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
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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
Dec 2024
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
January 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Christmas Night
Twas the night before Christmas when all through the houseNo electrons were flowing through even my mouse.
All devices were plugged in by the chimney with careWith the hope that St. Nikola Tesla would share.
J. D. Galambos, D. J. Strickler, Y-K. M. Peng, R. L. Reid
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 483-488
Plasma Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39746
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Trade studies are performed to determine the optimum plasma elongation for a next-step tokamak such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. Degradations of the plasma beta limit for high elongations and poloidal field coil scaling with elongation are included in the analysis. When plasma ignition is required using confinement scalings that include direct plasma current or power degradation terms, the optimum elongation is between 2.5 and 2.9, but generally the minimum-cost curve is relatively flat for elongations over 2.3. When confinement scalings that depend only on size are used or when only current drive performance is required, the optimum elongation is near 2.3. Also, when only a plasma current and neutron wall load are used as plasma performance limits, the optimum elongation is between 2.6 and 2.8, but with small cost benefits above elongations of 2.3.