gripper installed in the decommission head and gripping the separated shielding slab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Young Hwan HWANG, Seok-Ju HWANG, Ju-Young YOON, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Publication number: 20210350944
    Abstract: A device for capturing a shielding ball for a heavy water reactor according to an embodiment includes: a head for separating a shielding ball positioned inside an end shield of a calandria of a heavy water reactor to an outside; and a mover for moving the head to the end shield of the calandria, wherein the head includes a head body, an opening former installed on the head body and forming an opening in the end shield, and a gate installed on the head body and controlling an amount of movement of the shielding ball discharged to the outside through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Young Hwan HWANG, Seok-Ju HWANG, Mi Hyun LEE, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Publication number: 20210319923
    Abstract: A method for decommissioning a heavy water reactor facility includes: removing the plurality of guide tubes from a plurality of through-holes; installing a plurality of shielding stoppers in the plurality of through-holes; removing the shielding stopper installed in one through-hole of the plurality of through-holes, and inserting a cutting device into a lower portion of the reactivity mechanism deck through the one through-hole to cut a connection portion between the reactivity mechanism deck and the calandria vault by using the cutting device; and separating the reactivity mechanism deck from the calandria vault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Seok-Ju HWANG, Young Hwan HWANG, Hang-Rae CHO, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Publication number: 20210287816
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating waste of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel includes: a suction unit inserted into the nuclear reactor pressure vessel through a plurality of through-pipes passing through a lower portion of the nuclear reactor pressure vessel to suck waste inside the nuclear reactor pressure vessel; a waste treatment part connected to the suction unit to treat the waste; and a lower collection part connected to the waste treatment part to be positioned under the nuclear reactor pressure vessel with the suction unit therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Young Hwan HWANG, Mi-Hyun LEE, Seok-Ju HWANG, Cheon-Woo KIM
  • Publication number: 20210287817
    Abstract: An apparatus for decommissioning heavy-water reactor facilities includes a shielding device including a drawing-out space that is mounted on the reactivity mechanism deck and communicates with one through-hole among the plurality of through-holes, a separating device that is inserted into the inside of one of the plurality of guide tubes through the drawing-out space and the one through-hole and cuts an end portion of the one guide tube connected to the calandria, and a drawing-out device that is inserted into the inside of the one guide tube through the drawing-out space and the one through-hole and supports the end portion of the one guide tube to draw out the one guide tube into the inside of the drawing-out space through the one through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Seok-Ju HWANG, Young Hwan HWANG, Sung-Hoon HONG, Cheon-Woo KIM