Analysis of Recent Patent Trend of Vitrification Technology for D&D

In Korea, KHNP has developed the vitrification technology and plans to export the technology to USA, Japan, etc. with much preliminary R&D achievements as well as to adopt it in D&D project towards Kori #1. For the expanding of acceptability of vitrification technology, this paper shows the recent patent trend and presents useful acceptability of the technologies registrated as patent towards D&D project targeting Kori #1 LLW whose decommissioning is expected to start in 2022. 50 patents are registrated by 13 entities for vitrification technology. Especially KHNP, the owner of Kori #1, whose decommissioning is expected in 2022 after the approval of termination plan by KINS, has much registrated the patents and achieved the technology development for vitrification acceptability towards D&D projects. KHNP's technology is approved as the most useful vitrification technology towards D&D projects for LLW, so it is necessary to merge patent technologies around KHNP's technology if necessary. And KHNP's efforts to help the patent registration companies is also required before the start of Kori #1 decommissioning. Based on the experience and upgrade through vitrification technology application at Kori #1 in near future, the patent registration companies around KHNP are expected to enter the world D&D market easily and efficiently with the sole and unique vitrification technology toward LLW generated at D&D sites.50 patents are registrated by 13 entities for vitrification technology. Especially KHNP, the owner of Kori #1, whose decommissioning is expected in 2022 after the approval of termination plan by KINS, has much registrated the patents and achieved the technology development for vitrification acceptability towards D&D projects. And the other companies which want to participate in D&D also contribute the vitrification technology development so far. 50 patents registrated in KIPRIS can contribute to D&D project towards Kori #1 if the characteristics LLW at Kori #1 is clarified and investigated and the merits of each vitrification technology is appealed during the decommissioning of Kori #1.