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.
Division Spotlight
Thermal Hydraulics
The division provides a forum for focused technical dialogue on thermal hydraulic technology in the nuclear industry. Specifically, this will include heat transfer and fluid mechanics involved in the utilization of nuclear energy. It is intended to attract the highest quality of theoretical and experimental work to ANS, including research on basic phenomena and application to nuclear system design.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
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 2024
Jan 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Vogtle-3 shuts down for valve issue
One of the new Vogtle units in Georgia was shut down unexpectedly on Monday last week for a valve issue that has since been investigated and repaired. According to multiple local news outlets, Georgia Power reported on July 17 that Unit 3 was back in service.
Southern Company spokesperson Jacob Hawkins confirmed that Vogtle-3 went off line at 9:25 p.m. local time on July 8 “due to lowering water levels in the steam generators caused by a valve issue on one of the three main feedwater pumps.”
Marc A. Firestone, Jonathan W. Morrow-Jones, Tak Kuen Mau
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 32 | Number 3 | November 1997 | Pages 390-403
Technical Paper | Plasma Control Issues for Tokamaks | doi.org/10.13182/FST97-A3
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Results for the first simulated comprehensive feedback control study for a tokamak operating in the fusion regime are presented. A standard Burning Plasma Experiment (BPX) design is the simulated reactor, but the results apply to any tokamak. Feedback gains are derived for specific classes of dynamic models and control objectives using model-based optimal control. An integrated control approach treats both kinetic and electromagnetic parameters and radial profiles. The control actuators include poloidal field coils, fast-wave and lower-hybrid current drive and heating sources, and pellet fuel injectors. Results show that the strongly coupled plasma parameters provide unintended secondary responses to controller inputs. In particular, attempts to modify the q-profile greatly affect the temperature and density profiles when the transport model incorporates International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) scaling. The hot, highly conductive plasma and poor source penetration in the nominal BPX discharge make the central q-values difficult to regulate. Fusion events also complicate the control efforts. Further, simple plasma circuit models are inadequate to account for a significantly evolving current profile. Proper understanding and use of integrated, model-based feedback control will avoid these pitfalls.