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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
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!
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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.”
G. H. Miley
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 20 | Number 4 | December 1991 | Pages 977-986
Advanced Energy Conversion/Storage and Exotic Concepts | doi.org/10.13182/FST91-A11946970
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The importance of direct energy conversion to the long-term development of nuclear power (both fission and fusion) is discussed as an approach to alleviating waste heat problems, reducing overall system costs and enabling new uses such as nuclear space power propulsion. Various approaches that involve direct conversion of radiation energy are considered relative to fission reactors. The examples discussed involve the direct conversion of fission fragment energy to electricity, to thrust for propulsion, and to coherent laser light, illustrating the rich variety of potential conversion methods that can be envisioned.
Applications to future fusion systems are also discussed. Two approaches are considered: direct collection of fusion product energy, and extraction of plasma radiation energy.
Finally, thermal direct conversion is included as an important near term route to enhanced performance, e.g., in-core thermionic converters potentially offer enhanced operation of a SP100 type reactor for space applications.