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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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Deep Space: The new frontier of radiation controls
In commercial nuclear power, there has always been a deliberate tension between the regulator and the utility owner. The regulator fundamentally exists to protect the worker, and the utility, to make a profit. It is a win-win balance.
From the U.S. nuclear industry has emerged a brilliantly successful occupational nuclear safety record—largely the result of an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) process that has driven exposure rates down to what only a decade ago would have been considered unthinkable. In the U.S. nuclear industry, the system has accomplished an excellent, nearly seamless process that succeeds to the benefit of both employee and utility owner.
G. A. Cottrell, R. Pampin, N. P. Taylor
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 50 | Number 1 | July 2006 | Pages 89-98
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST06-A1224
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We present calculations of the transmutation of initially pure tungsten first-wall and divertor plasma-facing armor into W-Re-Os alloys in the European Union Power Plant Conceptual Study (PPCS) fusion plant models A, B, and AB. The fusion neutron spectrum was modeled using the MCNP Monte Carlo code including resonance self-shielding effects, and we have calculated the evolution of the W-Re-Os alloy compositions. Trajectories of the alloys in the thermodynamic phase diagram show that the alloys remain in the single body-centered-cubic phase for their service lifetimes. Results for PPCS models A and B with soft neutron spectra show that the first-wall armor transmutes to an end-of-service alloy composition of approximately 91 at.% tungsten, 6 at.% rhenium, and 3 at.% osmium at its rear face. On the plasma-facing side of the tungsten, the effect of neutron shielding is larger. For PPCS model AB, the neutron spectrum is energetically harder, resulting in significantly lower tungsten transmutation rates.