ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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Division Spotlight
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.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
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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August 2024
Latest News
New laws offer nuclear industry incentives for existing power plant uprates
This year, the U.S. nuclear industry received a much-needed economic boost that could help preserve operating nuclear power plants and incentivize upgrades that extend their lifespan and power output.
Signed into law in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act offers production tax credits (PTCs) for existing nuclear power plants and either PTCs or investment tax credits (ITCs) for new carbon-free generation. These credits could make power uprates—increasing the maximum power level at which a commercial plant may operate—a much more appealing option for utilities.
Bruno Merk, Sören Kliem, Emil Fridman, Frank-Peter Weiss
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 171 | Number 2 | June 2012 | Pages 136-149
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE10-58
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This work shows the effect of the use of moderating layers on the sodium void effect in sodium-cooled, mixed oxide-fueled fast breeder reactors. The moderating layers consist of either zirconium boride ZrB2 or zirconium hydride ZrH2. The two investigated ZrH2 layers (0.1 and 0.2 mm thick) cause a strong reduction of the sodium void effect. Additionally, these layers significantly improve the fuel temperature effect and the coolant effect of the system. All changes caused by the insertion of the ZrH2 layers result in a significantly increased stability of the fast reactor system against transients. The moderating layers have only a small influence on the breeding effect and on the production of minor actinides. The effect in the infinite system can be fully combined with the traditional methods of increasing the neutron leakage.