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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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!
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
E.T. Cheng, D.K. Sze, J.A. Sommers, O.T. Farmer III
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 21 | Number 3 | May 1992 | Pages 2001-2008
Safety, Recycling, and Waste Management | doi.org/10.13182/FST92-A30015
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Materials recycling aspects including contact gamma dose rates and cooling times were investigated for the first wall, blanket, and shield components of future fusion power reactors. Candidate structural mate-rials studied include ferritic steel, vanadium alloy, and SiC ceramic material. Required cooling times to reach hands-on recycling and impurity levels at given cooling times were estimated for the blanket components made of the various candidate structural materials. The relationship between the specific activity limits of radioactive materials for shallow-land burial (U.S. 10CFR61 Class C) waste disposal and the corresponding contact dose rates was examined. Scenarios for waste material management of fusion reactor components were suggested considering the materials recycling and shallow-land waste disposal options. Achievable impurity levels in vanadium ingot and titanium crystal bar were reviewed, and compared to desired levels for hands-on recycling. Methods to improve the purity levels were discussed.
