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.”
Lester M. Waganer
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 34 | Number 3 | November 1998 | Pages 496-502
Nonelectrical Applications | doi.org/10.13182/FST98-A11963661
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
For several decades, the international fusion community has had a goal of using a high quality fusion plasma for central station electrical power generation. Continued progress has been made toward the ultimate goal of high quality fusion plasmas with good confinement, mainly in tokamak experimental reactors. However, the commitment to begin construction of an engineering test reactor has not been made. One of the underlying reasons for delaying this large commitment is the lack of favorable economic projections for a fusion-generated cost of electricity1.
Even though the cost of fusion fuel is very inexpensive, the plant capital cost is very expensive, which significantly increases the cost of electricity. The only new electric generating plants currently being purchased in the U.S. are gas turbine units, because they are relatively inexpensive, can be brought on line quickly, and are fueled with low-cost, abundant natural gas. Existing coal and fossil plants are being used to the maximum extent possible. New, capital-intensive, electric-generating plants are not being considered for the near future, even though there is a growing awareness of the resource depletion and environmental impact of using hydrocarbon fuels.
It is time to step back and reconsider all the products fusion can provide as an inexhaustible energy source. Additional products, other than generation of electrical power, may have more benefits and fewer risks, especially in the near term.
A complete set of fusion products was investigated to examine common categories of applications and markets served by these products. An evaluation methodology was developed to assess which applications might be attractive in terms of market potential, environmental considerations, economic impact, risk, and public perception. This methodology was used to assess the proposed applications. The results indicated that several applications might be promising products for the fusion energy source.