The world is focusing on Korea. Korean technologies are spreading throughout the world. A rich world created by nuclear power. The future of energy technology and Korea - Korea Nuclear Fuel !
Welcome to KNF!
Korea suffers from a lack of energy resources and is currently importing 97% of its energy resources.
Having gone through two oil shocks in the 70’s, the government recognized the importance of energy when it selected nuclear power as the key energy resource during the 1970’s and is now securing energy sources to meet with the rapid economic growth and demands for electricity.
The government imported their nuclear fuel at the early stages of operating nuclear power plants, and founded the KNF to domesticate and provide nuclear energy.
KNF which was founded as a subsidiary company of KEPCO in 1982, is currently performing uranium re-conversions, nuclear fuel and core design, producing nuclear fuel for PWR and PHWR as well as fuel and engineering services.
Production and Supply of Nuclear Fuel
In 1987, KNF established the plant1, capable of producing 200 tons of PWR nuclear fuel a year. It began production in 1989 and supplied nuclear fuel to power plants in Korea.
In 1997, it constructed manufacturing facilities with an annual production capacity of 200 tons for PWR and 400 tons for PHWR. respectively, and has been supplying nuclear fuel for both PWR and PHWR.
The Nuclear Power Plants in Korea
In Korea, there are 16 PWR nuclear power plants and 4 PHWR nuclear power plants, KNF is supplying all the nuclear fuel consumed by these facilities. There are also 6 more PWR plants under construction or in the planning stage. KNF will supply the nuclear fuel for these facilities as well.
Core Design and Safety Analysis
KNF is exclusively performing the core design for the 16 PWR nuclear power plants in Korea. Thanks to continually evolving technology, KNF is helping to improve the performance and economic efficiency KNF is also performing the reactor core design and safety analysis for the safe and economic operation of PWRs, as well as for the construction of PWRs
R&D Activities
As a result of its valuable experience, KNF has developed two types of advanced nuclear fuel with large improvements from conventional fuel in 2002 and 2004. PLUS7 for OPR1000 and APR1400 plants has been being commercially supplied since 2006 and ACE7 for WH type plants has been supplied since 2008. KNF provides a variety of value-added engineering services and technology offering. KNF has performed reactor core design and safety analysis for 16 PWR power plants in Korea. KNF provides nuclear fuel services to improve the safety of power plants, shorten the refueling outages and reduce radiation exposure. Major fuel service areas are the coolant activity analysis, the visual inspection of fuel during refueling outages, the repair of the leaking or damaged fuel assemblies, the poolside examination of fuel assemblies, etc. KNF ensures the quality of nuclear fuel through a comprehensive Quality Assurance Program which complies with national and international quality assurance requirements as specified in Korea Atomic Energy Law, ISO 9001:2000 and International Atomic Energy Agency Standards.
International Collaborations and Overseas Exports
By enhancing cooperation with the world’s leading nuclear fuel companies such as Westinghouse, Areva, GE Canada, NFI, Conuar S.A. , INB, and YFP-NPIC, KNF has been promoting nuclear-fuel-related technology and information exchanges. It has also been exporting the essential components of PWR and PHWR nuclear fuel to the United States, Canada and Brazil and performing engineering participation for Westinghouse. KNF also plans to promote overseas exports of UO2 powder, production facilities, engineering and nuclear fuel services, tubes and completed nuclear fuel products.
Epilogue
Electricity is the driving force of a nation’s growth and development. Nuclear power is an economical energy source that can be self-sufficed with the right technology, and will illuminate a light of peace throughout the global village. A clean and beautiful world made possible by nuclear fuel Based on our experience and technological advances over the years, KNF will stand by you all the time and open the doorway to a prominent future. KNF will be there where you need them.