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Division members promote the advancement of mathematical and computational methods for solving problems arising in all disciplines encompassed by the Society. They place particular emphasis on numerical techniques for efficient computer applications to aid in the dissemination, integration, and proper use of computer codes, including preparation of computational benchmark and development of standards for computing practices, and to encourage the development on new computer codes and broaden their use.
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2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
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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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November 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
A proactive approach to reactor vessel aging management
Unit 2 at the Prairie Island nuclear power plant near Red Wing, Minn., underwent an outage in fall 2023, which included extensive work on the reactor vessel using a novel approach to replace baffle-former bolts and lower radial clevis insert bolts. The work relied on extensive analysis beforehand to determine which bolts to replace such that only the new bolts were structurally credited for performance of their safety function. This proactive approach eliminated the need for costly contingencies associated with inspections.
Andrei I. Shumeiko
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 80 | Number 7 | October 2024 | Pages 856-869
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2023.2227504
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The development of new space missions and the growing interest in space exploration have created an urgent need to develop high-thrust propulsion systems capable of propelling spacecraft far beyond the Earth and the solar system for long periods. Electric propulsion can potentially enable space missions to reach speeds thousands of times greater than conventional high-thrust chemical rockets. However, high speed comes at the cost of low power-to-thrust efficiency when considering propulsion systems as a whole, including the power generation system, transmission lines, and thrusters, which prevents high thrust from being achieved with any conceivable power system, resulting in long acceleration times. In addition, modern electric propulsion systems rely on external power sources that suffer significant power transfer losses at the high power levels required for high thrust levels. In addition, modern electric propulsion systems suffer from a number of critical physical and engineering problems that affect thrust levels and longevity. In addition, modern electric propulsion systems do not follow the principles of generation and acceleration of plasma flow that can be observed in space and potentially borrowed for artificial applications.
This paper discusses several promising electrodeless plasma thruster concepts for high-power, high-thrust electric propulsion systems based on a combined power source/power converter/thruster architecture. These concepts have the potential to overcome modern limitations of high-power electric propulsion systems and enable new outer space missions that would not be possible with conventional thrusters.