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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
Meeting Spotlight
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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!
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Latest News
TerraPower begins U.K. regulatory approval process
Seattle-based TerraPower signaled its interest this week in building its Natrium small modular reactor in the United Kingdom, the company announced.
TerraPower sent a letter to the U.K.’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, formally establishing its intention to enter the U.K. generic design assessment (GDA) process. This is TerraPower’s first step in deployment of its Natrium technology—a 345-MW sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage unit—on the international stage.
R. F. Bourque
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 1270-1274
Commercial Reactors, Economics and Power Conversion | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39864
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Cascade is an ICF reactor concept with a flowing ceramic granule blanket operating at high temperatures (≤ 1600K). For electical power conversion, we examined three options: (1) conventional Rankine cycle using steam, (2) closed cycle Brayton helium gas turbine, and (3) the Field cycle, which is a hybrid Brayton/Rankine cycle using steam. We found the Brayton cycle to be the most suitable choice. The reference cycle chosen has a peak turbine nozzle inlet temperature of 1300K and a net efficiency of 54.8%. Reheats are an unnecessary complication which, in this case, do not increase efficiency. On the other hand, intercoolers between compressor stages are beneficial. Most of the components can be heat-resisting metal alloy, with ceramics needed only in a limited number of high temperature components. The Field cycle has both elements of the Rankine and Brayton, performance is somewhere in between, and steam pressures are lower than Rankine. Temperatures are high, but low enough to use heat resisting alloys everywhere. It is discussed here because it may be of value in reactors with gas-cooled blankets.