ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
August 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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.
Yu. Igitkhanov, B. Bazylev, I. Landman
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 62 | Number 1 | July-August 2012 | Pages 34-38
PFC and FW Materials Issues | Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Conference on Fusion Reactor Materials, Part A: Fusion Technology | doi.org/10.13182/FST12-A14108
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The thermal performance of the first wall (FW) monoblock module, made from carbon fiber composite (CFC) or tungsten alloy with a castellated plasma phasing surface, was analyzed for runaway electron (RE) impact under reactor conditions. A water cooling system with Cu pipes embedded into the module is used. Calculations demonstrate that, in ITER, for an expected RE pulse duration [approximately]0.1sec and deposition energy of [approximately]30MJ/m2 , the heat generation in a W monoblock occurs within a thin surface layer ([approximately]10m) which, however, does not melt. In the CFC case, heat generation occurs deep in the bulk ([approximately]1000m), but CFC does not experience brittle destruction. The intense X-ray radiation caused by runaways is strongly attenuated within a 10-mm-thick layer of W and does not pose any threat for the cooling system. For the CFC case, a small but significant heat generation caused by the RE can occur in the Cu pipe.