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Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Argonne research aims to improve nuclear fuel recycling and metal recovery
Servis
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory are investigating a used nuclear fuel recycling technology that could lead to a scaled-down and more efficient approach to metal recovery, according to a recent news article from the lab. The research, led by Argonne radiochemist Anna Servis with funding from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), could have an impact beyond the nuclear fuel cycle and improve other high-value metal processing, such as rare earth recovery, according to Argonne.
The research: Servis’s work is being carried out under ARPA-E’s CURIE (Converting UNF Radioisotopes Into Energy) program. The specific project—Radioisotope Capture Intensification Using Rotating Packed Bed Contactors—started in 2023 and is scheduled to end in January 2026.
Shutaro Takeda, Satoshi Konishi
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 79 | Number 1 | January 2023 | Pages 69-76
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2022.2078137
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
It is a widespread view in the fusion community that steady-state, water-cooled fusion power plants can utilize the power generation systems of conventional pressurized water reactor (PWR) fission plants as is. However, what would happen to a fusion power plant in the case of plasma disruption? The authors constructed a dynamic simulation model of a water-cooled ceramic breeder blanket fusion power plant model on Modelica language [300.0-MW(electric) electrical output/1138-MW(thermal) fusion output] and evaluated the applicability of a PWR power generation system. Simulation results suggest that while the PWR system would function as intended during steady-state operation, the conventional system may not be able to cope with a sudden loss of energy influx in the event of plasma disruption without modification: The PWR system’s steam generator experienced a water overflow in less than 150 s from the plasma disruption.